Map - Junín de los Andes (Junín de los Andes)

Junín de los Andes is a first category municipality and administrative center of the Huiliches Department in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. It is located in the south of the province, by the Chimehuin River, on National Route 234, about 35 km north of San Martín de los Andes and 17 km from the Chapelco Airport, which services the area.

Founded in 1883 as a fortress during the Conquest of the Desert, it is the oldest town in the province. It developed as a cattle border town. A mixture of the native Mapuche people's and the Argentine pioneers' influence can be seen in the local culture. Over the years, it became a tourism center near the Lanín National Park and the surrounding Andean lakes. In spring and summer, it is a famous place for birdwatching, fishing and other outdoor activities, being considered Argentina's national trout fishing capital.

The Huiliches area was populated in the pre-Hispanic times. Prior to the expansion of the Argentine state into Patagonia at the end of the 19th century, the Mapuche and Tehuelche hunting and gathering tribes coexisted in the region.

In 1882, the Argentine Army first reached the near area of the current village after heavy fighting with the natives. A fortress was erected to secure the position. Commander Senior Sergeant Miguel E. Vidal was said to have picked the location of the fortress and is considered the founder of the village. The next year an expedition was carried out from there to the valley of the Chimehuin river to found the settlement. The military authorities originally wanted to name it General Frías, but ultimately changed it to Junín de los Andes, inspired by the Aymara vocable hunins, meaning pasture.

During the initial years, the settlement functioned as a military outpost. Salesian priests Domingo Melanesio and Juán Ruggerone arrived in 1892. They worked evangelizing the natives and contributed by opening the Salesian house with two schools for the children. Over the years, the settlement developed into a cattle town with the influx of newly arrived pioneers. It was designed in a grid plan with a central square and country houses distributed across its wide streets. Some of the first buildings were built during these years: the original parish church in 1893, was demolished in 1925 due to poor building conditions, the post office opened in 1900. The first developing committee of the Huiliches Department was formed in 1924. The town was declared a municipality by national decree Nº 17.425 in 1945.