Río Negro Province

Short description: Province of Argentina

This page is about the province of Argentina. For the province of Colombia, see Rionegro Province.

"Negro River" redirects here. For other uses, see Negro River (disambiguation) and Rio Negro (disambiguation).

Río Negro

Province

Province of Río Negro
Provincia de Río Negro (Spanish)
View of Nahuel Huapi Lake

View of Nahuel Huapi Lake

Flag

Official seal of Río Negro
Seal

Coordinates:  [ ⚑ ] : 40°48′S 63°00′W﻿ / ﻿40.8°S 63°W﻿ / -40.8; -63
Country| Argentina
Capital| Viedma
Divisions| 13 departments
Government

• Governor| Alberto Weretilneck (JSRN)
• Vice Governor| Pedro Oscar Pesatti (PJ)
• Legislature| 46
• National Deputies| 5
• National Senators| Claudio Doñate (UP)
Silvina García Larraburu (UP)
Mónica Silva (JSRN)
Area

• Total| 203,013 km2 (78,384 sq mi)
Population

(2022 census[1])

• Total| 750,768
• Rank| 15th
• Density| 3.7/km2 (9.6/sq mi)
Demonym(s)| Rionegrino
GDP

• Total| peso 111 billion
(US$6.7 billion) (2018)[2]
Time zone| ART
ISO 3166 code| AR-R
HDI (2021)| 0.844 very high (7th)[3]
Website| rionegro.gov.ar

Río Negro (es, Black River) is a province of Argentina, located in northern Patagonia.[4] 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 near the Atlantic outlet of the province's namesake river in the eastern extreme. The largest city is Bariloche in the far west in the Andean foothills. Other important cities include General Roca and Cipolletti.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Climate
* 2.1.1 Temperature
* 2.1.2 Humidity and precipitation
* 2.1.3 Wind and sunshine
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Government
* 5 Political division
* 6 Economy
* 7 Tourism
* 8 Villages
* 9 References
* 10 Notes
* 11 External links

## History

Francisco Moreno, a prominent explorer and academic.

Ferdinand Magellan was the first European explorer to visit the coasts of the provinces in 1520. Italian priest Nicolás Mascardi founded the Jesuit mission Nuestra Señora de Nahuel Huapi in 1670 at the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake, at the feet of the Andes range.

Originally part of the Argentine territory called Patagonia (in 1878 the Gobernación de la Patagonia[5]), in 1884 it was organised into the Territorio Nacional del Río Negro and General Lorenzo Vintter was appointed as the territory's first governor. It was only in 1957,[6] that Río Negro acquired status of a province; its first provincial governor was Edgardo Castello of the Radical Civic Union (UCR).[7]

## Geography

File:Meseta de Somuncurá II.JPGThe Somuncurá Plateau.

Río Negro is one of the five provinces that make up Argentine Patagonia (together with the most southern partido of Buenos Aires Province - Patagones Partido).[8] It is bounded to the north by the Colorado River which separates it from La Pampa Province, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by the Andes and the Limay River (serves as the natural border with Neuquén Province).[8] The 42nd parallel south marks the southern limit of the province.[8] With an area of 203,013 square kilometres (78,383.8 sq mi), it is the 4th largest province by area.[9]

### Climate

Roadside scenery along the Upper Valley of the Río Negro ("Black River").

The climate of the province is temperate at low elevations, and very cold in the higher Andean peaks.

#### Temperature

The mean annual temperatures in the province are relatively cold for its latitude owing to the marine currents to the east and higher altitude to the west. Mean annual temperatures in the province can vary, depending on altitude and distance from the sea. The northern parts of the province are the warmest, with a mean annual temperature of more than 15 °C (59.0 °F) while the coldest areas are found in the Cordillera where the mean annual temperatures are less than 10 °C (50.0 °F). At the highest peaks, the mean annual temperature is less than freezing. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 °C (104.0 °F) although the mean January temperatures range from 20 to 24 °C (68.0 to 75.2 °F). In contrast, the Andean region has milder summers with mean January temperatures of 15 °C (59.0 °F) or less, depending on the altitude. In July, mean temperatures range from 7 to 8 °C (44.6 to 46.4 °F) on the coast in the north to around 2 to 3 °C (35.6 to 37.4 °F) in the central plateau.[10]

#### Humidity and precipitation

File:Base del Cerro Catedral en Bariloche. (Patagonia Argentina) 20.JPGSnow in Villa Cerro Catedral. File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 ARG Río Negro 1991–2020.svgKöppen classification map for the province of Río Negro

