Which Argentine highway runs along the Andes from the Bolivian border to Patagonia?

Which Argentine highway runs along the Andes from the Bolivian border to Patagonia? The answer is National Route 40.

Known as Ruta Nacional 40 or RN40, this legendary road runs through western Argentina from La Quiaca, beside the Bolivian border, south to Cabo Vírgenes in Santa Cruz Province. It parallels the Andes across a huge range of landscapes, including high deserts, vineyards, glacial country, steppe and the lakes of northern Patagonia.

At roughly 5,200 kilometres, it is Argentina’s longest national route and one of South America’s longest highways. The road passes near numerous national parks and crosses or approaches many Andean passes. Its highest point is Abra del Acay in Salta Province, at approximately 5,000 metres above sea level.

Route 40 is not uniformly a high-speed motorway or fully paved highway. Some southern and northern sections have historically been gravel, and snow or summer flooding can interrupt travel. It is often compared with U.S. Route 66, but the two are different roads: Route 40 is an Argentine national highway, while Route 66 is a former U.S. highway famous for its Americana associations.