Río Negro Province
Encyclopedia
Río Negro (ˈri.o ˈneɣɾo, Black River) 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. Other important cities include the ski resort town of Bariloche, Cipolletti
and General Roca
.
s, Picunches and Vuriloches tribes of the Tehuelche aboriginal group lived in the area before the arrival of the Spanish
Conquistadores. Pushed by the Spanish, the Araucan
os crossed the Andes
from Chile
mixing with local ethnics.
Ferdinand Magellan
was the first explorer to visit the coasts of the provinces in 1520. Priest Nicolás Mascardi founded the Jesuit
mission
Nuestra Senora de Nahuel Huapi in 1670 at the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake
, at the feet of the Andes range.
In 1779 Francisco Fernández de Viedma founded both Mercedes de Patagones (current Viedma) and Carmen de Patagones
(Buenos Aires Province
) on opposite sides of the Río Negro River's mouth.
After the May Revolution
there was a first attempt to subdue the aboriginals of the area, but it was not until the Conquest of the Desert
commanded by General Julio Argentino Roca
that the local inhabitants were reduced and the constant danger of their attacks eliminated. Francisco Moreno
started his exploration of the Patagonia
at the Nahuel Huapi Lake
area to later adventure further south.
By the beginning of the 19th century, many settlements such as San Carlos de Bariloche
, General Roca
and Choele Choel
were already constituted and received French
and German
immigration, and other such as Cipolletti
, Ingeniero Huergo and others installed in the Alto Valle region. Soon the production of fruits became the main economical activity, and the railway connected the Alto Valle with the ports on the Atlantic Ocean
.
Río Negro acquired status of province on December 10, 1957.
At the north of the Patagonia
, the Limay River
serves as natural border with the Neuquén Province
to the West, as the Colorado River
does with La Pampa Province
to the North. The parallel 42 marks the southern limit of the province.
The main water source at the arid plains that cover most of the province is the Río Negro River, in whose valley most of the settlements and farms are located. The over 600 km of the Rio Negro's valley are divided in Alto Valle (West), Valle Medio (center) and Valle Inferior (East).
The central part of the province is dominated by a series of plateaus and isolated hills, with altitudes ranging from 600 meters (2000 ft) above sea level to 1000 meters (3300 ft). Especially noteworthy is the plateau called "Meseta de Somuncura" in the central-eastern part of the province, with altitudes generally above 1000 meters (3300 ft) and some spots reaching 1300 meters (4200 ft). Moving further west, the foothills of the Andes are dominated by a series of low valleys discharging either towards the Atlantic through the Limay river, or to the Pacific through the Manso and Puelo rivers: deep blue-water lakes form in the Andean valleys, with some regions reaching very low altitudes (under 400 meters, or 1300 ft, in the Pacific basin, and 750 meters, or 2500 ft, in the Atlantic basin). The Andes are here deeply cut by glacial valleys, and the altitude of the peaks is moderate: for most, it ranges between 1,700 meters and 2,200 meters (5600 to 7200 ft), with only a handful of peaks surpassing 2,400 meters (7800 ft). Especially noteworthy is the Cerro Tronador, a heavily glaciated peak of 3,405 meters (11,100 ft) which clearly dominates the surrounding landscape.
The climate of the province is temperate at low elevations, and very cold in the higher Andean peaks. Several variations occur in the province, but we can distinguish 5 main climatic regions:
The Atlantic coast has a very dry, moderate climate. The existence of warm currents creates higher temperatures than in regions further north in the province of Buenos Aires: summers are hot, with highs between 28°C (82F) and 32°C (91F) and nights are pleasant, at 15°C (59F) to 18°C (64F). The air is very dry, and precipitation is only about 30 mm (1.2 in) monthly during the season, falling in the form of isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures cool down with the start of fall in March, and by April, one can expect highs of 20°C (69F) and lows of 10°C (50F) along the coast. Winter is surprisingly mild for Patagonian standards, and very dry: highs average 12°C to 15°C (54F to 59F) and lows between 1°C and 4°C (34F to 39F). Temperatures will sometimes fall down to -10°C (14F) and snow or sleet showers can occur sometimes, but they remain infrequent. Spring is progressively warmer but extremely windy. Total precipitation averages only 250 to 300 mm (9.8 in to 11.8 in).
