Disputed Land holdings and Estate of Joe Lewis
Argentina /
Rio Negro /
Bariloche /
World
/ Argentina
/ Rio Negro
/ Bariloche
estate (manor / mansion land), non-governmental organization (NGO), jewish, private housing estate, territorial dispute
British billionaire and zionist Joe Lewis has created a de facto independent, private, parallel ethno-state in this area of Patagonia. Although it's illegal for a foreigner to own land in the "Border Security Area" (within 20KM of a national border) as the Argentine National Defense Law does not allow foreign ownership, Lewis has continued to acquire land around Lago Escondido and has fenced it off making it inaccessible to anyone but those he allows in.
The Lewis family illegally took over Lago Escondido and the surrounding 11,000 hectares of land via several shell company real estate purchases and bribes to local officials. In 2009, the High Court of Justice of the Río Negro province ruled in favor of enabling entrance to the lake and generating an accessible passage through the Tacuifí Trail from El Foyel, 45 kilometers north of El Bolsón. That same year, in 2009, Lewis was ordered by the Superior Tribunal de Justicia (STJ) to create and keep access to the lake, with "sufficient signage and to keep it transitable", but the ruling has not been enforced, and access to locals remains denied. While local Argentinians are illegally prevented from accessing and enjoying this lake, the Lewis estate hosts between 8,000 - 12,000 IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers each year, for 2-week 'holiday camps'.
In May 2017, a group of members of the Confederation of Workers of the People’s Economy (CTEP), led by national congresswomen Silvia Horne and Araceli Ferreyra, took the Tacuifí path. They found that the path was severely damaged and the Foyel River crossings had been dredged. A decade after the ruling of the High Provincial Court, it is still almost impossible to reach the lake in any other way than going through Lewis's private road. The only options are a journey of several days on horseback along a mountain path or getting on a helicopter.
In September 2017, the Interactive Foundation for the Promotion of Water Culture (FIPCA) organized a Sovereignty March. For two days, some 70 volunteers from different organizations, members of Mapuche communities and Father Paco Oliveira, from Priests in Option for the Poor, took the Tacuifí path with the aim of rebuilding a river crossing that would allow free access to the lake. "On Sunday September 24, 2017 we reached the shore of a Patagonian lake as if we had crossed the Gaza Strip", wrote Mariana Corral, one of the leaders of the trip. Lewis' frontman Van Ditmer stated: "We are going to defend the private property with the Winchester in the hands; with blood if needed"
To the south of Lago Escondido, Lewis has acquire much more land, and he is currently planning to use a huge protected area, four times the size of the city of Buenos Aires, for another private development, against the wishes of the locals. The property was bought for 69 pesos per hectare, currently about $4 USD. This low price was secured by using the name of a local 'poblador' on the deed, after which it was transferred to him. It is suggested that the Hidden Lake property is needed to supply water and (hydraulic) energy to this new property, dubbed the private state in Patagonia. In January 2017, new mass protests have started in El Bolson against this project.
The Lewis family illegally took over Lago Escondido and the surrounding 11,000 hectares of land via several shell company real estate purchases and bribes to local officials. In 2009, the High Court of Justice of the Río Negro province ruled in favor of enabling entrance to the lake and generating an accessible passage through the Tacuifí Trail from El Foyel, 45 kilometers north of El Bolsón. That same year, in 2009, Lewis was ordered by the Superior Tribunal de Justicia (STJ) to create and keep access to the lake, with "sufficient signage and to keep it transitable", but the ruling has not been enforced, and access to locals remains denied. While local Argentinians are illegally prevented from accessing and enjoying this lake, the Lewis estate hosts between 8,000 - 12,000 IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers each year, for 2-week 'holiday camps'.
In May 2017, a group of members of the Confederation of Workers of the People’s Economy (CTEP), led by national congresswomen Silvia Horne and Araceli Ferreyra, took the Tacuifí path. They found that the path was severely damaged and the Foyel River crossings had been dredged. A decade after the ruling of the High Provincial Court, it is still almost impossible to reach the lake in any other way than going through Lewis's private road. The only options are a journey of several days on horseback along a mountain path or getting on a helicopter.
In September 2017, the Interactive Foundation for the Promotion of Water Culture (FIPCA) organized a Sovereignty March. For two days, some 70 volunteers from different organizations, members of Mapuche communities and Father Paco Oliveira, from Priests in Option for the Poor, took the Tacuifí path with the aim of rebuilding a river crossing that would allow free access to the lake. "On Sunday September 24, 2017 we reached the shore of a Patagonian lake as if we had crossed the Gaza Strip", wrote Mariana Corral, one of the leaders of the trip. Lewis' frontman Van Ditmer stated: "We are going to defend the private property with the Winchester in the hands; with blood if needed"
To the south of Lago Escondido, Lewis has acquire much more land, and he is currently planning to use a huge protected area, four times the size of the city of Buenos Aires, for another private development, against the wishes of the locals. The property was bought for 69 pesos per hectare, currently about $4 USD. This low price was secured by using the name of a local 'poblador' on the deed, after which it was transferred to him. It is suggested that the Hidden Lake property is needed to supply water and (hydraulic) energy to this new property, dubbed the private state in Patagonia. In January 2017, new mass protests have started in El Bolson against this project.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 41°41'43"S 71°39'43"W
- Estate of Joe Lewis' local contact Nicolas Van Ditmar 549 km
- Fundo El Vergel de Trebulco 893 km
- Fundo Peruechea 898 km
- El Al Fal Fal 903 km
- Viña Cousiño Macul 919 km
- Estância Ingá 1928 km
- Torres & Picolomini Estate Agency 3077 km
- Igreja Histórica São Francisco Xavier 3377 km
- Pinahuasi Hacienda 3622 km
- Longwood House 6861 km
- Lago Escondido (Hidden Lake) 0.5 km
- foot track 4.1 km
- staff 4.7 km
- Laderas "Project" 14 km
- Mount Santa Helena (1965 m) 16 km
- Yamila 17 km
- Cemetery 29 km
- Villa Turismo 34 km
- El Maiten Airport 55 km
- Nahuel Huapi National Park 93 km