San Lorenzo-Puerto General San Martín Port Complex
Encyclopedia
The San Lorenzo-Puerto General San Martín Port Complex is a series of port
facilities on the western shore of the lower course of the Paraná River
in Argentina
, which are shared by the cities of San Lorenzo
and Puerto General San Martín
, province
of Santa Fe
.
This complex receives traffic coming from the Atlantic Ocean
through the Río de la Plata
. The port of Puerto General San Martín, located at 32°43′S 60°44′W, about 35 km upstream from the port of Rosario
, is the last deepwater port on the Paraná, and is capable of hosting ships up to Panamax
size. The depth of the river is kept at 34 feet by dredging
.
San Lorenzo-Puerto General San Martín form a major commercial terminal for agricultural exports. Traffic at the complex accounts for 50% of the Argentine exports of soybean
products. In 2004, the complex managed 7.4 million tonnes of cereals (36% of the country's total exports of corn
, wheat
and sorghum
).
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
facilities on the western shore of the lower course of the Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
in 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...
, which are shared by the cities of San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, Santa Fe
San Lorenzo is a city in the south of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, located 23 km north of Rosario, on the western shore of the Paraná River, and forming one end of the Greater Rosario metropolitan area...
and Puerto General San Martín
Puerto General San Martín
Puerto General San Martín is a small city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, located within the metropolitan area of Greater Rosario, about north from the center of the city of Rosario, on the western shore of the Paraná River...
, province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
.
This complex receives traffic coming from the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
through the Río de la Plata
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...
. The port of Puerto General San Martín, located at 32°43′S 60°44′W, about 35 km upstream from the port of Rosario
Port of Rosario
The Port of Rosario is an inland port and a major goods-shipping center of Argentina, located in the city of Rosario, province of Santa Fe, on the right-hand shore of the Paraná River, about 550 km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean.-Overview:...
, is the last deepwater port on the Paraná, and is capable of hosting ships up to Panamax
Panamax
Panamax and New Panamax are popular terms for the size limits for ships traveling through the Panama Canal. Formally, the limits and requirements are published by the Panama Canal Authority titled "Vessel Requirements"...
size. The depth of the river is kept at 34 feet by dredging
Dredge
Dredging is an excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater, in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location...
.
San Lorenzo-Puerto General San Martín form a major commercial terminal for agricultural exports. Traffic at the complex accounts for 50% of the Argentine exports of soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
products. In 2004, the complex managed 7.4 million tonnes of cereals (36% of the country's total exports of corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
).