The Rio Negro Valley and Colorado Valley run through the northern part of the province, the latter forming the border with the province of La Pampa. They cut deep, fertile valleys that form irrigated oases (especially the Rio Negro) with a climate that is markedly warmer than most regions of the province: summers are very hot, usually above 30°C (86F) during the day and sometimes up to 40°C (104F) followed by relatively cool nights, and thunderstorms are more frequent further north. Winters are similar to those along the coast but nights tend to be colder, with average lows of just about 0°C (32F). Precipitation ranges from 450 mm in the extreme northeast corner (helped by summer thunderstorms), to under 200 mm in the northwestern part, distributed quite evenly with a slight peak in the spring and summer.
The weather tends to be significantly rougher in the central plateaus, due to a more southerly location, a further distance from the ocean and the higher elevation. The few towns in this area are located at about 800 meters (2600 ft) in elevation, next to rivers or ponds, protected from the worst winds. In these spots, summers are warm with strikingly cold nights (highs of 24°C to 28°C, or 75F to 82F, lows of 5°C to 10°C or 41F to 50F). Frost happens throughout the year, and is a daily occurrence starting in the fall. Winters are extremely variable: on average, highs are around 4°C to 9°C (39F to 48F) and lows are -7°C to -2°C (19F to 28F). However, when Antarctic air masses invade the region, temperatures can plummet to extremely low values due to radiative cooling and the extremely dryness of the air: -18°C (0F) is a relatively common temperature, and most inhabited places can go down to -25°C (-13F), with unofficial records approaching -35°C (-31F) in some spots. Snow falls very frequently but usually in small quantities due to the dryness; however, on some exceptional winters, the villages in the area have been isolated for weeks by severe snowstorms. Spring brings milder days but common frost at night, and very high winds of up to 100 km per hour (60 miles per hour). Precipitation ranges from 100 mm (3.9 in) to 300 mm (11.8 in), and is more frequent in the fall and winter.
As we approach the Andes, the air masses from the Pacific bring increased humidity: about 50 km from the border with Chile, most spots receive between 400 mm (16 in) and 600 mm (24 in) of rain and snow; in most Andean low valleys, the values are between 1000 mm (39 in) and 2000 mm (78 in) and where low passes let air masses come from Chile, 3000 mm (118 in). Some spots have up to 4500 mm (177 in) annually, and are among Argentina's rainiest. Summers are cool and windy due to Pacific air, with highs between 18°C (64F) and 25°C (77F), and almost never reaching 30°C (86F) and cold nights between 2°C and 9°C (35F to 48F). Most days are dry and sunny, but when storms stagnate around the coast, several rainy days may follow. The main changeover occurs in April, when the train of storms common to this latitude (40° to 42°) hit the region: in May alone, between 150 mm (6 in) and 600 mm (24 in) fall in the region. Winter brings a mixture of rain, sleet and snow to low valleys, with highs between 2°C and 9°C (35F to 48F) and lows between -5°C and 4°C (23F to 39F). Extreme temperatures are much more moderate than in the steppes further east: they only occasionally plummet to -15°C (5F) and most areas have only recorded up to -20°C (-4F) a few times. Snow falls very often and can be heavy, with up to a foot at valley level on some years; however, due to the mild Pacific influence, accumulations rarely last more than a few days.
Finally, higher altitudes have colder temperatures: above 1200 meters (3900 ft), snow cover will usually last for about 3 to 5 months every year, and many summer rainstorms will leave a dusting of snow during the night. At 1600 meters, snow frequently reaches depths of over 1.5 meters (over 5 feet) and lasts until early summer. The tree line is located at 1600 meters (5200 ft) in southerly slopes and 1800 (5900 ft) in northerly slopes; at 2000 meters (6600 ft), pockets of snow remain until late summer in the shade and at about 2400 meters (7900 ft), eternal snow is present. The weather is unpredictable at these heights, and is always extremely cold and windy on top of Cerro Tronador.
The province's agriculture (about 10% of output) is concentrated in the fertile valleys of the Río Negro River, specially at the Alto Valle but also at the Valle Medio. The province produces almost 70% of the apple
s and pear
s of the country, most it for exportation with 38% of it as fresh fruit and 40% as juice concentrate
, through the port of San Antonio Oeste
.
