Esquel
Encyclopedia
According to the , the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained. Their hospital is the primary one for the zone and is often a destination for "Medical Tourism" from both foreigners and Porteños (residents of Buenos Aires) alike.
The townspeople have been in a long battle to prevent a gold
mine
being set up nearby, with concerns that the metal extraction will contaminate
the watercourse permanently and irreversibly. Although the mining companies were prohibited from producing mines in the area, there are still monthly street marches against the mines, and the issue never seems to feel fully settled.
In May 2009, Esquel twinned with Aberystwyth
in Wales; with representatives of the Welsh town traveling to Argentina to participate in the signing of a charter formalising the link.
, later called Esquel
, while digging a hole for a water tank. When cut and polished, the meteorite showed beautiful yellowish olivine
(peridot) crystals. The Esquel meteorite is known world wide among collectors and the scientific community.
(Köppen
Csb), though it is much more continental than the more classic Mediterranean zones of central
Chile
, and frosts and even snow are common in the winter months from April to September. Snow falls on average on twenty days each winter but seldom lies on the ground. Summers are generally warm and sunny, though it is still cool at night owing to the town’s relatively high altitude, and cold outbreaks from the south can bring freezing temperatures even during this season.
The townspeople have been in a long battle to prevent a gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
being set up nearby, with concerns that the metal extraction will contaminate
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
the watercourse permanently and irreversibly. Although the mining companies were prohibited from producing mines in the area, there are still monthly street marches against the mines, and the issue never seems to feel fully settled.
In May 2009, Esquel twinned with Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
in Wales; with representatives of the Welsh town traveling to Argentina to participate in the signing of a charter formalising the link.
Esquel meteorite
In 1951 a farmer found a 755 kilograms (1,664.5 lb) meteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
, later called Esquel
Esquel (meteorite)
Esquel is a pallasite meteorite found near Esquel, a patagonian town in the northwest part of the province of Chubut . Pallasites are a type of stony–iron meteorite that when cut and polished show beautiful yellowish olivine crystals....
, while digging a hole for a water tank. When cut and polished, the meteorite showed beautiful yellowish olivine
Olivine
The mineral olivine is a magnesium iron silicate with the formula 2SiO4. It is a common mineral in the Earth's subsurface but weathers quickly on the surface....
(peridot) crystals. The Esquel meteorite is known world wide among collectors and the scientific community.
Climate
Owing to its location on the immediate leeward side of the Andes, Esquel has a Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Csb), though it is much more continental than the more classic Mediterranean zones of central
Zona Central
Zona Central can refer to:* Zona Central, Chile* Zona Central, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil* Downtown São Paulo, Brazil...
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...
, and frosts and even snow are common in the winter months from April to September. Snow falls on average on twenty days each winter but seldom lies on the ground. Summers are generally warm and sunny, though it is still cool at night owing to the town’s relatively high altitude, and cold outbreaks from the south can bring freezing temperatures even during this season.
External links
- Municipality of Esquel - General, government and tourism information (in English and Spanish).
- La Trochita
- Tourism information, photographs