124-681: The Buenos Aires Western Railway (BAWR) (in Spanish: Ferrocarril Oeste de Buenos Aires ), inaugurated in the city of Buenos Aires on 29 August 1857, was the first railway built in Argentina and the start of the extensive rail network which was developed over the following years. The locomotive La Porteña , built by the British firm EB Wilson & Company in Leeds , was the first train to travel on this line. The BAWR
248-634: A 1993 agreement , the Argentine Constitution was amended to give Buenos Aires autonomy and rescinding, among other things, the president's right to appoint the city's mayor (as had been the case since 1880). On 30 June 1996, voters in Buenos Aires chose their first elected mayor, Jefe de Gobierno . In 1996, following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution , the city held its first mayoral elections under
372-664: A Chief of Government in 1996; previously, the Mayor was directly appointed by the President of Argentina . The Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts , constitutes the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas , with a population of around 13.8 million. It is also the second largest city south of the Tropic of Capricorn . The quality of life in Buenos Aires
496-679: A Deputy Chief of Government. In analogous fashion to the Vice President of Argentina, the Deputy Chief of Government presides over the city's legislative body, the City Legislature . The Chief of Government and the Legislature are both elected for four-year terms; half of the Legislature's members are renewed every two years. Elections use the D'Hondt method of proportional representation. The judicial branch comprises
620-654: A bill presented on 9 January by a financing committee consisting of Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield , Bartolomé Mitre and Mariano Billinghurst. The railway's importance had already been pointed out by Juan Bautista Alberdi , who wrote in his work Basis and starting point for the Political Organization of the Argentina Republic that "the railway is the means of turning around what the colonizing Spaniards did on this continent". Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and Justo José de Urquiza had also defended
744-425: A central entrance on one side. The carriages were wooden and had four axles, lit by oil lamps and very luxurious. There were 12 cargo wagons which could each carry up to 5 tons. Rain prevented the train's inauguration planned for January 1857. However, a successful trial was carried out during that month. On 7 April the train derailed during another test, but at a low speed and with no fatalities. In June another test
868-410: A derailment adjacent to Almagro station breaking several metres of the track. Some of the passengers suffered light injuries. One of the witnesses commented as follows: The journey was slow and the train reached Floresta with no problems. With the train ready to return and the commissioners pleased with the first trial, they ordered Mr Allan to return at a greater speed until, halfway along the line with
992-405: A letter to the readers of the newspaper La Prensa dated 10 October 1957, refers to the pre-opening tests thus: In 1857, after a thousand setbacks, the work was finished. The rails brought from Europe did not reach Flores, so they had to be constructed from wood coated with sheet metal, which jumped every time the train passed over them and the laborers had to run to nail them down again. At one of
1116-543: A line from Merlo to Aires and then to Azul , but the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway (BAGSR) proposed in 1871 to extend its line (it had reached Chascomús in 1865) from that city to Dolores then reaching Azul. The Provincial Legislature approved the project brought by BAGSR in 1872, so the FCO had to drop its own project. In 1871, during the epidemic of yellow fever in Buenos Aires ,
1240-595: A low price. They had good reason for this, which was not related to earnings from its operation, but rather to what was said by the British government minister in Buenos Aires, Edward Thorton , in a report to the Foreign Office . This document, referring to the creation of the British line "Gran Sur de Buenos Aires", pointed out that this company "would open up a new market for British manufactured products". In effect, locomotives, bricks, bridges, sanitation tools for
1364-519: A museum and art gallery, and collected a notably comprehensive library of the literature on tobacco , in all its forms and almost all languages, with pamphlets, engravings and other publications filling 17 large volumes. The original and revised volumes constitute the earliest specialist bibliography in the English language. Bragge was born in Birmingham , where his father, Thomas Perry Bragg,
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#17327733873981488-507: A portion of the Chester to Holyhead railroad line. With a recommendation from Sir Charles Fox , Bragge, representing Edward T. Belhouse & Co. of Manchester , was sent to Brazil where he worked on the project to light Rio de Janeiro with gas, as well as surveying the first railway in Brazil. For his fine work, Bragge received distinctions from the emperor Don Pedro II , including
1612-418: A property dispute with the land owners. The village of Flores only contained a temple, a plaza, small houses and a few businesses. Continuing to the west, at 10 km from its starting point, between Joaquín V. González (then "Esperanza") and Bahía Blanca (first an unnamed street and then "De La Capilla") it reached Floresta station (wooden). This station was for some time called "Vélez Sársfield", and in 1862
1736-570: A railway line was added to function as a receiver of coffins. This branch left from Bermejo station, located on the south-east corner of the homonymous street (now Jean Jaurés) and Avenida Corrientes , and reached what is now the Parque Los Andes, where there was a cemetery which was later moved to the current La Chacarita Cemetery . It was known as the "train of death", and as well as the mortuary in Bermejo there were two others located on
1860-541: A unipersonal office, the Supreme Director . Formal independence from Spain was declared in 1816, at the Congress of Tucumán . Buenos Aires managed to endure the whole Spanish American wars of independence without falling again under royalist rule. Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina's main venue of liberal , free-trading , and foreign ideas. In contrast, many of the provinces, especially those to
1984-485: Is an autonomous district. In 1880, after the Argentine Civil War , Buenos Aires was federalized and removed from Buenos Aires Province. The city limits were enlarged to include the towns of Belgrano and Flores ; both are now neighborhoods of the city . The 1994 constitutional amendment granted the city autonomy , hence its formal name of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its citizens first elected