Relative humidity is lower in the central plateau where they average 50%.[10] Along the coastal regions, humidity is higher with a mean annual humidity of 60% while the Andean region has the highest humidity with an average annual humidity exceeding 65% due to the lower temperatures there.[10] In all locations, humidity is lower in the summer and higher in the winter owing to the higher temperatures in the summer.[10]

The Andes block most of the moisture from the Pacific Ocean from coming in, causing it to release most of the precipitation on its western slopes and as such, most of the province is dry, with a mean annual precipitation around 200 millimetres (8 in).[10] Coastal areas and northern parts of the province receive a slightly higher precipitation, where it can average above 300 millimetres (12 in) a year.[10] The Andean region receives the most precipitation with areas receiving a mean annual precipitation of 200 to 1,000 millimetres (8 to 39 in) in which the precipitation gradient is very strong and increases westwards.[10] In some places, precipitation can exceed 3,000 millimetres (118 in) a year.[10] Most of the Andean region has a rainfall pattern that is Mediterranean like, similar to Central Chile in which most of the precipitation falls during the winter months and summers are dry.[10]

#### Wind and sunshine

File:Ruta Nacional 40 km 1930.jpgNational Route 40 near Bariloche.

One dominant characteristic of the climate is the strong winds that are observed throughout the province.[10] Summers tend to be windier than winters.[10] Winds coming from the west, southwest and northwest are common, occurring 50% of the time (60% if calm winds are not included).[10] There is some tendency for the winds to come from the east, particularly on the coastal regions when sea breezes from the east can occur when westerly winds are weak, which can be felt up to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coast.[10] The mean wind speed throughout the province varies with the northern parts having the lowest wind speeds while the highest altitude areas being the windiest.[10] Except for the northern parts of the province, mean annual wind speeds exceed 4 metres per second (13 ft/s).[10]

Cloud cover varies throughout the province, ranging from more than 60% in the Andean region to about 40% in the coastal areas.[10] The central plateaus have intermediate amounts of cloud cover between these 2 regions.[10] As such, the Andean region is cloudier than the rest of the province.[10] Sunshine ranges from 10–11 hours of sunshine/day in January to about 5 hours of sunshine/day (less cloudier areas) to less than 3 hours of sunshine/day (more cloudier areas) in July.[10]

## Demographics

Historical population

Year| Pop.| ±%
1895 | 9,241| —
1914 | 42,242| +357.1%
1947 | 134,350| +218.0%
1960 | 193,292| +43.9%
1970 | 262,622| +35.9%
1980 | 383,354| +46.0%
1991 | 506,772| +32.2%
2001 | 552,822| +9.1%
2010 | 638,645| +15.5%
2022 | 750,768| +17.6%
Source: [11]

Ethnical groups in Río Negro (2022 census)[12]

Undeclared (92.9%)

Native (6.4%)

Black (0.7%)

According to the results from the Template:Census-ar, the province had a population of 638,645 with 316,774 males and 321,871 females.[11] It constituted 1.6% of the total population in Argentina.[13]: 63 This represented a 15.5% increase in the population compared to Template:Census-ar which had 552,822 inhabitants.[11] Amongst of all the provinces in Patagonia[note 1], it is the most populous, containing 30.4% of the total population in Patagonia.[note 1][14] The province's population rose to 750,768 at the 2022 Census.[1]

The province is home to four indigenous groups: The Tehuelches, the Puelches, the Pehuenches, and the Mapuches.[15] Almost all of the indigenous population in the province are the Mapuches with the rest being small in number where their few descendants live in the neighbouring provinces.[15] The Mapuches along with some of the Pehuenches originally lived in the western parts of the province although today, they mainly live in the southern parts of the province.[15] The Tehuelches were nomadic people that hunted on the steppes in the province.[15] The Puelches, being also nomadic, lived on the northern margins of Nahuel Huapi Lake and the surrounding forests in the Andean mountains, living off hunting and fishing.[15] It was previously thought that Mapuches started coming to the region before 1880 from Chile, leading to the imposition of their culture onto the other indigenous groups.[15] However, archaeological research has shown the existence of the Mapuche people in the Argentine provinces long before the arrival of the European conquerors.[16][17] Originally agricultural people, the Mapuches became nomadic upon arrival in the province due to the utilization of horses.[15]

File:Casa de Té en Colonia Suiza.jpgTea House in Colonia Suiza.

The province received immigrants mostly from Chile, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom during the last years of the 19th century and the first years of the 20th century.