In the Valle Medio, besides apples and pears, tomato
es (specially around Lamarque
), onion
s and other fresh vegetables are produced for local and national consumption.
The crops around the city of El Bolsón
are mainly berries
, and hops with 70% of the national production.
Outside the most fertile valleys used for agriculture cattle
(specially on the North), goat
s (on the South) and sheep are raised. 13% of the national sheep meat and wool production comes from the Río Negro Province.
There is a relatively small petroleum
extraction area around the town of Catriel near General Roca
, but it cannot be compared with those in other provinces such as Santa Cruz and Neuquén
. Most of what is extracted is taken non-processed to plants in the Buenos Aires Province
. There is also some mining activity for diatomite, gypsum
, salt
and others.
Industrial fishing takes place in the Atlantic Ocean
waters of the San Matías Gulf with an annual recollection of 11,000 tons of fishes, and 8,000 of seafood
. Hake
, squid
, and shellfish
s are the most common capture, most of which are frozen and exported.
Manufacturing and light industries are concentrated mostly in the Alto Valle (especially food processing, but also other industries), with some industries in Viedma and in Bariloche. High-tech industries concentrate in Bariloche: the most noteworthy being a state-owned firm called INVAP which produces, among other things, nuclear reactors and satellite components. Nuclear research is carried on at the Centro Atomico Bariloche, dependent on the Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, and the Instituto Balseiro awards degrees in Physics, Nuclear Engineering and other hard sciences to a handful of rigorously selected students every year.
and
the Atlantic
coast.
The most visited area is that of the lake district near San Carlos de Bariloche
inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park
, and neighbouring Neuquén Province
. This includes the Isla Victoria, Camino de los Siete Lagos, Los Arrayanes National Park
, and many trekking paths among lakes.
The Cerro Catedral
ski centre is the biggest in South America
and is visited by people from all South America, and people from the Northern Hemisphere
from late June to mid-September. The mountain is also a popular destination during the summer; trekkers crash at the Refugio Lynch or camp by the Tonček lake on the Southern part of the mountain. Other many peaks include the Tronador
and its loud thundering mountain glacier.
There are also numerous hotels and accommodations by the Nahuel Huapi Lake
, most notably the luxurious Llao-Llao hotel.
El Bolsón
is a mid-stop for those going to (or coming from) the Chubut Province
's Los Alerces National Park
, were home made beer and handicrafts are commonplace.
This zone is known for having much international tourism, generating rising developments in areas such as restaurants, hotels and Spanish language instructional schools.
There is a rising number of U.S.-American and European
expatriates sought the area to retire, and other South American and Asian immigrants arrived to work in small shops and hotels.
The cliffs of the beach in Las Grutas
("The Caves") have been eroded by the fluctuating tides, making caves (grutas) on them.
The green-water beaches are mainly visited by tourists from nearby locations, except during the Fiesta Nacional del Golfo Azul, with artists from South America
. Las Grutas is still a small city but it has a big casino by the beach and a number of hostels and other accommodation options.
The Balneario El Cóndor on the Ruta Provincial 1 is visited mainly by the inhabitants of the near Viedma, and its waters are coloured by the Río Negro river-mouth located some kilometres North.
Near Sierra Grande, Playas Doradas ("Golden Beaches") is a small but quickly growing beach town, with a number of hostels and a few hotels. Nearby mining facilities closed years ago can be visited for a fully equipped adventure ride.
Only local tourists visit the Alto Valle or Valle Medio. The most famous place is the birthplace of the local divinity Ceferino Namuncurá
in Chimpay
. Some popular events related with agriculture products take place in different cities, Fiesta Nacional de la Manzana in General Roca, Fiesta Nacional de la Pera in Allen and Fiesta Nacional del Tomate in Lamarque.
Some water sports and fishing on the Río Negro River.
The province is divided in 13 departments
(Spanish departamentos).
Department (Capital)
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of 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...
, located at the northern edge of 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...
. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut
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...
, Neuquén
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...
, Mendoza
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
, La Pampa and Buenos Aires
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...
. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Its capital is Viedma. Other important cities include the ski resort town of Bariloche, Cipolletti
Cipolletti
Cipolletti is a city in north of the Patagonian , with 75,078 inhabitants as of the .The city is located on the north-eastern shore of the Neuquén River, just before it is joined by the Limay River to form the Negro River, a short distance upstream from the city of General Roca...
and General Roca
General Roca
General Roca may refer to a number of things and places named after Argentine military Julio Argentino Roca:Places;Argentina*General Roca, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Córdoba...
.
History
PuelchePuelche
Puelche is the name that the Mapuche used to give the ethnic groups who inhabited the lands to the east of the Andes Mountains including the northern Tehuelches and Hets, these last ones were also known as the Pampas or Querandíes...
s, Picunches and Vuriloches tribes of the Tehuelche aboriginal group lived in the area before the arrival of the Spanish
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
Conquistadores. Pushed by the Spanish, the Araucan
Araucanian languages
The Araucanian languages, sometimes considered divergent dialects of a single language isolate, are a small language family of central Chile and neighboring areas of Argentina....
os crossed 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...
from 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...
mixing with local ethnics.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
was the first explorer to visit the coasts of the provinces in 1520. Priest Nicolás Mascardi founded the Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
Nuestra Senora de Nahuel Huapi in 1670 at the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake is a lake in the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, in Argentina. The lake depression consists of several glacial valleys carved out along faults and Miocene valleys that were later dammed by moraines.Nahuel Huapi lake, located...
, at the feet of the Andes range.
In 1779 Francisco Fernández de Viedma founded both Mercedes de Patagones (current Viedma) and Carmen de Patagones
Carmen de Patagones
- Geography :It is located 937 km from the city of Buenos Aires, on the north bank of the Río Negro , near the Atlantic Ocean, and opposite Viedma, capital of the province of Río Negro...
(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...
) on opposite sides of the Río Negro River's mouth.
After the May Revolution
May Revolution
The May Revolution was a week-long series of events that took place from May 18 to 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish colony that included roughly the territories of present-day Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
there was a first attempt to subdue the aboriginals of the area, but it was not until the Conquest of the Desert
Conquest of the Desert
The Conquest of the Desert was a military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s, which established Argentine dominance over Patagonia, which was inhabited by indigenous peoples...
commanded by General Julio Argentino Roca
Julio Argentino Roca
Alejo Julio Argentino Roca Paz was an army general who served as President of Argentina from 12 October 1880 to 12 October 1886 and again from 12 October 1898 to 12 October 1904.-Upbringing and early career:...
that the local inhabitants were reduced and the constant danger of their attacks eliminated. Francisco Moreno
Francisco Moreno
Francisco Pascacio Moreno was a prominent explorer and academic in Argentina, where he is usually referred to as Perito Moreno...
started his exploration of the 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...
at the Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake is a lake in the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, in Argentina. The lake depression consists of several glacial valleys carved out along faults and Miocene valleys that were later dammed by moraines.Nahuel Huapi lake, located...
area to later adventure further south.
By the beginning of the 19th century, many settlements such as San Carlos de Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche, usually known as Bariloche, is a city in the , situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is located inside Nahuel Huapi National Park...
, General Roca
General Roca
General Roca may refer to a number of things and places named after Argentine military Julio Argentino Roca:Places;Argentina*General Roca, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Córdoba...
and Choele Choel
Choele Choel
Choele Choel is the capital of the department of Avellaneda in the Argentine province of Río Negro, and the most important settlement within the Valle Medio agricultural area of the Río Negro River in Patagonia-Overview:...
were already constituted and received French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigration, and other such as Cipolletti
Cipolletti
Cipolletti is a city in north of the Patagonian , with 75,078 inhabitants as of the .The city is located on the north-eastern shore of the Neuquén River, just before it is joined by the Limay River to form the Negro River, a short distance upstream from the city of General Roca...
, Ingeniero Huergo and others installed in the Alto Valle region. Soon the production of fruits became the main economical activity, and the railway connected the Alto Valle with the ports on the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
Río Negro acquired status of province on December 10, 1957.
Geography and climate
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...