2108-449: Is that of the Cien barrios porteños ("One hundred porteño neighborhoods"), referring to a composition made popular in the 1940s by tango singer Alberto Castillo ; however, Buenos Aires only consists of 48 official barrios . There are several subdivisions of these districts, some with a long history and others that are the product of a real estate invention. A notable example is Palermo –
2232-531: Is the capital city of Argentina , on the western shore of the Río de la Plata on South America's southeastern coast. " Buenos aires " is Spanish for "fair winds" or "good airs". Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha global city , according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2020 ranking. The city of Buenos Aires is neither part of Buenos Aires Province nor its capital; it
2356-683: Is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center . More attacks by the indigenous people forced the settlers away, and in 1542, the site was thusly abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established on 11 June 1580 by Juan de Garay , who arrived by sailing down the Paraná River from Asunción (now the capital of Paraguay). He dubbed the settlement "Santísima Trinidad" and its port became "Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires." From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade. During most of
2480-522: The Argentine Chamber of Deputies . The Guardia Urbana de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Urban Guard) was a specialized civilian force of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina , that used to deal with different urban conflicts with the objective of developing actions of prevention, dissuasion and mediation, promoting effective behaviors that guarantee the security and the integrity of public order and social coexistence. The unit continuously assisted
2604-475: The Marcha a Lavalle . Finally it reached the terminal station, La Floresta, where it was welcomed by a crowd and the company gave a refreshment service to the passengers in the local Café Restaurant. From 30 August 1857 a regular public service was offered twice a day in each direction. A new night service was apparently soon authorised. A first class ticket was $ 10, and second or open-carriage tickets were $ 5. From
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#17327733873982728-843: The Order of the Rose . Bragge built the first line that was hauled by the locomotive, La Porteña , on the Ferrocarril Oeste de Buenos Aires . In addition, he built gas and waterworks for the city of Buenos Aires . He was a founder of Argentina's Primitiva de Gas Company. Bragge returned to England in 1858, and in Sheffield from 1858 to 1872 was a managing director of John Brown & Company . In 1870, he became Master Cutler of Sheffield. He established an armour-plate manufactory in Sheffield as well. In 1872, Bragge went to Paris and
2852-562: The Pampero and Sudestada winds pass by, the weather is variable due to these contrasting air masses. Summers are hot and humid. The warmest month is January, with a daily average of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F). Heat waves are common during summers. However, most heat waves are of short duration (less than a week) and are followed by the passage of the cold, dry Pampero wind which brings violent and intense thunderstorms followed by cooler temperatures. The highest temperature ever recorded
2976-726: The pampa region , with the exception of some areas such as the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve , the Boca Juniors (football club) 's "sports city", Jorge Newbery Airport , the Puerto Madero neighborhood and the main port itself; these were all built on reclaimed land along the coasts of the Rio de la Plata (the world's widest river). The region was formerly crossed by different streams and lagoons, some of which were refilled, and others tubed. Among
3100-566: The "Fair Winds" to aid them in their navigation and prevent shipwrecks . A sanctuary to the Virgin of Buen Ayre would later be erected in Seville . At the foundation of Buenos Aires, Spanish sailors arrived in the Río de la Plata giving thanks to the blessings of "Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires", "Holy Mary of the Good Winds", who they believed to have given them the good winds to reach
3224-455: The 17th century, Spanish ships were menaced by pirates, so they developed a complex system where ships with military protection were dispatched to Central America in a convoy from Seville (the only port allowed to trade with the American colonies) to Lima, Peru , and from there to the other cities of the viceroyalty. Because of this, products took a very long time to arrive in Buenos Aires, and
3348-695: The 17th century. The usual abbreviation for Buenos Aires in Spanish is Bs.As . It is also common to refer to it as " B.A. " or " BA ". When referring specifically to the autonomous city, it is very common to colloquially call it " Capital " in Spanish. Since the autonomy obtained in 1994, it has been called " CABA " (per Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Habsburg , 1536–1700 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bourbon , 1700–1808 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bonaparte , 1808–1810 [REDACTED] United Provinces of
3472-442: The 1970s the city suffered from the fighting between left-wing revolutionary movements ( Montoneros , ERP and F.A.R.) and the right-wing paramilitary group Triple A , supported by Isabel Perón , who became president of Argentina in 1974 after Juan Perón's death. The March 1976 coup , led by General Jorge Videla , only escalated this conflict; the " Dirty War " resulted in 30,000 desaparecidos (people kidnapped and killed by
3596-477: The 1990s saw an economic revival, particularly in the construction and financial sectors. On 17 March 1992, a bomb exploded in the Israeli Embassy , killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion, on 18 July 1994, destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more, these incidents marked the beginning of Middle Eastern terrorism to South America. Following
3720-425: The 400 "rail" shafts. We had to pass opposite Flores: some miscreant had ripped out one of the hidden crossbars on which the rails rest (...) Just as bad was the removal of poles and wires which surrounded the line in order to keep out horses on Sunday night, which could be seen by their footprints and by the sticks and wires left a short distance away. On 27 August a new and successful test was carried out. On that day
