Las Lajas, Neuquén
Encyclopedia
Las Lajas is a town in Neuquén Province
, Argentina
, and the capital of Picunches Department
. The town, at an altitude of 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) above mean sea level
, is located on the right shore of Agrio River
at the Andean foothills. National Routes 22 and 40 intersect in this area of the central Neuquén Province. The Cuchillo Curá range, considered the most important underground ecosystem in Argentina, extends approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Las Lajas.
Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, Las Lajas was originally populated by Pehuenche
and Picunche
natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory, under the command Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, reached Las Lajas. In 1882, commander Ortega established a fort for the Argentinian Army. The town was established on February 8, 1897, by General Enrique Godoy, the Argentinian Army's 4th Division commander. To take possession of the region and protect the inhabitants from the natives, the town became the headquarters of the 8th and 9th Cavalry Regiments. It was named "Las Lajas" after the creek Las Lajitas, whose bed soil is mainly composed of the stones. Governor Alsina and the inhabitants of the town requested to move the National Territory's capital from Chos Malal
to Las Lajas. The capital was ultimately moved to Neuquén city in 1902. The town received its current status of second-category municipality in 1967.
The fodder production is largest agricultural activity in the region. The soils of the area remain unexplored, and for the lack of technical information, subsequently the oil and natural gas invest in locations such as Loma de La Lata. Another major aspect of the town is the Argentina Army's 21 Mountain Infantry Regiment. Following its closure of in the late 1990s, the regiment re-opened in 2004 with a diminution of the personnel to 250 soldiers as of 2011, out of an original of 1,000. This increased the number of customers and raised the solicitations for commercial licenses. The opening of the Pino Hachado Pass increased the quantity of vehicles and people that go through the town.
was populated at around 4500 BP
. Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, which took place sometime between 1550 and 1850, this region of the current Neuquén Province was inhabited by Picunche
and Pehuenches natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory of the current province reached the Las Lajas area under order of commander Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, who traveled 2000 kilometres (1,243 mi) from Mendoza
with his men.
The first fort of the Argentinian army in the area was built by commander Ortega around 1882. The local postal office started working in 1886 and the telegraph arrived one year later. On February 8, 1897, the Argentinian Army's 4th Division Commander General Enrique Godoy ordered the establishment of the town as the headquarter of the 8 and 9 Cavalry Regiments. It was named Las Lajas ("The Flagstones" in Spanish) after the near creek Las Lajitas, whose bed
possesses abundance of that kind of stone. The regiments were there to protect the colonists after the occupation of the native lands, and to take the control of the region. Two years later, an Agrio River
flood destroyed the hamlet, which had to be reconstructed on the upper part of the valley. Those lands belonged to the later Governor Juán Alsina, who exchanged them for lands in Primeros Pinos
and Pino Hachado.
The local court was opened on January 23, 1901, and the following year the first police station was established. In 1903, Governor Alsina and local ranchers wanted to move the National Territory's capital from Chos Malal
to Las Lajas, predicating that its location was more accessible for the rest of the Territory's towns in comparison with the previous city. The capital was ultimately moved to Neuquén city in 1902 with the support of Carlos Governor Bouquet Roldán and landowners of the Confluencia Department
.
In 1933, the province's government designated the ejido
for the developing committee. Due to its sustained development, the town received its current status of second-category municipality in 1967.
In 1996, a popular but unsuccessful riot tried to prevent the closure of the 21 Mountain Infantry Regiment which was crucial to the town's economy. It remained closed for seven years until its reopening in 2004 with a considerably lower number of men in comparison to its past.
at the Andean foothills, where National Routes 22
and 40
. The Pino Hachado Pass
, which joins Argentina and Chile, is 52 kilometres (32.3 mi) west of the town. Las Lajas is 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Zapala
, 242 kilometres (150 mi) from Neuquén City
and 1455 kilometres (904 mi) from Buenos Aires
. It has an elevation 703 metres (2,306 ft) above mean sea level
(AMSL). The local poorly-developed soils are composed of a low percentage in organic matter. They belong to the entisol
and aridisol
orders of the USDA soil taxonomy
. Besides the Agrio River, waterways in the area include the Las Lajitas and Liu Cullín Creeks.