## Government

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destinationGovernor Arabella Carreras

The provincial government is divided into the usual three branches: the executive, headed by a popularly elected governor, who appoints the cabinet; the legislative; and the judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court.

As of December 2019, Arabela Carreras became governor of the province, following the retirement of Alberto Weretilneck due to term-limit. She is the first woman elected governor of the province.[18]

The Constitution of Río Negro Province forms the formal law of the province.

In Argentina, the most important law enforcement organization is the Argentine Federal Police but the additional work is carried out by the Río Negro Provincial Police.

## Political division

Political division of the northern Patagonia; capital cities and heads of departments labeled, national roads and main rivers.

The province is divided into 13 departments (Spanish: departamentos), listed below with their areas and populations at the Censuses of 15 May 1991, 17 November 2000, 27 October 2010 and 16 May 2022:[1]

Name | Capital | Area (km2) | Census 1991 | Census 2000 | Census 2010 | Census 2022

|
|
|
|
|
|

Adolfo Alsina | Viedma | 8,813 | 44,465 | 50,701 | 57,678 | 64,482
Avellaneda | Choele Choel | 20,379 | 27,324 | 32,308 | 35,323 | 41,352
Bariloche | San Carlos de Bariloche | 5,415 | 94,640 | 109,826 | 133,500 | 162,088
Conesa | General Conesa | 9,765 | 6,187 | 6,291 | 7,069 | 7,429
El Cuy | El Cuy | 22,475 | 3,486 | 4,252 | 5,280 | 6,960
General Roca | General Roca | 14,655 | 264,582 | 281,653 | 320,921 | 380,525
Ñorquincó | Ñorquincó | 8,413 | 2,356 | 2,079 | 1,736 | 1,452
Nueve de Julio | Sierra Colorada | 25,597 | 3,474 | 3,501 | 3,475 | 3,719
Pichi Mahuida | Río Colorado | 15,378 | 13,351 | 14,026 | 14,017 | 16,551
Pilcaniyeu | Pilcaniyeu | 10,545 | 4,963 | 6,114 | 7,428 | 9,373
San Antonio | San Antonio Oeste | 14,015 | 24,216 | 23,972 | 29,284 | 35,800
Valcheta | Valcheta | 20,457 | 5,091 | 4,946 | 7,101 | 4,319
Veinticinco de Mayo | Maquinchao | 27,106 | 12,637 | 13,153 | 15,743 | 16,718
Río Negro Totals | Viedma | 203,013 | 506,772 | 552,822 | 638,645 | 750,768

Source for department names: [19]

View of Lake Nahuel Huapi and the city of Bariloche.

## Economy

Llao Llao Hotel, on Lake Nahuel Huapi. Tourism adds at least 10% to Rio Negro's 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$5.420 billion, or a per capita income of US$9,805.[20] In 2013, its output increased to $43.349 billion Pesos (about US$7.939 billion) at current market prices.[21][22]

There is a gold mine located at Calcatreu, near Ingeniero Jacobacci, owned by Pan American Silver.[23] in December 2011 the provincial government repealed a law banning the use of cyanide in mineral processing, and the mine's owners regarded this as a positive development which is likely to bring increased investment.[24]

## Tourism

Lake Nahuel Huapi, the most famous among the Andes range's many lakes.

There are two main areas of tourism in the province; the Andes and the Atlantic coast.

The Andean Area

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 Atlantic Coast
Las Grutas beach

Returns of southern right whales are possibly the biggest of tourism attractions.[25] They swim and rest very close to shore, and the San Matías Gulf is the only place in the world where swimming with this kind is commercially permitted.[26]

## Villages

* Arroyo de La Ventana
* Barrio Chacra Monte
* Barrio Puente 83
* Chipauquil
* Clemente Onelli
* Colan Conhue
* Colonia Juliá y Echarren
* Cubanea
* El Caín
* El Foyel
* El Manso
* La Lobería
* Las Bayas
* Mamuel Choique
* Mencué
* Mina Santa Teresita
* Nahuel Niyeu
* Naupa Huen
* Paso Córdoba
* Pilquiniyeu
* Pilquiniyeu del Limay
* Playas Doradas
* Pozo Salado
* Punta Colorada
* Sierra Pailemán