3844-524: The Argentinian railways) (1940), that "it was built for India and used in the siege of Sevastopol , during the Crimean war . The diffusion of wide gauge railway lines here (unusual within the world) is due to this fortuitous circumstance." However, some historians deny this, and research in the 1950s showed that this story is untenable; for example, Julio A. Luqui Lagleyze does not believe this could be
Buenos Aires Western Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
3968-474: The Balaklava line, and being condemned as useless at Buenos Aires, had been shipped off to Paraguay" A carriage pulled by 30 oxen brought the locomotive from the port to the station. The vehicle was a 0-4-0 saddle tank engine , capable of running 25 kilometres per hour (16 miles per hour) and weighing 15.75 metric tons (15.50 long tons; 17.36 short tons). It remained in use until August 1889, after which it
4092-513: The Birmingham Free Library, including his 1,500-volume Cervantes collection in 1873 and study of tobacco collection. The fire of 1879 destroyed many items. He collected gems and precious stones from all over Europe, as well as 13,000 pipes , hundreds of types of tobacco, and snuff boxes . In 1880, Bragge published a revised bibliography of tobacco, Bibliotheca nicotiana , amounting to 248 quarto pages. Bragge lived for
4216-575: The British company "Buenos Aires Western Railway". The BAWR network is currently part of Domingo Sarmiento Railway network. In 1854, while Buenos Aires was an independent state of the Argentine Confederation, governor Pastor Obligado awarded the Buenos Aires Western Railroad Society a grant for constructing a railway, from the city of Buenos Aires towards the west. This grant was fulfilled by
4340-524: The Constitution of the states that " Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and non-accumulative. Resident aliens enjoy this same right, with its corresponding obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in the district, under the terms established by law ." The executive power is vested on the Chief of Government (Spanish: Jefe de Gobierno ), who is elected alongside
4464-695: The Crown of Aragon, after its capture from the Pisans in 1324, established their headquarters on top of a hill that overlooked the city. The hill was known to them as Bonaira (or Bonaria in Sardinian ), as it was free of the foul smell prevalent in the old city (the castle area), which is adjacent to swampland . During the siege of Cagliari, the Catalans built a sanctuary to the Virgin Mary on top of
4588-656: The Government of the Province of Buenos Aires, the Western Railway was the line which was most luxurious, least wasteful in its bureaucratic-administrative expenditure and offered the most economical fares and cargo rates. It was a model company which was the pride of the Argentina, in relation to which all the English railway companies established in our country were, without exception, second-rate. In March 1865
4712-466: The Railroad Society and special guests such as local political boss José María Yanquetruz, in military dress. That morning a mass was celebrated and the engines La Porteña and La Argentina were blessed. La Porteña and its carriages, driven by Alfonso Corazzi (also acting as stoker), was waved off from the decorated station by a crowd, and reached San José de Flores village, where a band played
4836-455: The Río de la Plata , 1810–1831 [REDACTED] Argentine Confederation , 1831–1852 [REDACTED] State of Buenos Aires , 1852–1861 [REDACTED] Argentina , 1861–present In 1516, navigator and explorer Juan Díaz de Solís , navigating in the name of Spain, was the first European to reach the Río de la Plata . His expedition was cut short when he was killed during an attack by
4960-525: The Society asked to be exempted from using steam engines arguing that it would be more convenient "to use horses, so cheap in this country, instead of coal, which is so expensive" (this method of powering trains had already been used in Europe). The motive behind this request is not clear, but it may have been because most of the population had never seen a locomotive and believed that this would be dangerous for
5084-474: The State is the worst administrator". In 1887 the Western Railway has already been condemned to death (...) The unnecessary growth in spending, largely due to the disproportionate increase in employees, the unavoidable increase in capital invested in construction, the resulting decrease in returns and the rise in ticket prices made up a definite intent to sabotage: the Western Railway would quickly be discredited in
Buenos Aires Western Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue
5208-859: The Supreme Court of Justice ( Tribunal Superior de Justicia ), the Council of Magistracy ( Consejo de la Magistratura ), the Public Ministry, and other city courts. Legally, the city has less autonomy than the Provinces . In June 1996, shortly before the city's first Executive elections were held, the Argentine National Congress issued the National Law 24.588 (known as Ley Cafiero , after the Senator who advanced
5332-550: The acting mayor, was invested with the office. In the 2007 elections, Mauricio Macri of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party won the second-round of voting over Daniel Filmus of the Frente para la Victoria (FPV) party, taking office on 9 December 2007. In 2011, the elections went to a second round with 60.96 percent of the vote for PRO, compared to 39.04 percent for FPV, thus ensuring Macri's reelection as mayor of
5456-517: The balance of power favorably for the criollos (in contrast to peninsulars ), as well as the development of the Peninsular War in Spain. An attempt by the peninsular merchant Martín de Álzaga to remove Liniers and replace him with a Junta was defeated by the criollo armies. However, by 1810 it would be those same armies who would support a new revolutionary attempt, successfully removing
5580-466: The brief period of British rule, the viceroy Rafael Sobremonte managed to escape to Córdoba and designated this city as capital. Buenos Aires became the capital again after its recapture by Argentine forces, but Sobremonte could not resume his duties as viceroy. Santiago de Liniers, chosen as new viceroy, prepared the city against a possible new British attack and repelled a second invasion by Britain in 1807. The militarization generated in society changed
5704-542: The capital. However, Charles's placating actions did not have the desired effect, and the porteños , some of them versed in the ideology of the French Revolution , instead became even more convinced of the need for independence from Spain. During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata , British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice. In 1806 the British successfully invaded Buenos Aires, but an army from Montevideo led by Santiago de Liniers defeated them. In
