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Photo: Pieckd, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
In the early 1950s, an Austrian scientist named Ronald Richter attempted to build the world's first fusion power plant on an island in a lake in the Andes, the undertaking being known as the Huemul Project. A couple of years and an equivalent of several hundred million US dollars later it came into light that Richter never had got any proof of his design actually functioning in the first place. As the patron of the project, President Juan Perón, was ousted in 1955, Richter was arrested for fraud. Today the ruins of the project can be visited on the island, and the city itself remains a center of Argentinian nuclear research.
The Huemul Project was an early 1950s Argentine effort to develop a fusion power device known as the Thermotron. The concept was invented by Austrian scientist Ronald Richter, who claimed to have a design that would produce effectively unlimited power. After gaining significant international attention, Richter's claims were later found to be fraudulent.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Viewpoint over the area of Bariloche. Transport there includes in the price of the cable car which cost AR$70 both ways (bus+cable car) or less one way while the other way you can hike or take a mountain bike(9 km from the city, about 2½ hours when hiking down). The rotating restaurant at the top has some impressive vistas of the region (average meal costs about AR$25) and there are some nice hiking trails behind the restaurant.
Beautiful view of the lakes and mountains around—hike it (30 min, departs near the bottom of the lift) or take the ski-lift (AR$8000, ~USD$8). Get in with bus #20, 21, 10 from the center and get off at km 17.8. After the Campanario you can go on with the Circuito Chico during the same day.
Museum of Patagonia
"Stuffed" native wildlife, pictures, and a great section covering the indigenous pre-Hispanic inhabitants of the region.
This beautiful 25-km route can be biked or hiked. You can also do it by bus during summer (line 10). If you hike it, take bus 20 towards Llao Llao till "El Muelle". See map above for track.
Skiing
It has the biggest ski centre in South America, with a skiable area of 2 km² (0.77 sq mi), over 100 km (62 miles) of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 22,200 skiers per hour. It is located 19 km (12 miles) from Bariloche. If you enjoy hiking, there is trail to the Frey refugio which takes about 6½ hours (4 up, 2½ down). Look for the trailhead in the far corner of the parking lot.
Considered by many as the best 1-3 days trekking in Bariloche. When it's cold enough you can skate in the lake near the refuge. When there's not too much snow you can climb the granite "agujas" (needles) near the refuge which have ways for all levels, or head to Lago Jakob. There are two ways to get in and out: the main one is from Villa Cathedral (bus #52, every hour), another (a bit longer) one starts from Los Cohiues and goes along the Gutierrez lake (bus #50).