March 2007 floods in the Argentine littoral
Encyclopedia
The littoral region of Argentina
underwent heavy rainstorms in the early autumn season of 2007. Starting in late March and ending in mid-April, the rains caused several major rivers to rise and/or overflow their banks, partly or completely flooded many towns and large cities, ruined a significant part of the crops in a wide region, and severely damaged the physical infrastructure.
At least five people were killed as a result of the flooding.
(west of the Paraná River
) and the south of Entre Ríos Province
(east of the Paraná River). The latter is part of the southern Mesopotamia
(lit. "between rivers", thus called because it lies within the drainage basin
of the Paraná and the Uruguay River
). Increased rainfall also hit locations in the northeast of Buenos Aires Province
, along the course of the Paraná, before it empties into the Río de la Plata
(beside which Buenos Aires
is located). Associated storms hit the southeast of Córdoba Province
, immediately west of Santa Fe.
The largest metropolitan areas in the affected area were Santa Fe
(pop. 460,000) and Rosario
(pop. 1.2 million). Tens of other cities and towns were also affected, including Rafaela
(pop. 84,000) in central Santa Fe and Gualeguay
(pop. 39,000) in southern Entre Ríos.
The southern Argentine littoral is the heart of the Humid Pampa
and the most productive farming region in the country, producing a large portion of the beef
, cereal
s and dairy
commodities consumed or exported. Only in Santa Fe Province, the storms ruined 30,000 km² of crops and rendered important regions of pasture
land unusable.
, which is the second longest in South America after the Amazon
. It forms the natural limit between the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos, and empties into the Río de la Plata
. The Paraná–Plata system thus passes by Argentina's most densely populated area.
Other affected watercourses were:
. With few interruptions, the rain continued for about a week. Rosario is traversed by the Ludueña Stream
in the north; its southern border is partly defined by the Saladillo Stream
. The Ludueña has historically been prone to overflowing, which has prompted the construction of works (canals and piping) to contain and derive its waters. Soon after the beginning of the rain, the Ibarlucea Canal (which empties into the main course of the Ludueña, overflowed and flooded several neighbourhoods in the northwest of Rosario. At the peak of the crisis, on 31 March, about 4,000 people were evacuated in several emergency centers throughout the city.
As the strong rain started to subside in Rosario, the storms were moving north towards the area of Santa Fe, the provincial capital. Santa Fe is built on low-lying terrain at the junction of the Salado and Paraná rivers, and is still recovering from a flood caused by the Salado in 2003
. This time, however, both rivers were rising. At some point, the physical barriers that had been set in place against the rise of the Paraná River prevented the natural drainage of the flood waters brought by the Salado. The existing pumps were not enough, and there was a delay bringing extra ones. As the neighbouring areas were flooded and the incoming roads submerged or damaged, Santa Fe became practically isolated with the exception of the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
. About 20,000 people were displaced or evacuated.
The provincial government decreed a state of hydrical emergency on 29 March. Evacuees were sent to military and private facilities (such as sports clubs and schools), were they were given food and shelter, and the risk population (mainly children) was vaccined. After the end of the emergency, as the first estimates of the damages were released, the provincial government set aside funds (620 million Argentine peso
s, about 200 million USD
) to assist the affected towns and cities; of these, AR$30 million were assigned to each of Santa Fe City and Rosario.
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...
underwent heavy rainstorms in the early autumn season of 2007. Starting in late March and ending in mid-April, the rains caused several major rivers to rise and/or overflow their banks, partly or completely flooded many towns and large cities, ruined a significant part of the crops in a wide region, and severely damaged the physical infrastructure.
At least five people were killed as a result of the flooding.
Affected area
The area hit by the main storm was the central and southern Argentine littoral, comprising the south-center of Santa Fe ProvinceSanta Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
(west of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
) and the south of Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
(east of the Paraná River). The latter is part of the southern Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia, Argentina
La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising the provinces of Misiones, Entre Ríos and Corrientes. The region called Litoral consists of the Mesopotamia and the provinces of Chaco, Formosa and Santa Fe...
(lit. "between rivers", thus called because it lies within the drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Paraná and the Uruguay River
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
). Increased rainfall also hit locations in the northeast of Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
, along the course of the Paraná, before it empties into the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
(beside which 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...
is located). Associated storms hit the southeast of Córdoba Province
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
, immediately west of Santa Fe.
The largest metropolitan areas in the affected area were Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
(pop. 460,000) and Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
(pop. 1.2 million). Tens of other cities and towns were also affected, including Rafaela
Rafaela
Rafaela is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, about 96 km from the provincial capital. It is the head town of the Castellanos Department. It has a population of 99,150 per the ....
(pop. 84,000) in central Santa Fe and Gualeguay
Gualeguay, Entre Ríos
Gualeguay is a city in the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina, on the Gualeguay River, about 226 km from the provincial capital Paraná and 234 km north-west from Buenos Aires. It has a population of about 39,000 inhabitants as per the...
(pop. 39,000) in southern Entre Ríos.