5828-463: The case, "since it uses a different gauge, and the dates of its construction and entrance into the country leave a gap which would not have allowed this". Others have been of the same opinion, including Vicente O. Cutolo. The works number shows the locomotive left Leeds in 1856, after the demolition of the Crimea railway had already begun. Its dimensions and characteristics would have been unsuitable for
5952-508: The city became the regional capital of radio , television , cinema , and theater . The city's main avenues were built during those years, and the dawn of the 20th century saw the construction of South America's tallest buildings and its first underground system. A second construction boom, from 1945 to 1980, reshaped downtown and much of the city. Buenos Aires also attracted migrants from Argentina's provinces and neighboring countries. Shanty towns ( villas miseria ) started growing around
6076-411: The city was federalized and became the seat of government, with its mayor appointed by the president. The Casa Rosada became the seat of the president . Health conditions in poor areas were appalling, with high rates of tuberculosis. Contemporaneous public health physicians and politicians typically blamed both the poor themselves and their ramshackle tenement houses (conventillos) for the spread of
6200-498: The city with María Eugenia Vidal as deputy mayor. PRO is established in the most affluent area of the city and in those over fifty years of age. The 2015 elections were the first to use an electronic voting system in the city, similar to the one used in Salta Province . In these elections held on 5 July 2015, Macri stepped down as mayor and pursue his presidential bid and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta took his place as
6324-464: The city's eastern side in the neighborhoods of Puerto Madero, Recoleta, Palermo, and Belgrano. Some of the most important are: Under the Köppen climate classification , Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). As a result of maritime influences from the adjoining Atlantic Ocean , the climate is temperate with extreme temperatures being rare. Because the city is located in an area where
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#17327733873986448-589: The city's industrial areas during the 1930s, leading to pervasive social problems and social contrasts with the largely upwardly mobile Buenos Aires population. These laborers became the political base of Peronism , which emerged in Buenos Aires during the pivotal demonstration of 17 October 1945, at the Plaza de Mayo . Industrial workers of the Greater Buenos Aires industrial belt have been Peronism's main support base ever since, and Plaza de Mayo became
6572-406: The city's largest district – which has been subdivided into various barrios , including Palermo Soho , Palermo Hollywood , Las Cañitas and Palermo viejo , among others. A newer scheme has divided the city into 15 comunas (communes). William Bragge William Bragge , F.S.A., F.G.S., (31 May 1823 – 6 June 1884) was an English civil engineer , antiquarian and author. He established
6696-417: The city's northwest, advocated a more nationalistic and Catholic approach to political and social issues. In fact, much of the internal tension in Argentina's history, starting with the centralist-federalist conflicts of the 19th century, can be traced back to these contrasting views. In the months immediately following said "May Revolution", Buenos Aires sent a number of military envoys to the provinces with
6820-411: The city's residents live in apartment buildings and 30% in single-family homes; 4% live in sub-standard housing. Measured in terms of income, the city's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2007 and, including the metro area, 20.6%. Other studies estimate that 4 million people in the metropolitan Buenos Aires area live in poverty. The city's resident labor force of 1.2 million in 2001 was mostly employed in
6944-468: The city, and the country in general, has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world , making it a melting pot where several ethnic groups live together. Thus, Buenos Aires is considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas . Buenos Aires held the 1st FIBA World Championship in 1950 and 11th FIBA World Championship in 1990 , the 1st Pan American Games in 1951 ,
7068-400: The city. The population of Greater Buenos Aires was 13,147,638 according to 2010 census data. The population density in Buenos Aires proper was 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (35,400 inhabitants/sq mi), but only about 2,400/km (6,200/sq mi) in the suburbs. Buenos Aires' population has hovered around 3 million since 1947, due to low birth rates and a slow migration to
7192-575: The coast of what is today the modern city. Pedro de Mendoza called the city "Holy Mary of the Fair Winds", a name suggested by the chaplain of Mendoza's expedition – a devotee of the Virgin of Buen Ayre – after the Madonna of Bonaria from Sardinia (which is still to this day the patroness of the Mediterranean island ). Mendoza's settlement soon came under attack by indigenous people and
7316-434: The country's first telegraph network was also started up, laid out by the company with the aim of helping the rail service. Finally, on 29 August 1857 (a sunny Saturday) the opening ceremony took place, presided over by the governor of Buenos Aires, Valentín Alsina . On the inaugural journey he was accompanied by, among others, Bartolomé Mitre , Domingo F. Sarmiento, Dalmacio Vélez Sárfield, Estanislao del Campo , members of
7440-606: The deployment of the Metropolitan Police of Buenos Aires is ongoing. Beginning in 2007, the city has embarked on a new decentralization scheme, creating new Communes ( comunas ) which are to be managed by elected committees of seven members each. Buenos Aires is represented in the Argentine Senate by three senators (as of 2017 , Martín Lousteau , Mariano Recalde and Guadalupe Tagliaferri ). The people of Buenos Aires also elect 25 national deputies to
7564-433: The donation of public land, free import of supplies and tax exemptions. Among the engineers who worked on the project were Verger (who created the original plans), Mouillard (a French engineer who was concerned with levelling the route) and, later, William Bragge , who had already built the first railway in Rio de Janeiro . 150 workers were also hired. A steam engine named La Porteña arrived on 25 December 1856. Built by
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#17327733873987688-449: The dreaded disease. People ignored public-health campaigns to limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as the prohibition of spitting on the streets, the strict guidelines to care for infants and young children, and quarantines that separated families from ill loved ones. In addition to the wealth generated by customs duties and Argentine foreign trade in general, as well as the existence of fertile pampas , railroad development in
