Ensenada de Barragán
Encyclopedia
The Ensenada de Barragán ("Barragán's Bay, or Cove") is a small bay on the Río de la Plata
, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Buenos Aires
, Argentina
. The area belongs today to the Ensenada district
of Buenos Aires province
, centred around the city of the Ensenada. The old cove has partly silted since the 17th century, and the area is now considered to be part of Isla Santiago (Santiago Island).
The coastal region was first mapped by Magellan
in 1520 in his trip around the world; the bay itself was settled by Hernandarias
in the early 17th century. In 1629, the land was sold to Antonio Gutiérrez Barragán, hence its toponymy. The town itself was founded in 1801.
Until the middle of the 19th century, the bay provided a good natural port. The cove was fortified by the Spanish governors, and later by the Viceroys of the River Plate
, several times with batteries and a defensive wall. The place came to be known as "Fuerte Barragán" (Fort Barragán, see below).
With the foundation of the new capital of Buenos Aires province (La Plata
) in 1882, a new port was built between Ensenada and the nearby town of Berisso
. The port relies on a dredged channel cutting through the silt of Barragán Bay and Santiago Island (and another natural channel called "Río Santiago") to connect La Plata
with the River Plate. The new haven is now known as Port of La Plata, and it is mostly used for industrial freight.
The Ensenada de Barragán played an important role during the British invasions of the Rio de la Plata
. On June 1806, Fort Barragán was commanded by Santiago de Liniers
and repulsed the first landing of the British under General Beresford
; the invading army was forced to come ashore at Quilmes, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) upstream. On the second British invasion
on June 1807, however, the fort was left unmanned and it was captured by Lieutenant-General Whitelocke
.
The fort was rebuilt under the direction of Pedro Benoit
in 1855 and again by the Buenos Aires province
in 1911. Since 1985, it is a Historic Museum managed by the municipality of Ensenada.
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...
, some 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of 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...
, 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...
. The area belongs today to the Ensenada district
Ensenada Partido
Ensenada Partido is a district of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, belonging to the Greater La Plata area, just south of the Gran Buenos Aires urban conglomerate....
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...
, centred around the city of the Ensenada. The old cove has partly silted since the 17th century, and the area is now considered to be part of Isla Santiago (Santiago Island).
The coastal region was first mapped by Magellan
Magellan
Magellan may refer to:*Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who led part of the first expedition around the world*Magellan , a progressive rock band*Magellan , a forerunner of the Excite web portal...
in 1520 in his trip around the world; the bay itself was settled by Hernandarias
Hernando Arias de Saavedra
Hernando Arias de Saavedra , commonly known as Hernandarias, was a soldier and politician of criollo ancestry. He was the first American-born person to become a governor of a European colony in the Americas.-Early life:...
in the early 17th century. In 1629, the land was sold to Antonio Gutiérrez Barragán, hence its toponymy. The town itself was founded in 1801.
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
, several times with batteries and a defensive wall. The place came to be known as "Fuerte Barragán" (Fort Barragán, see below).
With the foundation of the new capital of Buenos Aires province (La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
) in 1882, a new port was built between Ensenada and the nearby town of Berisso
Berisso
Berisso is the "cabecera" of the Department of Berisso of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It forms part of the Greater La Plata urban area and has a population of approximately 14.021 Inhabitants.-People:...
. The port relies on a dredged channel cutting through the silt of Barragán Bay and Santiago Island (and another natural channel called "Río Santiago") to connect La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
with the River Plate. The new haven is now known as Port of La Plata, and it is mostly used for industrial freight.
Fuerte Barragán: A defensive battery on the River Plate
On 2 January 1801 Viceroy Marqués de Avilés granted Colonel Pedro Cerviño the settlement of a town at the Ensenada de Barragán. He was also responsible for building the first defensive wall at Fuerte Barragán (Fort Barragán), as well as its eight-cannon battery.The Ensenada de Barragán played an important role during the British invasions of the Rio de la Plata
British invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
. On June 1806, Fort Barragán was commanded by Santiago de Liniers
Santiago de Liniers
Jacques de Liniers was a French officer in the Spanish military service, and a viceroy of the Spanish colonies of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. He is more widely known by the Spanish form of his name, Santiago de Liniers...
and repulsed the first landing of the British under General Beresford
William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford
General William Carr Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, 1st Marquis of Campo Maior, GCB, GCH, GCTE, PC , was a British soldier and politician...
; the invading army was forced to come ashore at Quilmes, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) upstream. On the second British invasion
British invasions of the Río de la Plata
The British invasions of the Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colonies located around the La Plata Basin in South America . The invasions took place between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars, when Spain was an ally of...
on June 1807, however, the fort was left unmanned and it was captured by Lieutenant-General Whitelocke
John Whitelocke
-Military career:Whitelocke entered the army in 1778 and served in Jamaica and in San Domingo. In 1805 he was made a lieutenant-general and inspector-general of recruiting, and in 1807 he was appointed to command an expedition to seize Buenos Aires from the Spanish Empire, which was in disarray due...
.
The fort was rebuilt under the direction of Pedro Benoit
Pedro Benoit
Pedro Benoit was an Argentine architect, engineer and urbanist best known for designing the layout of the city of La Plata.-Life and times:...
in 1855 and again by 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...
in 1911. Since 1985, it is a Historic Museum managed by the municipality of Ensenada.