, the Limay River
Limay River
The Limay River is an important river in the northwestern Argentine Patagonia . It is born at the eastern end of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and flows in a meandering path for about 380 km, collecting the waters of several tributaries, such as the Traful, the Pichileufú and the Collón Curá. It then meets...
serves as natural border with the Neuquén Province
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...
to the West, as the Colorado River
Colorado River (Argentina)
The Colorado River is a river in the south of Argentina.The Colorado river marks most of the political limit between the provinces of Neuquén and Mendoza, and between Rio Negro and La Pampa...
does with La Pampa Province
La Pampa Province
La Pampa is a sparsely populated province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise San Luis, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Río Negro, Neuquén and Mendoza.-History:...
to the North. The parallel 42 marks the southern limit of the province.
The main water source at the arid plains that cover most of the province is the Río Negro River, in whose valley most of the settlements and farms are located. The over 600 km of the Rio Negro's valley are divided in Alto Valle (West), Valle Medio (center) and Valle Inferior (East).
The central part of the province is dominated by a series of plateaus and isolated hills, with altitudes ranging from 600 meters (2000 ft) above sea level to 1000 meters (3300 ft). Especially noteworthy is the plateau called "Meseta de Somuncura" in the central-eastern part of the province, with altitudes generally above 1000 meters (3300 ft) and some spots reaching 1300 meters (4200 ft). Moving further west, the foothills of the Andes are dominated by a series of low valleys discharging either towards the Atlantic through the Limay river, or to the Pacific through the Manso and Puelo rivers: deep blue-water lakes form in the Andean valleys, with some regions reaching very low altitudes (under 400 meters, or 1300 ft, in the Pacific basin, and 750 meters, or 2500 ft, in the Atlantic basin). The Andes are here deeply cut by glacial valleys, and the altitude of the peaks is moderate: for most, it ranges between 1,700 meters and 2,200 meters (5600 to 7200 ft), with only a handful of peaks surpassing 2,400 meters (7800 ft). Especially noteworthy is the Cerro Tronador, a heavily glaciated peak of 3,405 meters (11,100 ft) which clearly dominates the surrounding landscape.
The climate of the province is temperate at low elevations, and very cold in the higher Andean peaks. Several variations occur in the province, but we can distinguish 5 main climatic regions:
The Atlantic coast has a very dry, moderate climate. The existence of warm currents creates higher temperatures than in regions further north in the province of Buenos Aires: summers are hot, with highs between 28°C (82F) and 32°C (91F) and nights are pleasant, at 15°C (59F) to 18°C (64F). The air is very dry, and precipitation is only about 30 mm (1.2 in) monthly during the season, falling in the form of isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures cool down with the start of fall in March, and by April, one can expect highs of 20°C (69F) and lows of 10°C (50F) along the coast. Winter is surprisingly mild for Patagonian standards, and very dry: highs average 12°C to 15°C (54F to 59F) and lows between 1°C and 4°C (34F to 39F). Temperatures will sometimes fall down to -10°C (14F) and snow or sleet showers can occur sometimes, but they remain infrequent. Spring is progressively warmer but extremely windy. Total precipitation averages only 250 to 300 mm (9.8 in to 11.8 in).
The Rio Negro Valley and Colorado Valley run through the northern part of the province, the latter forming the border with the province of La Pampa. They cut deep, fertile valleys that form irrigated oases (especially the Rio Negro) with a climate that is markedly warmer than most regions of the province: summers are very hot, usually above 30°C (86F) during the day and sometimes up to 40°C (104F) followed by relatively cool nights, and thunderstorms are more frequent further north. Winters are similar to those along the coast but nights tend to be colder, with average lows of just about 0°C (32F). Precipitation ranges from 450 mm in the extreme northeast corner (helped by summer thunderstorms), to under 200 mm in the northwestern part, distributed quite evenly with a slight peak in the spring and summer.
The weather tends to be significantly rougher in the central plateaus, due to a more southerly location, a further distance from the ocean and the higher elevation. The few towns in this area are located at about 800 meters (2600 ft) in elevation, next to rivers or ponds, protected from the worst winds. In these spots, summers are warm with strikingly cold nights (highs of 24°C to 28°C, or 75F to 82F, lows of 5°C to 10°C or 41F to 50F). Frost happens throughout the year, and is a daily occurrence starting in the fall. Winters are extremely variable: on average, highs are around 4°C to 9°C (39F to 48F) and lows are -7°C to -2°C (19F to 28F). However, when Antarctic air masses invade the region, temperatures can plummet to extremely low values due to radiative cooling and the extremely dryness of the air: -18°C (0F) is a relatively common temperature, and most inhabited places can go down to -25°C (-13F), with unofficial records approaching -35°C (-31F) in some spots. Snow falls very frequently but usually in small quantities due to the dryness; however, on some exceptional winters, the villages in the area have been isolated for weeks by severe snowstorms. Spring brings milder days but common frost at night, and very high winds of up to 100 km per hour (60 miles per hour). Precipitation ranges from 100 mm (3.9 in) to 300 mm (11.8 in), and is more frequent in the fall and winter.