7812-406: The eight planned were put up at the time, they were mostly obtrusive raised freeways that continue to blight a number of formerly comfortable neighborhoods to this day. The city was visited by Pope John Paul II twice, firstly in 1982 and again in 1987; on these occasions gathered some of the largest crowds in the city's history. The return of democracy in 1983 coincided with a cultural revival, and
7936-428: The elections for a third term with Larreta as mayor and Diego Santilli as deputy. In these elections, PRO was stronger in wealthier northern Buenos Aires, while ECO was stronger in the southern, poorer neighborhoods of the city. On 5 December 2023, Jorge Macri of PRO was sworn in as new mayor of Buenos Aires City to succeed outgoing Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta of the same party. The city of Buenos Aires lies in
8060-430: The extension of the line. On 1 January 1863 it became the sole proprietor of the company on buying stock from the private individuals, and under its administration the railway reached a length of 177 km in 1870. At this point it transported more than 500,000 passengers and 166,551 tons of cargo annually, producing a profit equivalent to a 9.78% return on the invested capital. During the 27 years in which it belonged to
8184-464: The facades of the buildings on the eastern side. From Corrientes it continued straight on to Pueyrredón avenue (previously "Centroamérica"), where it turned sharply and continued onto Cangallo (now Juan Domingo Perón), then returned to a westerly heading to enter the West Market (now Plaza Miserere ) and the wooden Once de Septiembre (later replaced by the current station ), reached by Ecuador to
8308-533: The firm E. B. Wilson and Company at The Railway Foundry in Leeds , England, it was purchased by the first administrator of the Railroad Company, the engineer Luis Elordi. Its mechanics, the brothers John and Tomas Allan, came with it. A now-discounted popular legend says the locomotive came via Crimea; for example, Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz wrote in Historia de los Ferrocarriles Argentinos (History of
8432-482: The first trip until 31 December, 56,190 passengers and 2,257 tons of cargo were transported. In Buenos Aires the population at the time was approximately 170,000 inhabitants. In 1858 the line transported 185,566 passengers and 6,747 tons of cargo. Real-estate interests came into play when determining the location of the starting station. As a result meetings, which took place in the home of antiques dealer Manuel José Guerrico, were kept secret. The place finally chosen for
8556-406: The foreign powers eventually desisted from their demands. During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already the capital of Buenos Aires Province , and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded State of Buenos Aires . The issue was fought out more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when
8680-434: The hill. In 1335, King Alfonso the Gentle donated the church to the Mercedarians , who built an abbey that stands to this day. In the years after that, a story circulated, claiming that a statue of the Virgin Mary was retrieved from the sea after it miraculously calmed a storm in the Mediterranean Sea . The statue was placed in the abbey. Spanish sailors, especially Andalusians , venerated this image and frequently invoked
8804-418: The idea. On 17 September 1853 the above-mentioned Railway Society, formed by a group of traders, conscious of the progress in communications which its construction would lead to and the demonstration of power it would represent, requested the grant for constructing a railway which would serve both passengers and cargo and whose cars would be pulled by a steam engine. However, in 1854, when work was about to begin,
8928-531: The intention of obtaining their approval. Instead, the enterprise fueled tensions between the capital and the provinces; many of these missions ended in violent clashes. In the 19th century the city was blockaded twice by naval forces: by the French from 1838 to 1840, and later by an Anglo-French expedition from 1845 to 1848. Both blockades failed to bring the Argentine government to the negotiating table, and
9052-502: The mayoral candidate for PRO. In the first round of voting, FPV's Mariano Recalde obtained 21.78% of the vote, while Martín Lousteau of the ECO party obtained 25.59% and Larreta obtained 45.55%, meaning that the elections went to a second round since PRO was unable to secure the majority required for victory. The second round was held on 19 July 2015 and Larreta obtained 51.6% of the vote, followed closely by Lousteau with 48.4%, thus, PRO won
9176-505: The military during the years of the junta). The silent marches of their mothers ( Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo ) are a well-known image of Argentines' suffering during those times. The dictatorship 's appointed mayor, Osvaldo Cacciatore , also drew up plans for a network of freeways intended to relieve the city's acute traffic gridlock. The plan, however, called for a seemingly indiscriminate razing of residential areas and, though only three of
9300-489: The most important streams are the Maldonado, Vega, Medrano, Cildañez, and White. In 1908, as floods were damaging the city's infrastructure, many streams were channeled and rectified; furthermore, starting in 1919, most streams were enclosed. Most notably, the Maldonado was tubed in 1954; it currently runs below Juan B. Justo Avenue . Buenos Aires has over 250 parks and green spaces, the largest concentration of which are on
9424-400: The native Charrúa tribe in what is now Uruguay . The city of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre (literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") after Our Lady of Bonaria (Patroness Saint of Sardinia ) on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza . The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what
9548-496: The new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Head of Government". The winner was Fernando de la Rúa , who would later become President of Argentina from 1999 to 2001. De la Rúa's successor, Aníbal Ibarra , won two popular elections, but was impeached (and ultimately deposed on 6 March 2006) as a result of the fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub. In the meantime, Jorge Telerman , who had been
9672-541: The new viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros . This is known as the May Revolution , which is now celebrated as a national holiday. This event started the Argentine War of Independence , and many armies left Buenos Aires to fight the diverse strongholds of royalist resistance, with varying levels of success. The government was held first by two Juntas of many members, then by two triumvirates , and finally by
