Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
Encyclopedia
Río Gallegos (ˈri.o ɣaˈʃeɣos) is the capital of the Patagonia
province
of Santa Cruz
, Argentina
. It has a population of about 79,000 as per the , while at 2009, the estimated population may be well over 100,000. The city sits on the estuary
of the Gallegos River
, 2636 km (1,638 mi) south from Buenos Aires
.
an in 1525 by the explorer Jofré De Loaiza, and was called San Idelfonso River. Simón de Alcazaba's 1535 expedition was the first to name the river "Río Gallegos". The area was not settled by Europeans until much later, with one of the earliest recorded indications of habitation in 1885, when the Argentine government wished to better express its sovereignty over southern Patagonia
— a naval base was created which increased the development of the town. Between 1912 and 1920, the government encouraged settlers from the Falkland Islands
and southern Chile
with preferential farming conditions. Some 3,000 arrived and boosted the town. As sheep-farming increased, Río Gallegos became the principal port for exporting sheep and their products. The Pioneers Museum is a preserved old Patagonian house exhibiting the life of the early settlers.
In 1888, then-governor Ramón Lista decided to move the Territorial Capital from Puerto Santa Cruz
to Río Gallegos. Official ratification of this decision came on 19 May 1904. In 1957, the Territory of Santa Cruz was declared a Province
, with Mario Cástulo Paradelo as its first Governor.
In the 1982 Falklands War
, the city airport
was base of Argentine Air Force
Mirage III interceptors and A-4 Skyhawk
s strike aircraft.
Argentina's former president during 2003-2007, Néstor Kirchner
, was mayor of Río Gallegos between 1987 and 1991.
Today, Río Gallegos is an important city of the far south Argentina, with military bases and an international airport
. Flights between Chile and Mount Pleasant airbase
at the Falkland Islands stop at Río Gallegos once a month.
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The climate is semiarid, windy and cold, with snow during the winter. It is one of the windiest cities on earth, with winds above 50 km per hour being commonplace, and over 100 km per hour not exceptional. Winters average 5ºC (41F) during the day and -2ºC (28F) at night, but can reach -20ºC (-4F) on occasion. Summers are extremely windy and cloudy, with days reaching a cool 19ºC (66F) and nights dropping to a relatively cold 7ºC (45F). Cold weather can occur at any time, and despite the very low precipitation, bad weather with light drizzle and clouds is quite common.
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...
province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)
Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country, in Patagonia. It borders Chubut province to the north, and Chile to the west and south. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean...
, 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...
. It has a population of about 79,000 as per the , while at 2009, the estimated population may be well over 100,000. The city sits on the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the Gallegos River
Gallegos River
The Gallegos River is a river in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, on whose estuary lies Río Gallegos city, capital of the province.The river is formed at the confluence of the Rubens and Penitentes rivers, and after traveling it reaches the Atlantic Coast.On its way east, after crossing a ...
, 2636 km (1,638 mi) south 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...
.
History
The river was first sighted by a EuropeEurope
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...
an in 1525 by the explorer Jofré De Loaiza, and was called San Idelfonso River. Simón de Alcazaba's 1535 expedition was the first to name the river "Río Gallegos". The area was not settled by Europeans until much later, with one of the earliest recorded indications of habitation in 1885, when the Argentine government wished to better express its sovereignty over southern 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...
— a naval base was created which increased the development of the town. Between 1912 and 1920, the government encouraged settlers from the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
and southern 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...
with preferential farming conditions. Some 3,000 arrived and boosted the town. As sheep-farming increased, Río Gallegos became the principal port for exporting sheep and their products. The Pioneers Museum is a preserved old Patagonian house exhibiting the life of the early settlers.
In 1888, then-governor Ramón Lista decided to move the Territorial Capital from Puerto Santa Cruz
Puerto Santa Cruz
Puerto Santa Cruz is a town and municipality in Santa Cruz Province in southern Argentina....
to Río Gallegos. Official ratification of this decision came on 19 May 1904. In 1957, the Territory of Santa Cruz was declared a Province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
, with Mario Cástulo Paradelo as its first Governor.
In the 1982 Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, the city airport
Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport
Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport is located west-southwest of the center of Río Gallegos, a city in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina. The airport covers an area of 1150 hectares and is operated by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A.It is served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, LAN...
was base of Argentine Air Force
Argentine Air Force
The Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
Mirage III interceptors and A-4 Skyhawk
A-4 Skyhawk
The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...
s strike aircraft.
Argentina's former president during 2003-2007, Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, was mayor of Río Gallegos between 1987 and 1991.
Today, Río Gallegos is an important city of the far south Argentina, with military bases and an international airport
Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport
Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport is located west-southwest of the center of Río Gallegos, a city in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina. The airport covers an area of 1150 hectares and is operated by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A.It is served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, LAN...
. Flights between Chile and Mount Pleasant airbase
RAF Mount Pleasant
RAF Mount Pleasant is a military base for the Royal Air Force in the British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands. The facility is part of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands...
at the Falkland Islands stop at Río Gallegos once a month.
Climate