Huemul Island

Huemul Island ("Isla Huemul") is an island located in the Nahuel Huapi Lake, off the shore of San Carlos de Bariloche, a city in the province of Río Negro, Argentina, at coord|41|06|23|S|71|23|42|W|. It derives its name from the Mapuche chief Güemul, whose tribe inhabited the area. Considered a historical and ecological touristic attraction, it has recently been conceded to the municipality of Bariloche after licitations with the government of Río Negro.

Huemul Project

In 1948, the German physicist Ronald Richter presented a plan to develop a controllable form of nuclear fusion to President Juan Perón. The Huemul Project gained the support of the president, who decided to install an atomic energy plant in Huemul Island with Richter as project director. Perón's opposition, alongside a large part of the Argentine scientific community, suspected that Richter's claims were untrue and a commission was formed on September 1952 to investigate the matter. The commission was integrated by José Antonio Balseiro, Mario Bancora, Manuel Beninson, Pedro Bussolini and Otto Gamba. After a detailed analysis of the facilities, it was concluded that Perón had indeed been deceived by Richter and the project was immediately terminated.