Patagonia: A Geographical and Economic Study
Patagonia: Population Distribution and Economic Activities
The Irrigated Valleys of Patagonia
5) The Patagonia area irrigated by the Black River and the two rivers that form it, the Neuquén and Limay Rivers, is the most populous region of Patagonia. This river has a wide valley with high walls that create a more humid area, where various agricultural oases have developed. The oasis is growing due to large fruit plantations established by large companies and foreign capital using modern production technologies. These developments require rivers for irrigation and the construction of dams and reservoirs.
6) The Upper Valley area covers the confluence of the Limay and Neuquén rivers and the upper valley of the Black River.
7) The oasis’s growth coincided with the arrival of the railroad and immigrants, leading to organized irrigated crops. The first stage involved alfalfa production for local sale. A second stage saw the development of fruit production for export by families. The growth of agricultural exports also led to developments in packaging, marketing, and product development.
Urban centers providing services to the population developed along the lines of communication.
8) Neuquén, the most important urban center in the region, is characterized by diversified economic activities, including oil exploration, industrial development, dam construction, and a growing service sector. The resulting population growth and urban expansion have impacted agricultural areas, leading to investment in irrigation infrastructure suitable for increased production.
Patagonian Coastal Cities
9) The Patagonian Atlantic coast has important urban centers, including Comodoro Rivadavia, Viedma, Rawson, and Trelew located in irrigated agricultural valleys, and others like Puerto Santa Cruz and Puerto San Julián linked to cattle ranching and exports. The cliffs are characteristic of the Patagonian coast, prominent in the cities of Viedma and Carmen de Patagones, which emerged from colonial prairie towns. Steep areas contain caves that are major tourist attractions. To the south, Trelew and Rawson developed from an agricultural oasis established by Welsh settlers. Puerto Madryn is known for textile and aluminum manufacturing, is a major fishing port, and a center for tourism in the Valdés Peninsula. Comodoro Rivadavia‘s growth began when livestock producers established a port, and the discovery of oil transformed the city.
The province of Santa Cruz’s coast offers favorable conditions for port development.
Patagonian Mountainous Regions
10) The mountainous area has a small proportion of Patagonia’s population. Important urban centers here are linked to tourism. The population density varies between the northern and southern areas. In Neuquén’s Andean valleys, much of the population is engaged in livestock, particularly sheep, goats, and cattle. Livestock farming involves seasonal migration (moving livestock to higher valleys in summer and lower valleys in winter). Most farmers have small plots of land and rely on family labor, often at subsistence levels. The southern mountainous area has few settlements; some small towns provide services to tourists, such as El Chaltén or El Calafate. Several farms raise sheep due to the area’s better soil and pastures. In southern Santa Cruz, coal mining in Río Turbio has led to the growth of villages with links to Chile.
Tierra del Fuego
11) Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia’s last province, occupies the eastern part of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. The Patagonian Andes extend below the sea to the south, forming islands. To the north, the plateau area has a more humid climate and abundant pasture.
12) Sheep farming drove the occupation of Tierra del Fuego, leading to large ranches, many extending into both Argentine and Chilean territories.
13) The population is concentrated in the two main cities: Ushuaia, in the Andean area, and Río Grande, in the extra-Andean area. The rest of the population lives on ranches and in small towns.
14) Río Grande, in the north, emerged as an export port for wool and meat from large ranches. It later grew due to oil and gas discoveries. Ushuaia, the southern port, developed as a sea route around Cape Horn and became a center for various activities. Tourism, mainly in the Andean region, is significant between these two cities. In recent decades, factories producing household appliances have been established, boosting the cities’ economies and increasing demand for labor and services.