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

Choele Choel, with a population of 10,791, is located at the intersection of the National Routes #22 and #250, around 1000 kilometres from Buenos Aires, 180 from General Roca, 193 from the Las Grutas beach resort, and 460 from Puerto Madryn.
Its long distance bus terminal is a common stop for buses going to both sea-side Patagonia and North-Andean Patagonia.
During the 1990s, the airport used to serve regular flights to Buenos Aires, but currently serves only infrequent private charters.

History

Originally named Nicolás Avellaneda, it was founded on July 9, 1879 by General. After a flood, the inhabitants moved to a place known as Pampa de los Molinos. They would stay there until March 18, 1882, when the settlement was moved to its current location.
The town acquired special importance during the Conquest of the Desert, when the border between the white man and the Native Americans was pushed south the shore of the Río Negro River.
In 1883, a post office was installed in the town. Salesians arrived in 1890. The Provincial School #10 was created in 1904, and in 1917 the Library. Irish Argentine writer Rodolfo Walsh was born in the town in 1927.
Choele Choel is home to a sizable Russian community; besides the European immigrant communities common to most of Argentina, the town received refugees from Laos in the 1970s.

Etymology

There are several versions regarding the meaning of Choele Choel: it might be from the Araucan language, translated as "Yellow flower race," or from the Tehuelche language. Another version translates it as "Bark scarecrows."

Climate

Choele Choel has a semi-arid climate. Winters are cool with a July mean of, with nighttime temperatures that frequently drop below and occasionally below on the coldest nights. Cloudy days are common during winter, averaging 7–9 days from June to August, although sunny days can occur as well. Spring and fall are transition seasons that feature warm days, averaging and cool nights, averaging although temperatures can reach as high as and low as during these seasons. Summers are hot, dry and sunny, with daytime temperatures averaging and cool nighttime temperatures, averaging. Precipitation is low, averaging which is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

Access

The points of access are through National Routes and. Besides Choele Choel has an authorised airport for private small planes and helicopter arrivals.

Activities

The most developed activity in this location is cattle breeding, agriculture, as well as manufacturing of raw material such as tomato, apples, pear, strawberries, etc. into sauces and jellies.