9796-403: The north brings hot temperatures. The city receives 1,257.6 mm (50 in) of precipitation per year. Because of its geomorphology along with an inadequate drainage network, the city is highly vulnerable to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Since the adoption of the city's Constitution in 1996, Buenos Aires has counted with a democratically elected executive; Article 61 of
9920-539: The personnel of the Argentine Federal Police , especially in emergency situations, events of massive concurrence, and protection of tourist establishments . Urban Guard officials did not carry any weapons in the performing of their duties. Their basic tools were a HT radio transmitter and a whistle. As of March 2008 , the Guardia Urbana was removed. The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police
10044-790: The project) by which the authority over the 25,000-strong Argentine Federal Police and the responsibility over the federal institutions residing at the city (e.g., National Supreme Court of Justice buildings ) would not be transferred from the National Government to the Autonomous City Government until a new consensus could be reached at the National Congress. Furthermore, it declared that the Port of Buenos Aires , along with some other places, would remain under constituted federal authorities. As of 2011 ,
10168-479: The public opinion. Fares were increased by 25%, and were still lower than those of the British railways. By 1887 the FCO network reached 1,022 km in length, increasing to 1,210 km two years later. By 1890, a FCO line reached Trenque Lauquen prior to its sale to a British company. Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( / ˌ b w eɪ n ə s ˈ ɛər iː z / or /- ˈ aɪ r ɪ s / ; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwenos ˈajɾes] )
10292-520: The quartermaster to demolish the building and build the new Teatro Colón on the same site. The works began in April 1890. The theatre remains in this location today. In its place, in 1890 the building which replaced the wooden station of Once de Septiembre was also built. In 1885 the following lines and branches were exploited by the FCO: The British were pressing to purchase the railway at
10416-411: The railway line. The Western Railway was one of the greatest triumphs of Buenos Aires state, which justified its 27 years of ownership of the railway based on the wealth it brought to the city, its efficiency and its lower fares than those of the British -owned railway companies operating in the country. Pressure from British capital and the debts owed by the state of Argentina led to its sale in 1890 to
10540-609: The railway network comprised a total length of 297 km. That same year the net profit was $ 16,788,000. Four years later, the rail network increased to 583 km in length, with a net profit of $ 21,583,000; in 1885 the FCO comprised 892 km of tracks. In June 1884 the offices of the Army's General Staff were installed in the Del Parque station building. On 13 September 1886 the Deliberative Council authorised
10664-737: The railway reached Mercedes , than extending to Chivilcoy one year after, without having any need to ask for financial aid. A Law promulgated in November 1868 obliged the Ferrocarril Oeste de Buenos Aires (FCO) to extend its lines to the Andes with the aim of connecting Atlantic and Pacific oceans routes. While the route to the Andes was being studied, the FCO extended its tracks to other cities such as Chivilcoy , Bragado , 9 de Julio , Pehuajó and Trenque Lauquen . The FCO also projected
10788-433: The rapid urbanisation which had taken place along the route making the train's passage dangerous. The FCO reached Bragado in 1877. On 20 December 1882, the new Once de Septiembre station building was inaugurated. A municipal decree in April 1878 decided to move the terminus to Once de Septiembre but the company delayed its response to the request, despite a concurrent claim from the neighbourhood, until 1 January 1883. By 1879
10912-564: The responsibility of the Buenos Aires City Police . The police is headed by the Chief of Police who is appointed by the head of the executive branch of the city of Buenos Aires. Geographically, the force is divided into 56 stations throughout the city. All police station employees are civilians. The Buenos Aires City Police force is composed of over 25,000 officers. In the census of 2010, there were 2,891,082 people residing in
11036-560: The route of the current Domingo Sarmiento Railway line towards Floresta. Although the construction of this line was proposed by a group of private individuals known as the "Sociedad del Camino-Ferrocarril al Oeste" (in English : "Western Railway Society"), it was financed by the province of Buenos Aires, which was at that time an independent state of the Argentine Confederation . In 1863 the province became sole owner of
11160-470: The second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories. A leading destination for immigrants from Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, from 1880 to 1930, Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself alongside the major European capitals. During this time, the Colón Theater became one of the world's top opera venues, and
11284-419: The services sector, particularly social services (25%), commerce and tourism (20%) and business and financial services (17%); despite the city's role as Argentina's capital, public administration employed only 6%. Manufacturing still employed 10%. The city is divided into barrios (neighborhoods) for administrative purposes, a division originally based on Catholic parroquias (parishes). A common expression
11408-466: The site for demonstrations and many of the country's political events; on 16 June 1955, however, a splinter faction of the Navy bombed the Plaza de Mayo area, killing 364 civilians (see Bombing of Plaza de Mayo ). This was the only time the city was attacked from the air, and the event was followed by a military uprising which deposed President Perón, three months later (see Revolución Libertadora ). In
11532-425: The south-east corners of Corrientes and Medrano and of Corrientes and Avenida Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz (then called Camino Ministro Inglés). John Allan, the above-mentioned first driver of La Porteña, drove this gloomy train and fell victim to the epidemic at the age of 36. In 1873 the convenience of raising the tracks between Plaza del Parque terminus and Once de Septiembre station was already under consideration, due to
11656-477: The station was opposite the "Plaza del Parque" (known as Plaza General Lavalle since 1878), so named because since 1822 the park's artillery building was located opposite. The site of the station, named after the park, was approximately the same as the current location of the Teatro Colón , between "Cerrito" (previously "Del Cerrito"), "Tucumán", "Libertad" and "Viamonte" (previously "Temple") streets. The Plaza
