Rio Gallegos, Santa Cruz
Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
| Río Gallegos | |||
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 Río Gallegos
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| Coordinates: 51°38′S 69°13′W / 51.633°S 69.217°WCoordinates: 51°38′S 69°13′W / 51.633°S 69.217°W | |||
| Country | Argentina | ||
| Province | Santa Cruz | ||
| Department | Güer Aike | ||
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) | ||
| Population | |||
| - Total | 79,144 | ||
| Time zone | ART (UTC-3) | ||
| CPA base | Z9400 | ||
| Dialing code | +54 2966 | ||
Río Gallegos (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈri.o ɣaˈʃeɣos]) is the capital of the Patagonia province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. It has a population of about 79,000 as per the 2001 census [INDEC], while at 2009, the estimated population may be well over 100,000. The city sits on the estuary of the Gallegos River, 2,636 km (1,638 mi) south from Buenos Aires.
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History
The river was first sighted by a European in 1525 by the explorer Jofré De Loaiza, and was called San Idelfonso River. Simón de Alcazaba's 1535 expedition was the first to name the river "Río Gallegos". The area was not settled by Europeans until much later, with one of the earliest recorded indications of habitation in 1885, when the Argentine government wished to better express its sovereignty over southern Patagonia — a naval base was created which increased the development of the town. Between 1912 and 1920, the government encouraged settlers from the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas) and southern Chile with preferential farming conditions. Some 3,000 arrived and boosted the town. As sheep-farming increased, Río Gallegos became the principal port for exporting sheep and their products. The Pioneers Museum is a preserved old Patagonian house exhibiting the life of the early settlers.
In 1888, then-governor Ramón Lista decided to move the Territorial Capital from Puerto Santa Cruz to Río Gallegos. Official ratification of this decision came on 19 May 1904. In 1957, the Territory of Santa Cruz was declared a Province, with Mario Cástulo Paradelo as its first Governor.
In the 1982 Falklands War, the city airport was base of Argentine Air Force Mirage III interceptors and A-4 Skyhawks strike aircraft.
Argentina's former president during 2003-2007, Néstor Kirchner, was mayor of Río Gallegos between 1987 and 1991.
Today, Río Gallegos is an important city of the far south Argentina, with military bases and an international airport. Flights between Chile and Mount Pleasant airbase at the Falkland Islands stop at Río Gallegos once a month.
Climate
The climate is windy and cold, with snow during winter. Summers are mild, however.
The maximum medium in summer is 18 ºC and can reach to 25 ºC. The maximum medium in winter is 5 ºC and can reach to -20 ºC.
The city is very windy, with a medium of 50 km/h of cold winds all the year.
See also
- 1949 Tierra del Fuego earthquake
Gallery
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Río Gallegos Cathedral
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Roca Avenue, Rio Gallegos
- Municipality of Río Gallegos — Official website.
- Rio Gallegos Online Information — Online Information in Spanish.
- Municipal information: Municipal Affairs Federal Institute (IFAM), Municipal Affairs Secretariat, Ministry of Interior, Argentina. (Spanish)
- Argentum21 - Rio Gallegos
- Video Footage of the City - YouTube
- Video Footage of the City 2 - YouTube
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Turismo Carretera