values are relatively low. The average humidity values are above 60 percent during winter, while they are considerable lower during summer. The relative humidity amplitude averages 30 percent yearly. Although the town is located at the same latitude as Neuquén City, the area is higher and the temperature colder. Average temperatures range from 14 °C (57.2 °F) in January to 0 °C (32 °F) in July. The daily amplitude is significant, especially in summer. However, considerable interdiurnal variations occur. The highest temperature ever recorded in the area is around 40 °C (104 °F) in summer and the lowest around -16 °C in winter. The winds range from moderate to strong, having more intensity in the south. The main wind direction
s are west, northwest and southwest. The clouds cover up to 60 percent of the sky in winter and 30 percent in summer.
The other important cave in the area is the Cueva del León, which is situated on the Crodón Curimil to 15 kilometres (9 mi) from the town. It was formed in plaster
during the Late Jurassic
. It is 631 metres (2,070.2 ft) long and consists of two chambers named the "Great Chamber" and "Chamber of the Lake".
production is largest agricultural activity in the region. It is recognized by the quality of its grass, especially of the alfalfa
. Villa Rural San Demetrio and Colonia Juán Ignacio Alsina are the main establishments.
The closing of Argentina Army's 21 Mountain Infantry in the late 1990s caused the closure of businesses and emigration of inhabitants to other towns. In 2004, the Regiment was reopened increasing the people flux around local businesses by 20 percent and commercial licenses quantity by 12 percent. Although the Regiment's positive impact on the town's economy, it produced a lower income with a personnel of 250 soldiers as of 2011 in comparison to the 1,000 men who served there prior to its closure. The opening of the Pino Hachado Pass increased the quantity of vehicles and people that go through the town.
Since the area's soil remains unexplored and lacks availability of technical information, the oil and natural gas companies opt for investing in known and traditional locations like Loma de La Lata.
, as well as the ones headed to Chile
through the Pino Hachado Pass. The area offers possibilities to practice different activities both in summer and winter, such as hiking, fishing, camping and skiing. Its natural surroundings include an Araucaria
forest, the Cuchillo Curá cave system and the Agrio river. In Las Lajas work accommodation facilities and other services for tourists like bars and restaurants.
There are a number of attractions in Las Lajas. Among them is a local museum at the junction between the National Route 22 and the Avenida del Trabajador Street. It exhibits historic objects and archaeological pieces. And, since Las Lajas is an speleology
center, the museum also exhibits photos of the Cuchillo Curá y Cueva del León cave systems. During October and November, cultural meetings gather musicians, poets, painters and other kinds of artists. The shores of the Agrio River and of the Liu Cullín and Las Lajitas creeks are popular spots for camping and fishing. During winter months it is possible to ski in the slopes of the near snowpark. Every year in April is held the Grass Festival which honors the farmers dedicated to the fodder crop. During the Festival, local meals and artwork are sold, and night folk music spectacles are celebrated.
Neuquén Province
Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west...
, Argentina
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...
, and the capital of Picunches Department
Picunches Department
- Geography :The Department limits with Loncopué Department at north, Confluencia Department at northeast, Zapala Department at southweast, Catán Lil Department at south, Aluminé Department at southwest and Chile at west....
. The town, at an altitude of 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) above mean sea level
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...
, is located on the right shore of Agrio River
Agrio River
-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.*...
at the Andean foothills. National Routes 22 and 40 intersect in this area of the central Neuquén Province. The Cuchillo Curá range, considered the most important underground ecosystem in Argentina, extends approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Las Lajas.
Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, Las Lajas was originally populated by Pehuenche
Pehuenche
Pehuenches are an indigenous people that are part of the Mapuche peoples and live in the Andes in south central Chile and Argentina. Their name derives from their habit of harvesting of piñones, the seeds of the Araucaria araucana or pehuén...
and Picunche
Picunche
The Picunche , also referred to as picones by the Spanish, were a mapudungun speaking Chilean people living to the north of the Mapuches or Araucanians and south of the Choapa River and the Diaguitas...
natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory, under the command Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, reached Las Lajas. In 1882, commander Ortega established a fort for the Argentinian Army. The town was established on February 8, 1897, by General Enrique Godoy, the Argentinian Army's 4th Division commander. To take possession of the region and protect the inhabitants from the natives, the town became the headquarters of the 8th and 9th Cavalry Regiments. It was named "Las Lajas" after the creek Las Lajitas, whose bed soil is mainly composed of the stones. Governor Alsina and the inhabitants of the town requested to move the National Territory's capital from Chos Malal
Chos Malal
Chos Malal from Mapudungun is the capital city of the Chos Malal Department located in Neuquén Province, Argentina.- History :...
to Las Lajas. The capital was ultimately moved to Neuquén city in 1902. The town received its current status of second-category municipality in 1967.
The fodder production is largest agricultural activity in the region. The soils of the area remain unexplored, and for the lack of technical information, subsequently the oil and natural gas invest in locations such as Loma de La Lata. Another major aspect of the town is the Argentina Army's 21 Mountain Infantry Regiment. Following its closure of in the late 1990s, the regiment re-opened in 2004 with a diminution of the personnel to 250 soldiers as of 2011, out of an original of 1,000. This increased the number of customers and raised the solicitations for commercial licenses. The opening of the Pino Hachado Pass increased the quantity of vehicles and people that go through the town.
History
Archeological evidences found at Mallín del Tromen suggest that the Picunches DepartmentPicunches Department
- Geography :The Department limits with Loncopué Department at north, Confluencia Department at northeast, Zapala Department at southweast, Catán Lil Department at south, Aluminé Department at southwest and Chile at west....
was populated at around 4500 BP
Before Present
Before Present years is a time scale used in archaeology, geology, and other scientific disciplines to specify when events in the past occurred. Because the "present" time changes, standard practice is to use AD 1950 as the origin of the age scale, reflecting the fact that radiocarbon...
. Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, which took place sometime between 1550 and 1850, this region of the current Neuquén Province was inhabited by Picunche
Picunche
The Picunche , also referred to as picones by the Spanish, were a mapudungun speaking Chilean people living to the north of the Mapuches or Araucanians and south of the Choapa River and the Diaguitas...
and Pehuenches natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory of the current province reached the Las Lajas area under order of commander Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, who traveled 2000 kilometres (1,243 mi) from Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
with his men.
The first fort of the Argentinian army in the area was built by commander Ortega around 1882. The local postal office started working in 1886 and the telegraph arrived one year later. On February 8, 1897, the Argentinian Army's 4th Division Commander General Enrique Godoy ordered the establishment of the town as the headquarter of the 8 and 9 Cavalry Regiments. It was named Las Lajas ("The Flagstones" in Spanish) after the near creek Las Lajitas, whose bed
Bed (geology)
In geology a bed is the smallest division of a geologic formation or stratigraphic rock series marked by well-defined divisional planes separating it from layers above and below. A bed is the smallest lithostratigraphic unit, usually ranging in thickness from a centimeter to several meters and...
possesses abundance of that kind of stone. The regiments were there to protect the colonists after the occupation of the native lands, and to take the control of the region. Two years later, an Agrio River
Agrio River
-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.*...
flood destroyed the hamlet, which had to be reconstructed on the upper part of the valley. Those lands belonged to the later Governor Juán Alsina, who exchanged them for lands in Primeros Pinos
Primeros Pinos
Primeros Pinos is a village and municipality in Neuquén Province in southwestern Argentina....
and Pino Hachado.