The southern Argentine littoral is the heart of the Humid Pampa
Humid Pampa
The Humid Pampa is an extensive region of flat, fertile grassland of loessic origin in Argentina. It has a precipitation average of 900 mm per year, in contrast with the Dry Pampas to the west, which average less than 700 mm.-Setting:...
and the most productive farming region in the country, producing a large portion of the beef
Argentine beef
Beef is a key component of traditional Argentine cuisine.-Current situation:Argentina has the world's second highest consumption rate of beef, at 55 kg a year per capita. In 2006, livestock farmers kept between 50 and 55 million head of cattle, mostly in the fertile pastures of the Pampas...
, cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s and dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
commodities consumed or exported. Only in Santa Fe Province, the storms ruined 30,000 km² of crops and rendered important regions of pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
land unusable.
Watercourses
The main river in the affected area is the Paraná RiverParaná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, which is the second longest in South America after the Amazon
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
. It forms the natural limit between the provinces of Santa Fe and Entre Ríos, and empties into the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
. The Paraná–Plata system thus passes by Argentina's most densely populated area.
Other affected watercourses were:
- In Santa Fe, the right-hand-side (western) tributaries of the Paraná: near Santa Fe City, the Salado River; farther south, the Carcarañá RiverCarcarañá RiverThe Carcarañá River is a river in Argentina. It is born at the confluence of the Río Tercero and the Saladillo River in the south-east of the province of Córdoba and flows eastward into the province of Santa Fe, which it crosses.In Santa Fe the river first turns south, then...
; and in RosarioRosarioRosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
, the Ludueña StreamLudueña StreamThe Ludueña Stream is a small river in the , which starts near the city of Rosario and flows through it, mostly east-southwards, ending in the Paraná River in the neighbourhood commonly known as Arroyito, near Rosario Central's football stadium.The Ludueña drains an area which includes Rosario...
and the Saladillo StreamSaladillo StreamThe Saladillo Stream is a small tributary of the Paraná River, that discharges into it between the cities of Rosario and Villa Gobernador Gálvez, in the...
. - In Entre Ríos: the Gualeguay RiverGualeguay RiverThe Gualeguay River is one of the major rivers of the Mesopotamic province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. It is born in the north of the province, in the region between the cities of Federación and San José de Feliciano, and meanders in a general south-southwestward direction across the center of the...
, which divides the province in two.
Development
On 26 March 2007 a rainstorm started in the area around RosarioRosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
. With few interruptions, the rain continued for about a week. Rosario is traversed by the Ludueña Stream
Ludueña Stream
The Ludueña Stream is a small river in the , which starts near the city of Rosario and flows through it, mostly east-southwards, ending in the Paraná River in the neighbourhood commonly known as Arroyito, near Rosario Central's football stadium.The Ludueña drains an area which includes Rosario...
in the north; its southern border is partly defined by the Saladillo Stream
Saladillo Stream
The Saladillo Stream is a small tributary of the Paraná River, that discharges into it between the cities of Rosario and Villa Gobernador Gálvez, in the...
. The Ludueña has historically been prone to overflowing, which has prompted the construction of works (canals and piping) to contain and derive its waters. Soon after the beginning of the rain, the Ibarlucea Canal (which empties into the main course of the Ludueña, overflowed and flooded several neighbourhoods in the northwest of Rosario. At the peak of the crisis, on 31 March, about 4,000 people were evacuated in several emergency centers throughout the city.
As the strong rain started to subside in Rosario, the storms were moving north towards the area of Santa Fe, the provincial capital. Santa Fe is built on low-lying terrain at the junction of the Salado and Paraná rivers, and is still recovering from a flood caused by the Salado in 2003
2003 Santa Fe flood
This article is about the flooding of Santa Fe, capital of the , in April 2003. Santa Fe is the fifth most populated city in Argentina , and it is surrounded by rivers...
. This time, however, both rivers were rising. At some point, the physical barriers that had been set in place against the rise of the Paraná River prevented the natural drainage of the flood waters brought by the Salado. The existing pumps were not enough, and there was a delay bringing extra ones. As the neighbouring areas were flooded and the incoming roads submerged or damaged, Santa Fe became practically isolated with the exception of the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
The Raúl Uranga – Carlos Sylvestre Begnis Subfluvial Tunnel , formerly known as the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel, is an underwater road tunnel that connects the provinces of Entre Ríos and Santa Fe in Argentina, crossing the Paraná River between the capital of Entre Ríos, Paraná, and Santa Cándida...
. About 20,000 people were displaced or evacuated.
The provincial government decreed a state of hydrical emergency on 29 March. Evacuees were sent to military and private facilities (such as sports clubs and schools), were they were given food and shelter, and the risk population (mainly children) was vaccined. After the end of the emergency, as the first estimates of the damages were released, the provincial government set aside funds (620 million Argentine peso
Argentine peso
The peso is the currency of Argentina, identified by the symbol $ preceding the amount in the same way as many countries using dollar currencies. It is subdivided into 100 centavos. Its ISO 4217 code is ARS...
s, about 200 million USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
) to assist the affected towns and cities; of these, AR$30 million were assigned to each of Santa Fe City and Rosario.