Camino de los chilenos facts for kids

The Camino de los chilenos (which means "Road of the Chileans" in Spanish) was a network of old routes in a region called Patagonia. These routes were used by the Mapuche people and other tribes who had adopted Mapuche customs. They used these paths to move large groups of cattle from Argentina to Chile, crossing the Andes mountains.

The cattle were often taken during raids called malones. Once in Chile, the cattle were traded for things like weapons and food. This trade was a big reason for many conflicts in the southern parts of Argentina during the 1800s. The demand for cattle from Chilean traders kept these disputes going.

The Camino de los chilenos stretched for about 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles). It went from the Buenos Aires Province in Argentina all the way to mountain passes in the Neuquén Province. To try and stop these cattle movements, Argentina built a long trench called the Zanja de Alsina in the 1870s. The use of these trade routes mostly ended after the Conquest of the Desert (1876-1878), a military campaign by the Argentine Army.

What Was the Camino de los Chilenos?

The Camino de los chilenos was not just one single road. It was a group of paths and trails that connected different areas. Imagine a network of ancient highways used for a specific purpose.

Who Used These Routes?

The main users were the Mapuche people. They are an indigenous group from parts of Chile and Argentina. Other tribes in the region also used these routes. These were tribes who had become "araucanized," meaning they had adopted many of the Mapuche ways of life and culture.

Why Were the Routes Important?

These routes were vital for trade. The Mapuche and other tribes would gather cattle from the plains of Argentina. They would then herd these animals across the Andes mountains into Chile.

The Cattle Trade

In Chile, the cattle were very valuable. They were traded for important supplies. These supplies included weapons, which were useful for defense and hunting, and food items that were not easily found in their own lands. This trade system helped the tribes get resources they needed.

Conflicts and Consequences

The movement of cattle across the Andes led to many problems. The cattle often belonged to settlers and ranchers in Argentina. When large numbers of cattle were taken, it caused big disputes.

Fueling the Conflict

The demand for cattle in Chile was very high. This demand encouraged more raids into Argentina. This created a cycle of conflict that lasted for a long time in the southern provinces of Argentina during the 19th century. It was a major cause of tension between different groups.

The Zanja de Alsina

To try and stop the cattle raids and protect their lands, the Argentine government took action. In the 1870s, they built a huge trench called the Zanja de Alsina. This trench was meant to be a barrier. It stretched across the pampas, a large flat grassland area, making it harder for the cattle and raiders to cross.

End of the Routes

The use of the Camino de los chilenos as a major trade route eventually came to an end. This happened after the Conquest of the Desert, a military campaign carried out by the Argentine Army between 1876 and 1878. This campaign changed the control of the land and effectively closed off these traditional routes for large-scale cattle movement.

See also

In Spanish: Camino de los chilenos para niños