As we approach the Andes, the air masses from the Pacific bring increased humidity: about 50 km from the border with Chile, most spots receive between 400 mm (16 in) and 600 mm (24 in) of rain and snow; in most Andean low valleys, the values are between 1000 mm (39 in) and 2000 mm (78 in) and where low passes let air masses come from Chile, 3000 mm (118 in). Some spots have up to 4500 mm (177 in) annually, and are among Argentina's rainiest. Summers are cool and windy due to Pacific air, with highs between 18°C (64F) and 25°C (77F), and almost never reaching 30°C (86F) and cold nights between 2°C and 9°C (35F to 48F). Most days are dry and sunny, but when storms stagnate around the coast, several rainy days may follow. The main changeover occurs in April, when the train of storms common to this latitude (40° to 42°) hit the region: in May alone, between 150 mm (6 in) and 600 mm (24 in) fall in the region. Winter brings a mixture of rain, sleet and snow to low valleys, with highs between 2°C and 9°C (35F to 48F) and lows between -5°C and 4°C (23F to 39F). Extreme temperatures are much more moderate than in the steppes further east: they only occasionally plummet to -15°C (5F) and most areas have only recorded up to -20°C (-4F) a few times. Snow falls very often and can be heavy, with up to a foot at valley level on some years; however, due to the mild Pacific influence, accumulations rarely last more than a few days.
Finally, higher altitudes have colder temperatures: above 1200 meters (3900 ft), snow cover will usually last for about 3 to 5 months every year, and many summer rainstorms will leave a dusting of snow during the night. At 1600 meters, snow frequently reaches depths of over 1.5 meters (over 5 feet) and lasts until early summer. The tree line is located at 1600 meters (5200 ft) in southerly slopes and 1800 (5900 ft) in northerly slopes; at 2000 meters (6600 ft), pockets of snow remain until late summer in the shade and at about 2400 meters (7900 ft), eternal snow is present. The weather is unpredictable at these heights, and is always extremely cold and windy on top of Cerro Tronador.
Economy
Argentina's ninth-largest, Rio Negro's economy is a diversified service-based one with vigorous agricultural and light manufacturing sectors. Its 2006 output was an estimated US$5.4 billion, or, US$9,800 per capita (about 12% above the national average).The province's agriculture (about 10% of output) is concentrated in the fertile valleys of the Río Negro River, specially at the Alto Valle but also at the Valle Medio. The province produces almost 70% of the apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s and pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
s of the country, most it for exportation with 38% of it as fresh fruit and 40% as juice concentrate
Concentrate
A concentrate is a form of substance which has had the majority of its base component removed. Typically this will be the removal of water from a solution or suspension such as the removal of water from fruit juice...
, through the port of San Antonio Oeste
San Antonio Oeste
San Antonio Oeste is a port city in the Argentine province of Río Negro, and head of the department of San Antonio.The town is bordered by its sister communities of San Antonio Este, to the east, and Las Grutas, to the southwest. Discovered by an expedition of the Spanish Empire in 1779, San Matías...
.
In the Valle Medio, besides apples and pears, tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es (specially around Lamarque
Lamarque, Argentina
Lamarque is an Argentine locality situated about from Choele Choel, in the province of Río Negro. It is the birthplace of writer Rodolfo Walsh....
), onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s and other fresh vegetables are produced for local and national consumption.
The crops around the city of El Bolsón
El Bolsón, Río Negro
El Bolsón is a town situated in the southwest of Río Negro Province, Argentina, at the foot of the Piltriquitron Mountain. Due to a series of valleys through the mountains of Chile to the Pacific Ocean, El Bolsón has an unusually mild climate for its southern location.El Bolsón area's first...
are mainly berries
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
, and hops with 70% of the national production.