11780-657: The stations, etc. were imported from Great Britain. So were large quantities of a non-manufactured product: the coal for the engines. Three months after Juárez Celman became president of Argentina (1886–1890), the main line of the Ferrocarril Andino was sold to a British company. In 1887 the Central Norte was sold, and soon after so was the Western Railway. In his presidential speech of 1887 he announced: "I am planning to sell all public, reproductive works in order to pay our debts, because I am convinced that
11904-601: The steep gradients in Balaclava, and technical considerations would have prevented conversion from standard to broad gauge. Contrarily, contemporary reports claim that engines from the GCCR went to Argentina; see for instance Richard Francis Burton who mentions in his "Letters From the Battlefields of Paraguay" (1870) that the train he travelled in was pulled by an "asthmatic little engine—which, after serving its time upon
12028-423: The suburbs. However, the surrounding districts have expanded over fivefold (to around 10 million) since then. The 2001 census showed a relatively aged population: with 17% under the age of fifteen and 22% over sixty, the people of Buenos Aires have an age structure similar to those in most European cities. They are older than Argentines as a whole (of whom 28% were under 15, and 14% over 60). Two-thirds of
12152-555: The surrounding buildings because of the resulting vibration, or perhaps the company considered locomotives to be too costly and the expected number of passengers were low. It must be taken into account that the western railway had no financial guarantee of minimum earnings, as the soon-established British railways would have (among other benefits). They would only earn what they obtained from their own activities. In any case, steam engines were finally purchased. A law sanctioned by Buenos Aires province's Chamber of Representatives established
12276-469: The taxes generated by the transport made them prohibitive. This scheme frustrated the traders of Buenos Aires, and a thriving informal, yet tolerated by the authorities, contraband industry developed inside the viceroyalties and with the Portuguese. This also instilled a deep resentment among porteños towards the Spanish authorities. Sensing these feelings, Charles III of Spain progressively eased
12400-438: The tests the convoy derailed, a fact which had to be kept secret in order not to alarm the population. On 30 August the opening was almost suspended, because some drunkards tried to tip La Porteña over, an occurrence prevented by Elordi's opportune intervention. While most of the population did not find out, those interested in the business did everything possible to stop the accident from becoming known, and it became clear that it
12524-636: The trade restrictions before finally declaring Buenos Aires an open port in the late 18th century. The capture of Portobelo in Panama by British forces also fueled the need to foster commerce via the Atlantic route, to the detriment of Lima-based trade. One of his rulings was to split a region from the Viceroyalty of Perú and create instead the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata , with Buenos Aires as
12648-523: The train on an embankment, the train shook, then ran for some distance along the sleepers, breaking 60 or 70 metres of the track. The shock was very violent; Mr Van Praet and Mr Gowland bumped heads, the latter ending up with a bleeding head wound. Mr Moreno was launched headfirst into the body of Mr Llavallol, and Mr Miró, who smoked, ended up with his cigarrette down the back of his neck, burning him under his shirt. Raquel Fusoni Elordi, granddaughter of Luis Elordi (the above-mentioned company administrator), in
12772-456: The upper 70s%, which means the city is noted for moderate-to-heavy fogs during autumn and winter. July is the coolest month, with an average temperature of 11.0 °C (51.8 °F). Cold spells originating from Antarctica occur almost every year, and can persist for several days. Occasionally, warm air masses from the north bring warmer temperatures. The lowest temperature ever recorded in central Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Central Observatory)
12896-479: The west and named after 11 September 1852, the date of the rebellion of Buenos Aires Province against the Federal Government. Workshops functioned between Corrientes, Paso, Tucumán and Pueyrredón until 1887. The line then followed a route parallel to present-day Bartolomé Mitre up to the triangle formed by the current streets Medrano, Pelufo and Lezica, where the (also wooden) unmanned station Almagro
13020-464: The wood and cardboard station Caballito (named for the pulperia established by Genovese merchant Nicolás Vila in 1804, that had a horse-shaped weather vane on its roof). After crossing Caballito (an area of luxurious estates and houses), and close to Caracas (then called Paz) trains reached the wooden station of San José de Flores, which in 1862 was moved 250m to the west to what is now called Gral. José Gervasio Artigas (then called Sud América) due to
13144-412: Was 10 km long, over a 1,676 m gauge (5' 6"), the same as that used by some colonial English railways. For the safety of pedestrians the beginning of the train's route was surrounded by two tall sets of railings brought over from England. The route left Del Parque station towards the west, zigzagging through the square, which provoked serious complaints from neighbours who said that their environment
13268-415: Was 43.3 °C (110 °F) on 29 January 1957. In January 2022, a heatwave caused power grid failure in parts of Buenos Aires metropolitan area affecting more than 700,000 households. Winters are rather cool with mild temperatures during the day and chilly nights. Highs during the season average 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) while lows average 8.3 °C (46.9 °F). Relative humidity averages in
13392-529: Was a jeweller. He had a brother, Joseph, six years younger. Bragge studied mechanics and mathematics in Birmingham, practical engineering with two firms in Birmingham, and trained as an engineer and railway surveyor. He began his career in 1845 as a civil engineer and began railway surveying, first as an assistant engineer, later as Chief Mechanical Engineer with the Birkenhead Railway for
13516-433: Was abandoned in 1541. For many years, the name was attributed to a Sancho del Campo, who is said to have exclaimed: How fair are the winds of this land! as he arrived. In 1882, after conducting extensive research in Spanish archives, Argentine merchant Eduardo Madero ultimately concluded that the name was instead closely linked with the devotion of the sailors to Our Lady of Buen Ayre. A second (and permanent) settlement