The local court was opened on January 23, 1901, and the following year the first police station was established. In 1903, Governor Alsina and local ranchers wanted to move the National Territory's capital from Chos Malal
Chos Malal
Chos Malal from Mapudungun is the capital city of the Chos Malal Department located in Neuquén Province, Argentina.- History :...
to Las Lajas, predicating that its location was more accessible for the rest of the Territory's towns in comparison with the previous city. The capital was ultimately moved to Neuquén city in 1902 with the support of Carlos Governor Bouquet Roldán and landowners of the Confluencia Department
Confluencia Department
Confluencia is a department located in the east of Neuquén Province in Argentina.Neuquén, the capital city of the province, is located in this department.The department is named Confluencia after the confluence of the rivers Negro and Limay.-Geography:...
.
In 1933, the province's government designated the ejido
Ejido
The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico...
for the developing committee. Due to its sustained development, the town received its current status of second-category municipality in 1967.
In 1996, a popular but unsuccessful riot tried to prevent the closure of the 21 Mountain Infantry Regiment which was crucial to the town's economy. It remained closed for seven years until its reopening in 2004 with a considerably lower number of men in comparison to its past.
Geography
Las Lajas is located on the right shore of Agrio RiverAgrio River
-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.*...
at the Andean foothills, where National Routes 22
National Route 22 (Argentina)
National Route 22 is a highway located in Argentina, that connects the provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Río Negro and Neuquén in . The route starts at the connection with...
and 40
National Route 40 (Argentina)
National Route 40 or RN40, often called Ruta 40 even in English texts, is a route in western Argentina, stretching from Cabo Virgenes in Santa Cruz Province in the south to La Quiaca in Jujuy Province in the north, running parallel to the Andes mountains...
. The Pino Hachado Pass
Pino Hachado Pass
Pino Hachado Pass is a mountain pass through the Andes, joining Chile and Argentina. It is one of the principal passes of the southern Andes, connecting Argentina's route RN-22 and Chile's Route 181-CH....
, which joins Argentina and Chile, is 52 kilometres (32.3 mi) west of the town. Las Lajas is 58 kilometres (36 mi) from Zapala
Zapala
Zapala is a city in the Patagonian province of Neuquén, Argentina with about 32,000 inhabitants according to the .The city is located at the geographic center of the province at the confluence of national and provincial roads, on a route to the Andes and Chile...
, 242 kilometres (150 mi) from Neuquén City
Neuquén, 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 1455 kilometres (904 mi) from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. It has an elevation 703 metres (2,306 ft) above mean sea level
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...
(AMSL). The local poorly-developed soils are composed of a low percentage in organic matter. They belong to the entisol
Entisol
In USA soil taxonomy, Entisols are defined as soils that do not show any profile development other than an A horizon. An Entisol has no diagnostic horizons, and most are basically unaltered from their parent material, which can be unconsolidated sediment or rock...
and aridisol
Aridisols
Aridisols are a soil order in USA soil taxonomy. Aridisols form in an arid or semi-arid climate. Aridisols dominate the deserts and xeric shrublands, which occupy about one third of the Earth's land surface...
orders of the USDA soil taxonomy
USDA soil taxonomy
USDA Soil Taxonomy developed by United States Department of Agriculture and the National Cooperative Soil Survey provides an elaborate classification of soil types according to several parameters and in several levels: Order, Suborder, Great Group, Subgroup, Family, and Series.- Example of...
. Besides the Agrio River, waterways in the area include the Las Lajitas and Liu Cullín Creeks.
Climate
Las Lajas lies within an arid area. The annual precipitation is around 311 millimetres (12 in), being the values higher during winter months. The average yearly vapor pressureVapor pressure
Vapor pressure or equilibrium vapor pressure is the pressure of a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases in a closed system. All liquids have a tendency to evaporate, and some solids can sublimate into a gaseous form...
values are relatively low. The average humidity values are above 60 percent during winter, while they are considerable lower during summer. The relative humidity amplitude averages 30 percent yearly. Although the town is located at the same latitude as Neuquén City, the area is higher and the temperature colder. Average temperatures range from 14 °C (57.2 °F) in January to 0 °C (32 °F) in July. The daily amplitude is significant, especially in summer. However, considerable interdiurnal variations occur. The highest temperature ever recorded in the area is around 40 °C (104 °F) in summer and the lowest around -16 °C in winter. The winds range from moderate to strong, having more intensity in the south. The main wind direction
Wind direction
Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates. For example, a northerly wind blows from the north to the south. Wind direction is usually reported in cardinal directions or in azimuth degrees...
s are west, northwest and southwest. The clouds cover up to 60 percent of the sky in winter and 30 percent in summer.
