El Maitén
Encyclopedia
El Maitén is a town in Argentina
in Cushamen Department
on the margins of the Chubut River
, on the northwest of Chubut Province
, in Patagonia
. In older times it was the intermediate point in the railroad tracks of the Old Patagonian Express
between the towns of Ingeniero Jacobacci
and Esquel
.
(inter-province border between the provinces of Río Negro
and Chubut), at 720 m (2,362 ft) AMSL
. Ex-Provincial route 40 runs through it on a north–south direction, which connects to the city of Esquel
135 km (84 mi) south.
Other connecting routes to El Maitén are National Route 243 towards El Bolsón
and Bariloche in Río Negro Province, and Provincial routes RP 4 and RP 71, connecting to Cushamen
and Epuyén
respectively.
El Maitén lies 35 km (22 mi) south of Ñorquincó
, 55 km (34 mi) east of El Bolsón, and 70 km (43 mi) northwest of Cushamen
, and 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Epuyén.
is of Glacial origin, and in this region it runs in a North-South direction on the first highlands of the Andes
on the West, and the ancient formations of the Patagonia to the East. The topography is mountainous, but of lower elevations, always under 2000 m (6,562 ft).
This geographic region is a clear example of the transition between the humid wooded Andes areas to the West, and the classic more arid steppes of central Patagonia. Typical native trees of the area are the Austrocedrus chilensis, Coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi), Ñire (Nothofagus antarctica
), and over 2,000 meters AMSL the Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio).
The climate is semi-steppe, with humid winters with occasional strong snows and an annual precipitation between, 300 mm (12 in) and 500 mm (20 in).
to the area in 1939, on a branch that continued to Esquel. This branch was completed and opened in 1945, and El Maitén was selected as the site of its maintenance sheds and locomotive warehouse. This changed the town towards a railroad-based economy until the 1970s, when the Argentine railroad industry started a steady decline.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in Cushamen Department
Cushamen Department
Cushamen is a department located in the north west of Chubut Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 17,000 inhabitants in an area of 16,250km², and its capital city is Cushamen....
on the margins of the Chubut River
Chubut River
The Chubut River is located in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina. Its name comes from the Tehuelche word chupat, which means "transparent". The Argentine Chubut Province, through which the river flows, is named after it...
, on the northwest of Chubut Province
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
, in Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
. In older times it was the intermediate point in the railroad tracks of the Old Patagonian Express
La Trochita
La Trochita, , in English known as the Old Patagonian Express, is a narrow gauge railway in Patagonia, Argentina using steam locomotives. The nickname La Trochita means literally "The Little Narrow Gauge" in Spanish...
between the towns of Ingeniero Jacobacci
Ingeniero Jacobacci
Ingeniero Jacobacci is a city in Río Negro Province, Argentina. It has a population of 5,719 inhabitants and was named in honor of Guido Jacobacci, the director of the railway opened in 1916 between San Antonio Oeste, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, and San Carlos de Bariloche, in the Andes...
and Esquel
Esquel
According to the , the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained...
.
Location
The town is located 5 km (3 mi) south of the 42 parallelCircle of latitude
A circle of latitude, on the Earth, is an imaginary east-west circle connecting all locations that share a given latitude...
(inter-province border between the provinces of Río Negro
Río Negro Province
Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.Its capital is Viedma...
and Chubut), at 720 m (2,362 ft) AMSL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. Ex-Provincial route 40 runs through it on a north–south direction, which connects to the city of Esquel
Esquel
According to the , the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained...
135 km (84 mi) south.
Other connecting routes to El Maitén are National Route 243 towards El Bolsón
El Bolsón
El Bolsón may refer to:* El Bolsón, Río Negro, a village in Argentina* Cerro del Bolsón, a mountain in Argentina...
and Bariloche in Río Negro Province, and Provincial routes RP 4 and RP 71, connecting to Cushamen
Cushamen
Cushamen is a town in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Cushamen Department.Cushamen is located in the wild plains of Patagonia, its name means "place of solitude" in Mapuche....
and Epuyén
Epuyén
Epuyén is a village and municipality in Chubut Province in southern Argentina.-References:...
respectively.
El Maitén lies 35 km (22 mi) south of Ñorquincó
Ñorquincó
Ñorquincó is a city in Ñorquincó Department, in southwest Río Negro Province, Argentina.With a population of 444, it had a decline of 12.7% after the 509 in the previous census....
, 55 km (34 mi) east of El Bolsón, and 70 km (43 mi) northwest of Cushamen
Cushamen
Cushamen is a town in Chubut Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Cushamen Department.Cushamen is located in the wild plains of Patagonia, its name means "place of solitude" in Mapuche....
, and 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Epuyén.
Geography and climate
The town of El Maitén lies on the right margin of the Chubut River. The river's valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
is of Glacial origin, and in this region it runs in a North-South direction on the first highlands of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
on the West, and the ancient formations of the Patagonia to the East. The topography is mountainous, but of lower elevations, always under 2000 m (6,562 ft).
This geographic region is a clear example of the transition between the humid wooded Andes areas to the West, and the classic more arid steppes of central Patagonia. Typical native trees of the area are the Austrocedrus chilensis, Coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi), Ñire (Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica
Nothofagus antarctica , is a deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Chile and Argentina from about 36°S to Tierra del Fuego . The southernmost occurrence is on Hoste Island, making it the southernmost trees on earth...
), and over 2,000 meters AMSL the Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio).
The climate is semi-steppe, with humid winters with occasional strong snows and an annual precipitation between, 300 mm (12 in) and 500 mm (20 in).
History and economy
What started as a rural community was influenced greatly by the arrival of the General Roca railroadFerrocarril General Roca
Ferrocarril General Roca , named after the former Argentine president Julio Argentino Roca, was one of the six state-owned Argentine railway companies formed after President Juan Perón's nationalisation of the railway network in 1948...
to the area in 1939, on a branch that continued to Esquel. This branch was completed and opened in 1945, and El Maitén was selected as the site of its maintenance sheds and locomotive warehouse. This changed the town towards a railroad-based economy until the 1970s, when the Argentine railroad industry started a steady decline.