San Carlos de Bariloche, commonly referred to as Bariloche, is the largest city in the Argentine province of Río Negro and serves as the seat of its namesake department. Located in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes on the southern shore of Nahuel Huapi Lake, the city sits near the border with Chile.
As of the 2022 census, the city has a population of 135,755. While considered a mid-sized city by national standards, it holds significant regional importance as the most populous city in its province and the largest in the Patagonian Andes. It ranks as the third largest city in all of Argentine Patagonia, following Neuquén and Comodoro Rivadavia.
The urban zone of Bariloche is characterized by low density, covering an area of more than 220 square kilometres (85 sq mi). The city extends longitudinally from east to west for approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi).