Uspallata Pass

Uspallata Pass (ūspäyä'tä), c.12,500 ft (3,810 m) high, over the Andes between Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile. A trail-and later a rough road-for men and pack animals was used before the Transandine Railway (1910-82) was built. The Pan-American Highway now runs near the pass, through the Christ the Redeemer Tunnel. In 1817 José de San Martín sent part of his patriot army through the pass to fight the Spanish royalists in Chile. The Christ of the Andes statue stands in the pass. Mt. Aconcagua towers to the north. The pass is also known as Paso de la Cumbre [Summit Pass] and Paso Los Libertadores [Liberators Pass].