Resistencia, Chaco
Encyclopedia
Resistencia is the capital and largest city in the province
of Chaco
, in northeastern Argentina
. At the 2001 census, the population of the Resistencia city proper
was 274,490 inhabitants. It is the anchor of a slightly larger metropolitan area
, Greater Resistencia, which comprises three more municipalities and has a 2008 population estimate of 377,000. This metro area is the largest in the province, and the eleventh most populous in the country.
Located along the Negro River
, a branch of the much larger Paraná river
, the area was originally inhabited by some guaycuru aboriginals, such as the tobas. Their resistance to evangelisation postponed an efficient European settlement until the late 19th century. It wasn't until 1865 that a proper settlement was established, and on January 27, 1878, Resistencia was formally established as the territorial capital. The national government supported immigration, and in 1878 the first Italian
immigrants arrived. The first City Council was made up entirely of members from that country.
, with a cooler, dryer season and a long, humid summer. Fall and spring are often marked by sudden transitions from summer weather patterns to winter weather patterns.
During the summer, temperatures attain highs of 30°C (86F) to 35°C (95F) on a daily basis, often up to 38°C (100F). The record temperature is 42.3°C (108.1F). Nights are warm and sticky, between 19°C (66F) and 25°C (77F), and afternoon thunderstorms are common. The transition to fall is slow: March's temperatures are very similar to midsummer, and April is still warm with an average high of 26°C (79F) and a low of 17°C (63F), and rainfall is very abundant: 284 mm, or 11.2 in during that month.
The dry, cool season starts in May and lasts until September. During its peak in June and July, the average high is 20°C (68F) and the average low is 10°C (50F), with rainfall below 50 mm (2 in) in a month. These averages reflect the fact that there are two distinct weather patterns that alternate in the winter: the northerly, tropical pattern, and the southerly pattern of the Pampas: thus, there are periods of very warm, dry weather (25°C to 30°C, or 77F to 86F) with warm nights (15°C, or 59F) followed by strong southerly winds, often accompanied with drizzle and temperatures that hover around 10°C (50F) for days at a time (creating a surprisingly cold feeling), followed by dry air and blue skies and cold nights (2°C to 7°C, or 36F to 45F) and pleasant, cool days between 15°C and 20°C (59F to 68F). Light frost occurs under very calm conditions with cold air in place; usually measured temperatures will hover between 0°C and 3°C (32F to 37F) but frost will cover the ground. On occasion, however, under very cold weather patterns, measured temperatures reach -2°C (28F), with a record low of -3.8°C (25F).
The city organizes the Biennial International Sculptures Contest since 1988; after the contest, the sculptures remain in the city for public display in parks or sidewalks. Since 1997, the event has been sponsored by UNESCO
. Resistencia is also home to a number of museums, including the René Bruseau Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, the Augusto Schulz Museum of Natural History, the Juan Alfredo Martinet Museum of Anthropology, the Ichoalay Cultural Museum, and the Ertivio Acosta Museum of Man in Chaco.
since 1965; its terminal, completed in 1971, was designed by renowned modernist architect Amancio Williams
. Its access via highways includes National Route 11 (north to south), National Route 16 (westbound), and the General Belgrano Bridge
, which has connected Resistencia to its twin port city of Corrientes
since 1973. Following the closure of rail lines in the area during the privatization of the nation's railways
in the early 1990s, the city's rail links were re-established with the opening of the provincially-funded Sefecha line in 1997.
: Udine
, Italy
(1993). Trento
, Italy (2002). Asunción
, Paraguay
(2006). São Vicente
, Brazil
(2006).
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Chaco
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
, in northeastern 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...
. At the 2001 census, the population of the Resistencia city proper
City proper
City proper is defined as a "locality with legally fixed boundaries and an administratively recognized urban status that is usually characterized by some form of local government", or the area within the corporate limits. This definition has been consistently used since the United Nations...
was 274,490 inhabitants. It is the anchor of a slightly larger metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, Greater Resistencia, which comprises three more municipalities and has a 2008 population estimate of 377,000. This metro area is the largest in the province, and the eleventh most populous in the country.
Located along the Negro River
Negro River (Chaco)
The Negro River or Black River in Chaco Province, Argentina. It crosses the Chaco National Park and flows southeast...
, a branch of the much larger 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...
, the area was originally inhabited by some guaycuru aboriginals, such as the tobas. Their resistance to evangelisation postponed an efficient European settlement until the late 19th century. It wasn't until 1865 that a proper settlement was established, and on January 27, 1878, Resistencia was formally established as the territorial capital. The national government supported immigration, and in 1878 the first Italian
Italian Argentine
An Italian Argentine is a person born in Argentina of Italian ancestry. It is estimated up to 25 million Argentines have some degree of Italian descent...
immigrants arrived. The first City Council was made up entirely of members from that country.