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
(specially on the North), goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s (on the South) and sheep are raised. 13% of the national sheep meat and wool production comes from the Río Negro Province.
There is a relatively small petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
extraction area around the town of Catriel near General Roca
General Roca
General Roca may refer to a number of things and places named after Argentine military Julio Argentino Roca:Places;Argentina*General Roca, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Río Negro*General Roca Department, Córdoba...
, but it cannot be compared with those in other provinces such as Santa Cruz and Neuquén
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...
. Most of what is extracted is taken non-processed to plants in the 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...
. There is also some mining activity for diatomite, gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
, salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
and others.
Industrial fishing takes place in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
waters of the San Matías Gulf with an annual recollection of 11,000 tons of fishes, and 8,000 of seafood
Seafood
Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia...
. Hake
Hake
The term hake refers to fish in either of:* family Phycidae of the northern oceans* family Merlucciidae of the southern oceans-Hake fish:...
, squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, and shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
s are the most common capture, most of which are frozen and exported.
Manufacturing and light industries are concentrated mostly in the Alto Valle (especially food processing, but also other industries), with some industries in Viedma and in Bariloche. High-tech industries concentrate in Bariloche: the most noteworthy being a state-owned firm called INVAP which produces, among other things, nuclear reactors and satellite components. Nuclear research is carried on at the Centro Atomico Bariloche, dependent on the Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, and the Instituto Balseiro awards degrees in Physics, Nuclear Engineering and other hard sciences to a handful of rigorously selected students every year.
Tourism
There are two main areas of tourism in the province; the AndesAndes
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...
and
the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast.
- The Andean Area
The most visited area is that of the lake district near San Carlos de Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche, usually known as Bariloche, is a city in the , situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is located inside Nahuel Huapi National Park...
inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Established in 1934, the Nahuel Huapi National Park is the oldest national park in Argentina. It surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes. The largest of the national parks in the region, it has an area of , or nearly 2 million acres...
, and neighbouring Neuquén Province
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...
. This includes the Isla Victoria, Camino de los Siete Lagos, Los Arrayanes National Park
Los Arrayanes National Park
Los Arrayanes National Park is a national park of Argentina with an area of 17.53 square kilometres. It covers the Quetrihué Peninsula on the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake in the province of Neuquén, 3 km from Villa la Angostura....
, and many trekking paths among lakes.
The Cerro Catedral
Cerro Catedral
Cerro Catedral is a mountain located from San Carlos de Bariloche, and inside the Nahuel Huapí National Park, Patagonia, Argentina.The mountain holds one of the biggest ski centers in South America, with a skiable area of , over of ski runs, and a lift capacity of 22,200 skiers per hour . It is...
ski centre is the biggest in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and is visited by people from all South America, and people from the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
from late June to mid-September. The mountain is also a popular destination during the summer; trekkers crash at the Refugio Lynch or camp by the Tonček lake on the Southern part of the mountain. Other many peaks include the Tronador
Tronador
Tronador is an extinct stratovolcano in the southern Andes, located along the border between Argentina and Chile near the city of Bariloche. The mountain was named Tronador by locals in reference to the sound of falling seracs...
and its loud thundering mountain glacier.
There are also numerous hotels and accommodations by the Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake
Nahuel Huapi Lake is a lake in the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén, in Argentina. The lake depression consists of several glacial valleys carved out along faults and Miocene valleys that were later dammed by moraines.Nahuel Huapi lake, located...
, most notably the luxurious Llao-Llao hotel.
El Bolsón
El Bolsón, Río Negro
El Bolsón is a town situated in the southwest of Río Negro Province, Argentina, at the foot of the Piltriquitron Mountain. Due to a series of valleys through the mountains of Chile to the Pacific Ocean, El Bolsón has an unusually mild climate for its southern location.El Bolsón area's first...
is a mid-stop for those going to (or coming from) the 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...
's Los Alerces National Park
Los Alerces National Park
The Los Alerces National Park is a national park in Chubut Province, Argentina, some 30 miles from Esquel. It is a park of 2,630 square kilometres along the border with Chile, best known for the alerce trees from which the park takes its name.The park was created in 1937 in order to protect the...
, were home made beer and handicrafts are commonplace.
This zone is known for having much international tourism, generating rising developments in areas such as restaurants, hotels and Spanish language instructional schools.