Cave systems
The Cuchillo Curá Range extends around 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Las Lajas, on National Route 40. Located at 900 metres (2,953 ft) AMSL, it is considered the most important underground ecosystem in Argentina. The system is composed of the caves El Gendarme, El Templo, El Arenal and Los Cabritos. It possesses a gallery area of 4800 square metres (51,666.8 sq ft).The other important cave in the area is the Cueva del León, which is situated on the Crodón Curimil to 15 kilometres (9 mi) from the town. It was formed in plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
during the Late Jurassic
Late Jurassic
The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 161.2 ± 4.0 to 145.5 ± 4.0 million years ago , which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata. In European lithostratigraphy, the name "Malm" indicates rocks of Late Jurassic age...
. It is 631 metres (2,070.2 ft) long and consists of two chambers named the "Great Chamber" and "Chamber of the Lake".
Demographics
The 1991 Argentinian census registered a total of 3,428 inhabitants in Las Lajas. The quantity increased by 7,8%, reaching the 4,673 in 2001. As of 2010, it was estimated that the town had a permanent population of 4,673, which increased up to 7,000 if non-permanent residents were considered.Economy
The fodderFodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
production is largest agricultural activity in the region. It is recognized by the quality of its grass, especially of the alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
. Villa Rural San Demetrio and Colonia Juán Ignacio Alsina are the main establishments.
The closing of Argentina Army's 21 Mountain Infantry in the late 1990s caused the closure of businesses and emigration of inhabitants to other towns. In 2004, the Regiment was reopened increasing the people flux around local businesses by 20 percent and commercial licenses quantity by 12 percent. Although the Regiment's positive impact on the town's economy, it produced a lower income with a personnel of 250 soldiers as of 2011 in comparison to the 1,000 men who served there prior to its closure. The opening of the Pino Hachado Pass increased the quantity of vehicles and people that go through the town.
Since the area's soil remains unexplored and lacks availability of technical information, the oil and natural gas companies opt for investing in known and traditional locations like Loma de La Lata.
Tourism
Las Lajas is a hub for travelers that head to some of the province's touristic spots, including the northern hot springs' area in the municipality of Caviahue-CopahueCaviahue-Copahue
Caviahue-Copahue is a village and municipality in Neuquén Province in southwestern Argentina.-References:...
, as well as the ones headed to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
through the Pino Hachado Pass. The area offers possibilities to practice different activities both in summer and winter, such as hiking, fishing, camping and skiing. Its natural surroundings include an Araucaria
Araucaria
Araucaria is a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. There are 19 extant species in the genus, with a highly disjunct distribution in New Caledonia , Norfolk Island, eastern Australia, New Guinea, Argentina, Chile, and southern Brazil.-Description:Araucaria are mainly...
forest, the Cuchillo Curá cave system and the Agrio river. In Las Lajas work accommodation facilities and other services for tourists like bars and restaurants.
There are a number of attractions in Las Lajas. Among them is a local museum at the junction between the National Route 22 and the Avenida del Trabajador Street. It exhibits historic objects and archaeological pieces. And, since Las Lajas is an speleology
Speleology
Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form and change over time...
center, the museum also exhibits photos of the Cuchillo Curá y Cueva del León cave systems. During October and November, cultural meetings gather musicians, poets, painters and other kinds of artists. The shores of the Agrio River and of the Liu Cullín and Las Lajitas creeks are popular spots for camping and fishing. During winter months it is possible to ski in the slopes of the near snowpark. Every year in April is held the Grass Festival which honors the farmers dedicated to the fodder crop. During the Festival, local meals and artwork are sold, and night folk music spectacles are celebrated.