Climate
Resistencia is one of the warmest cities in Argentina, and is known for its extremely hot, humid summer weather with frequent lightning. The climate is subtropicalHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, with a cooler, dryer season and a long, humid summer. Fall and spring are often marked by sudden transitions from summer weather patterns to winter weather patterns.
During the summer, temperatures attain highs of 30°C (86F) to 35°C (95F) on a daily basis, often up to 38°C (100F). The record temperature is 42.3°C (108.1F). Nights are warm and sticky, between 19°C (66F) and 25°C (77F), and afternoon thunderstorms are common. The transition to fall is slow: March's temperatures are very similar to midsummer, and April is still warm with an average high of 26°C (79F) and a low of 17°C (63F), and rainfall is very abundant: 284 mm, or 11.2 in during that month.
The dry, cool season starts in May and lasts until September. During its peak in June and July, the average high is 20°C (68F) and the average low is 10°C (50F), with rainfall below 50 mm (2 in) in a month. These averages reflect the fact that there are two distinct weather patterns that alternate in the winter: the northerly, tropical pattern, and the southerly pattern of the Pampas: thus, there are periods of very warm, dry weather (25°C to 30°C, or 77F to 86F) with warm nights (15°C, or 59F) followed by strong southerly winds, often accompanied with drizzle and temperatures that hover around 10°C (50F) for days at a time (creating a surprisingly cold feeling), followed by dry air and blue skies and cold nights (2°C to 7°C, or 36F to 45F) and pleasant, cool days between 15°C and 20°C (59F to 68F). Light frost occurs under very calm conditions with cold air in place; usually measured temperatures will hover between 0°C and 3°C (32F to 37F) but frost will cover the ground. On occasion, however, under very cold weather patterns, measured temperatures reach -2°C (28F), with a record low of -3.8°C (25F).
Economy
The city's economy, originally based on agriculture and trade, has evolved into the service sector in recent decades. According to the national statistics agency, the city is the poorest in the country, with the 55.6% if its inhabitants below the income poverty line in 2006.Culture
Resistencia is known nationally as the "city of sculptures" and "open air museum," due to the more than 500 monuments and other works of art spread among its streets.The city organizes the Biennial International Sculptures Contest since 1988; after the contest, the sculptures remain in the city for public display in parks or sidewalks. Since 1997, the event has been sponsored by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. Resistencia is also home to a number of museums, including the René Bruseau Provincial Museum of Fine Arts, the Augusto Schulz Museum of Natural History, the Juan Alfredo Martinet Museum of Anthropology, the Ichoalay Cultural Museum, and the Ertivio Acosta Museum of Man in Chaco.
Transport
The city has been served by Resistencia International AirportResistencia International Airport
Resistencia International Airport is an airport in Chaco Province, Argentina serving the city of Resistencia, built in 1965 while the terminal was completed in 1971...
since 1965; its terminal, completed in 1971, was designed by renowned modernist architect Amancio Williams
Amancio Williams
Amancio Williams was an Argentine architect and among his country's leading exponents of modern architecture.-Life and work:...
. Its access via highways includes National Route 11 (north to south), National Route 16 (westbound), and the General Belgrano Bridge
General Belgrano Bridge
The General Manuel Belgrano Bridge is a road bridge that joins the Argentine cities of Corrientes and Resistencia over the course of the Paraná River...
, which has connected Resistencia to its twin port city of Corrientes
Corrientes
Corrientes is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about from Buenos Aires and from Posadas, on National Route 12...
since 1973. Following the closure of rail lines in the area during the privatization of the nation's railways
Railway Privatisation in Argentina
Following a prolonged period of hyperinflation in the 1980s, accompanied by a steep increase in fiscal deficit and a sharp fall in reserves, the Argentine government, under the presidency of Carlos Menem from 1989, initiated a series of neoliberal reforms which included the privatisation of...
in the early 1990s, the city's rail links were re-established with the opening of the provincially-funded Sefecha line in 1997.
Sister cities
Resistencia has four sister citiesTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
: Udine
Udine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(1993). Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
, Italy (2002). Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
(2006). São Vicente
São Vicente, São Paulo
São Vicente is a coastal city of southern São Paulo, Brazil. Its estimated population in 2006 was 329,370 inhabitants.It was the first Portuguese permanent settlement in the Americas and the first capital of the Captaincy of São Vicente, now the state of São Paulo...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(2006).