There is a rising number of U.S.-American and European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
expatriates sought the area to retire, and other South American and Asian immigrants arrived to work in small shops and hotels.
- The Atlantic Coast
The cliffs of the beach in Las Grutas
Las Grutas
Las Grutas is a beach resort town located in the Argentine province of Río Negro, in the department of San Antonio, with a stable population of 3,500 inhabitant.s...
("The Caves") have been eroded by the fluctuating tides, making caves (grutas) on them.
The green-water beaches are mainly visited by tourists from nearby locations, except during the Fiesta Nacional del Golfo Azul, with artists from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Las Grutas is still a small city but it has a big casino by the beach and a number of hostels and other accommodation options.
The Balneario El Cóndor on the Ruta Provincial 1 is visited mainly by the inhabitants of the near Viedma, and its waters are coloured by the Río Negro river-mouth located some kilometres North.
Near Sierra Grande, Playas Doradas ("Golden Beaches") is a small but quickly growing beach town, with a number of hostels and a few hotels. Nearby mining facilities closed years ago can be visited for a fully equipped adventure ride.
- The Centre
Ceferino Namuncurá
Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá was a saintly religious student and the object of a Roman Catholic cultus of veneration in northern Patagonia and throughout Argentina.- Early life :...
in Chimpay
Chimpay
Chimpay is a village and municipality in Río Negro Province in Argentina. The village is the birthplace of the blessed Ceferino Namuncurá.-References:...
. Some popular events related with agriculture products take place in different cities, Fiesta Nacional de la Manzana in General Roca, Fiesta Nacional de la Pera in Allen and Fiesta Nacional del Tomate in Lamarque.
Some water sports and fishing on the Río Negro River.
Political division
Departments of Argentina
Departments form the second level of administrative division in the provinces of Argentina. There are no departments in the city of Buenos Aires, which has so far been divided into neighbourhoods as its administrative divisions, but is to be divided now into communes by a recently passed local act...
(Spanish departamentos).
Department (Capital)
- Adolfo Alsina Department (Viedma)
- Avellaneda DepartmentAvellaneda Department, Río NegroAvellaneda is a department of the Río Negro Province, Argentina.It's crossed by the Negro River forming a fertile valley known as the Valle Medio. The river bifurcates and then both arms join again forming two main islands known as Isla grande de Choele Choel and Isla Chica de Choele Choel and a...
(Choele ChoelChoele ChoelChoele Choel is the capital of the department of Avellaneda in the Argentine province of Río Negro, and the most important settlement within the Valle Medio agricultural area of the Río Negro River in Patagonia-Overview:...
) - Bariloche Department (San Carlos de BarilocheSan Carlos de BarilocheSan Carlos de Bariloche, usually known as Bariloche, is a city in the , situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and is located inside Nahuel Huapi National Park...
) - Conesa Department (General Conesa)
- El Cuy Department (El Cuy)
- General Roca Department (General RocaGeneral Roca, Río NegroGeneral Roca is a city in the northeast of the Argentine province of Río Negro, northern Patagonia. UN/LOCODE is ARGNR.It was founded on September 1, 1879 by Coronel Lorenzo Vintter during the Conquest of the Desert...
) - Nueve de Julio Department (Sierra Colorada)
- Ñorquinco Department (Ñorquinco)
- Pichi Mahuida Department (Río Colorado)
- Pilcaniyeu Department (Pilcaniyeu)
- San Antonio Department (San Antonio OesteSan Antonio OesteSan Antonio Oeste is a port city in the Argentine province of Río Negro, and head of the department of San Antonio.The town is bordered by its sister communities of San Antonio Este, to the east, and Las Grutas, to the southwest. Discovered by an expedition of the Spanish Empire in 1779, San Matías...
) - Valcheta Department (ValchetaValchetaValcheta is a village and municipality in Río Negro Province in Argentina, seat of government of Valcheta Department.- History :Valcheta is one of the oldest settlements in Río Negro Province...
) - Veinticinco de Mayo Department (Maquinchao)
See also
External links
- Official Site (Spanish)
- Secretary of Tourism (English, Spanish and Portuguese)
- Guía web de Río Negro
- Río Negro info (English)
- images of Rio Negro near Los Andes
- Pictures of Río Negro