13640-502: Was being invaded, to reach what is now the corner of Talcahuano and Lavalle. It continued straight on along this last street, passing opposite Artillery Park (now the site of the Palace of Justice) up to Callao boulevard (now Avenida Callao ). There it moved in an S shape towards the south-east, bringing it to what is now avenida Corrientes . This S-shaped stretch of the train's route is remembered thanks to artwork by Marino Santa María on
13764-555: Was called La Argentina . It was transferred to Paraguay in 1869 by Domingo Sarmiento, together with four other locomotives. The engines were given names such as Rauch , Libertad , Indio amigo and Voy a Chile , the latter named because of a decree in December 1868 which ordered the line to be extended up to the Andes . However, it never reached Chile . The train initially consisted of four carriages each carrying 30 passengers, with
13888-460: Was carried out, and in August a test journey, with one carriage of packages and another of passengers pulled by La Porteña , carried Bartolomé Mitre , Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield , Valentín Alsina , and some members of the Society. The outward journey presented no difficulties, but on the way back the overenthuiastic passengers persuaded British mechanic, John Allan, to ask for more speed, which led to
14012-511: Was established in 1580 by Juan de Garay , who sailed down the Paraná River from Asunción , now the capital of Paraguay. Garay preserved the name originally chosen by Mendoza, calling the city Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Aire ("City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds"). The short form that eventually became the city's name, "Buenos Aires", became commonly used during
14136-459: Was located. This area only contained a few scattered farmhouses and ceased to function in 1887. At that time Medrano street was called the "Camino del Límite" (Boundary Road), which indicated the city limits of Buenos Aires, and on crossing this street the train was then in the administrative area of San José de Flores. Two kilometres further west, on reaching what is now the calle Federico García Lorca (then Caballito and later Cucha Cucha) it reached
14260-406: Was merely a gap in the city which, precisely because of the station, began to quickly urbanise and its surroundings' appearance were improved with plants and trees. In 1858 the company offered a horse-drawn bus service to allow people to reach the park station from Defensa, Perú and Piedras streets (between Chile and Mexico streets) and from Plaza Concepción. In the first year of service the route
14384-435: Was necessary to make some more adjustments before the inauguration. Another story of a test journey makes it clear that vandalism was another serious problem in carrying out the project. In Los Debates , 7 August 1857, it says: The route is beautiful. It runs parallel to the main street to Flores, passing estates and fields on both sides, presenting the most beautiful panorama for viewing. We travelled at 20 miles per hour of
14508-667: Was one of the Big Four broad gauge , 5 ft 6 in ( 1,676 mm ) British companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina. The route initially measured 10 km (6.2 mi ), stretching from Del Parque station (now the site of the Teatro Colón ) to Floresta station, which at that time was located in San José de Flores village, but is now within Buenos Aires city limits. The rails were laid along what are now Lavalle, Enrique S. Discépolo, Avenida Corrientes and Avenida Pueyrredón, and then followed
14632-816: Was only used for shunting for ten years. It is currently on exhibit in the Provincial Transport Museum which forms part of the Enrique Udaondo Provincial Museographic Complex in Luján , together with one of the wooden carriages. The first of the company's mechanics was the Italian Alfonso Covassi, who had one year's experience in the position after having been employed by the company Strada Ferrata Leopoldina, from Tuscany , Italy . The second engine which worked together with La Porteña
14756-474: Was ranked 91st in the world in 2018, being one of the best in Latin America . It is known for its preserved eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life . It is a multicultural city that is home to multiple ethnic and religious groups, contributing to its culture as well as to the dialect spoken in the city and in some other parts of the country. This is because since the 19th century,
14880-456: Was replaced by a more modern building. In 1858 it was extended 8 km to Ramos Mejía , in 1859 to Morón and in 1860 to Moreno , with which the route reached 39 km in length. The financial collaboration of the government of Buenos Aires was decisive in the initial organisation of the company, providing more than one million pesos, renouncing in advance any dividends coming from this sum, and providing another six million pesos to secure
15004-552: Was the police force under the authority of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The force was created in 2010 and was composed of 1,850 officers. In 2016, the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police and part of the Argentine Federal Police were merged to create the new Buenos Aires City Police force. The Buenos Aires City Police force began operations on 1 January 2017. Security in the city is now
15128-519: Was the site of two venues in the 1978 FIFA World Cup and one in the 1982 FIVB Men's World Championship . Most recently, Buenos Aires had a venue in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship and in the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship , hosted the 125th IOC Session in 2013, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2018 G20 summit . Aragonese archives record that Catalan missionaries and Jesuits arriving in Cagliari ( Sardinia ) under
15252-425: Was unsuccessful in developing a sewage system for Société des Engrais. Upon his return to Birmingham in 1876, he established a watch-making factory. His memberships include: In addition to South America, Bragge's travels took him to Russia and Bragge was a frequent visitor to Spain where he developed an interest in its literature, including that of Miguel de Cervantes . Bragge donated his collected items to
15376-447: Was −5.4 °C (22 °F) on 9 July 1918. Snow is very rare in the city: the last snowfall occurred on 9 July 2007 when, during the coldest winter in Argentina in almost 30 years, severe snowfalls and blizzards hit the country. It was the first major snowfall in the city in 89 years. Spring and autumn are characterized by changeable weather conditions. Cold air from the south can bring cooler temperatures while hot humid air from
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