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos de la Republica Argentine, Census of 16 May 2022.
2. ↑ "PBG Río negro 2017". https://www.bst.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Prospecto-Preliminar.pdf.
3. ↑ "El mapa del desarrollo humano en Argentina". United Nations Development Programme. 25 June 2023. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-11/PNUD_ElMapaDelDesarrollo_FINAL_1.pdf.
4. ↑ "Constitución Nacional y Constitución Provincial" (in es-ES). https://web.legisrn.gov.ar/institucional/pagina/constitucion-de-la-provincia-de-rio-negro.
5. ↑ Law Nº 954, of 11 October 1878
6. ↑ Law Nº 14,408 of 15 June 1955 authorized the creation of the province, but this was not accomplished until 1957.
7. ↑ "Breve Historia del Edificio de la Legislatura". Legislatura de Río Negro. http://www.legisrn.gov.ar/edificio/historia.php.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Reseña Geografía" (in es). Gobierno de Río Negro. http://rionegro.gov.ar/?typeID=0&pagina=resena.
9. ↑ "División Política, Superficie y Población" (in es). Instituto Geográfico Nacional. http://www.ign.gob.ar/NuestrasActividades/Geografia/DatosArgentina/DivisionPolitica.
10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 "Provincia de Río Negro–Clima Y Metéorologia" (in es). Secretaria de Mineria de la Nacion (Argentina). http://www.mineria.gob.ar/estudios/irn/rionegro/r-2.asp#m1.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Población de la Provincia de Río Negro por sexo. Año 1895–2010" (in es). Dirección de Estadísticas y Censos de la Provincia de Río Negro. http://www.estadisticaycensos.rionegro.gov.ar/index.php?contID=20021.
12. ↑ "Censo 2022". INDEC. https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-2-41-165.
13. ↑ "Censo Nacional de Población, Hogares y Viviendas 2010: Resultados definitivos: Serie B No 2: Tomo 1" (in es). INDEC. http://www.indec.gov.ar/ftp/cuadros/poblacion/censo2010_tomo1.pdf.
14. ↑ "La Patagonia–Cuestiones demográficas de la tierra del fin del mundo" (in es). Dirección Provincial de Estadísticas y Censos de la Provincia del Neuquén. http://www.estadisticaneuquen.gob.ar/informes/Patagonia.pdf.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 "Los pueblos originarios" (in es). Gobierno de Río Negro. http://rionegro.gov.ar/?typeID=0&pagina=etnias.
16. ↑ Azara, Fundación (2017-03-01). "Sociedades originarias de la Patagonia, pasado y presente" (in es). https://fundacionazara.org.ar/sociedades-originarias-de-la-patagonia-pasado-y-presente/.
17. ↑ Pérez, Alberto E.; Tesmer, Rodrigo Moulian; Reyes Sánchez, Juan Francisco; Lanata, José L.; Medina, Andrea; Chapanoff Cerda, Miguel (2022-08-24). Hart, John P.. ed. "A pre-Hispanic canoe or Wampo burial in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina" (in en). PLOS ONE 17 (8). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272833. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 36001547. Bibcode: 2022PLoSO..1772833P.
18. ↑ "Quién es Arabela Carreras, la primera mujer gobernadora de Río Negro" (in Spanish). Perfil. 8 April 2019. https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/quien-es-arabela-carreras-primera-mujer-gobernadora-rio-negro.phtml.
19. ↑ "Departments". ARGENTINA: Río Negro. Citypopulation.de. http://www.citypopulation.de/php/argentina-rionegro.php.
20. ↑ "El déficit consolidado de las provincias rondará los $11.500 millones este año" (in es). Instituto Argentino para el Desarrollo de las Economías Regionales. http://www.iader.org.ar/?x=crecimpcial06.
21. ↑ "Indicadores Económicos" (in es). Dirección de Estadística y Censos de la Provincia de Río Negro. http://www.estadisticaycensos.rionegro.gov.ar/index.php?catID=499.
22. ↑ "Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) - Data". http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF.
23. ↑ "Calcatreu". Operations. Pan American Silver. http://www.panamericansilver.com/operations/argentina/calcatreu/.
24. ↑ Dorothy Kosich (20 January 2012). "Boost for gold mining as Argentina's Rio Negro Province repeals cyanide ban". Mineweb. Moneyweb Holdings. http://www.mineweb.co.za/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=143738&sn=Detail&pid=102055.
25. ↑ "Whales also choose Las Grutas - Las Grutas, Patagonia, Argentina.". http://www.patagonia.com.ar/Las+Grutas/691E_Whales+also+choose+Las+Grutas.html.
26. ↑ "Els Vermeulen - The Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation". http://www.rufford.org/rsg/projects/els_vermeulen.

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Argentine Patagonia includes the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego

## External links

* Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.—Official Río Negro Province website
* Pictures of Río Negro Province

Template:Departments Rio Negro Template:Provinces of Argentina

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