El Saladillo, viaduct. Tucuman Province.

It awakens astonished looks. As you look up, the immense arches are drawn in the sky. The landscape becomes perfect when it is surrounded by the sound of a stream and the trills of the birds. It is late, but eager to stay in front of the Viaduct El Saladillo, a magnificent engineering work, unique in Latin America.Many of the tourists that arrive until El Cadillal venture through the middle of the estates, by a narrow road, to know the construction, declared National Historical Monument in 2000.After traveling almost two kilometers along a path surrounded by a thick vegetation, suddenly, the viaduct is discovered before the visitors. "It is an amazing place, ideal for meditating and contemplating the landscape," said Luis Sandoval, a Cordoban strolling the dike Celestino Gelsi.The immense work reaches almost 28 meters of height to the level of the river, has a length of 365 meters and was raised in brick at the sight of century XIX. It has 25 round arches supported by 24 pillars of 21 meters high. It consumed, in total, 5 million bricks.Those who visit the place think it has something magical. Under the arches, there are picnic tables and rotisseries. Of course, the hay is well supplied because there are no food or beverage stalls in the area. There are also no baths, so take the necessary precautions and pass, first, to the toilets in the lake area."Although some services are lacking, which allow a better tourist exploitation of the place, enjoy much of its beauty and its magnificence," said Mariana Bagno, a Cordoban who chose Tucumán to spend the holidaysThose who like vertigo and adventure do not hesitate in the metallic bridge located to the side of the viaduct with the object of observation from the heights of the landscape, where the hills mix with the clouds. Others, however, prefer to cool down to the banks of the El Saladillo stream, which passes through the place and which gave its name to the viaduct.

The importance of the viaduct lies in the fact that it is a map of what was the railway engineering in the country. The work began to be projected in 1881 and the plan approved by the famous engineer Guillermo White, that with its projects and the initiatives contributed to the progress of the country. By 1884, the work was completed and set in motion. Through all the extension of the railroad from Tucumán to Metán, Salta.But progress made the old steam locomotives, which weighed no more than 27 tons, replaced by others, also steam, but larger, with more capacity to store water and with a weight that reached 100 tons.This is one of the possible causes for the entire viaduct began to show flaws in its structure in 1922. This was noted particularly in the foundations of the northern extremity of one of the arches, which rested a little deep on the wall of the hill . Added to the erosion caused by the rain, the viaduct was no longer safe and closed in 1927.A metal bridge, 30 meters long, was built, supported by two 25-meter metal stacks, a short distance from the old brick viaduct. This is in service.
SuggestionsThe El Saladillo viaduct is an ideal place for adventure tourism. Some companies usually organize bicycle or hiking trips and even aerial rappel (descent system and ropes on vertical surfaces).Also, it can make a tour by a tunnel, that begins when it completes the 308 meters of length that has the viaduct. There you can see bats in their natural habitat.