El Huecú
Encyclopedia
El Huecú is a third category municipality and capital of the Ñorquín Department
, on the Provincial Road 4, in the north of the Argentine province Neuquén.
It was founded in 1940. Because of the importance of the goat breeding on its economy, it annually hosts the Festival of the Shepherd.
The establishment of El Huecú was authorized on September 2, 1938 by the national decree 11392. In 1940, the Argentine Executive Power designated El Huecú as the new department capital, but it was officially founded on February 1, 1940. The municipality was built in 1973 and it received its third-category status, which still holds, on 11 November 1976.
El Huecú is one of the northern Neuquen's municipalities that has a participative budget. Since 2004, the Mapuche
people are recognized as original inhabitants of the region. In 2003, the lonko Carlos Maripal became the first non-elected member of the Mapuche community in the province to occupy a position at a local legislature.
, meaning Genious of the evil. The word was used by the Mapuche people to refer to the bunchgrass
Vulpia octoflora
.
and 90 kilometers from Chos Malal
, on the Provincial Road 4. It is surrounded by the Mandolegue the Trocomán ranges. Its elevation is 1,200 m above sea level
.
) in December, revering the local goat shepherds that still practice the transhumance
.
Ñorquín Department
-Geography:The Department limits with Minas Department at the Northwest, Chos Malal Department at the northeast, Pehuenches Department at east, Loncopué Department at south and Chile at east....
, on the Provincial Road 4, in the north of the Argentine province Neuquén.
It was founded in 1940. Because of the importance of the goat breeding on its economy, it annually hosts the Festival of the Shepherd.
History
The former city of Ñorquín was initially the capital of the department and had a population of more than one thousand inhabitants. The first municipal election took place in 1886.. Its population gradually moved to El Huecú due that the previous capital was located on private property.The establishment of El Huecú was authorized on September 2, 1938 by the national decree 11392. In 1940, the Argentine Executive Power designated El Huecú as the new department capital, but it was officially founded on February 1, 1940. The municipality was built in 1973 and it received its third-category status, which still holds, on 11 November 1976.
El Huecú is one of the northern Neuquen's municipalities that has a participative budget. Since 2004, the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
people are recognized as original inhabitants of the region. In 2003, the lonko Carlos Maripal became the first non-elected member of the Mapuche community in the province to occupy a position at a local legislature.
Origin of the name
The municipality's name comes from the MapudungunMapudungun
The Mapuche language, Mapudungun is a language isolate spoken in south-central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian...
, meaning Genious of the evil. The word was used by the Mapuche people to refer to the bunchgrass
Tussock (grass)
Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are found as native plants in natural ecosystems, as forage in pastures, and as ornamental grasses in gardens....
Vulpia octoflora
Vulpia octoflora
Vulpia octoflora Vulpia octoflora Vulpia octoflora (Pullout grass, Sixweeks fescue, Sixweeks grass, Eight-flower sixweeks grass, Eight-flowered fescue; syn. Festuca octoflora Walter var...
.
Geography
El Huecú is the capital of the Ñorquin Department, in the northwest of the Province. It is located 370 kilometers from NeuquénNeuquén, Argentina
-Sister cities:Neuquén is sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International with: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States Treviso, Veneto, Italy Valdivia, Chile-External links: - Official website....
and 90 kilometers from Chos Malal
Chos Malal
Chos Malal from Mapudungun is the capital city of the Chos Malal Department located in Neuquén Province, Argentina.- History :...
, on the Provincial Road 4. It is surrounded by the Mandolegue the Trocomán ranges. Its elevation is 1,200 m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Festival of the Shepherd
The goat breeding represents a major role in the local economy. El Huecú annually hosts the Festivity of the Shepherd (Fiesta del Criancero in SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) in December, revering the local goat shepherds that still practice the transhumance
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
.