located about 600 m (2000 ft) above sea level at the feet of the aconquija mountains to the west, the area was originally populated by aymará-speaking peoples, who gave the site its name with a term meaning "where the cold winds blow." the arrival of the northern central railway in 1882 made the location a popular weekend getaway for san miguel de tucumán gentry during the late nineteenth century, and on may 3, 1900, it was founded as "san josé de calasanz". the hamlet was chosen as the site for one of argentina's largest railway equipment factories in 1904 and the facility was inaugurated in may 1910.