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63-651: The Neuquén Province receives its name from the Neuquén River . The term "Neuquén" derives from the Mapudungun a local dialect of the Mapuche language word "Nehuenken" meaning drafty , which the aborigines used for the river. The word (without the accentuation) is a palindrome . Lácar Department in Neuquén Province has the southernmost known remains of maize before it was further diffused by

126-680: A cost of some 100 warriors. Literary scholar Jens Andermann has noted that contemporary sources on the campaign conclude that the Conquest was intended by the Argentine government to exterminate the indigenous tribes , and can be classified as genocide . First-hand accounts state that Argentine troops killed prisoners and committed "mass executions". The 15,000 Natives taken captive "became servants or prisoners and were prevented from having children." The Argentine Republic in Patagonia "for

189-634: A high of 11 hours/day in January to a low of 3 hours in June. According to the 2022 Argentine national census, the Province of Neuquén has 726,590 inhabitants. Neuquen is one of Argentina's most prosperous provinces, its estimated 47.648 billion Peso (about US$ 10.495 billion) economy in 2012, or, 80,566 pesos (US$ 17,744) per capita. No province in Argentina, however, is as dependent on any one sector as

252-479: A hunter-gathered lifestyle. Inhabited by Tehuelches and Pehuenche at the time of European contact, the territory was initially explored by conquistadores coming from Chile . In 1670 Nicolás Mascardi , a Jesuit priest established in Chiloé Archipelago , founded the mission Nuestra Señora de Nahuel Huapi on the northern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake . The Jesuit missions lasted few years and

315-620: A number of dinosaurs in the area, of which the bones of a 95 million years old Argentinosaurus are in display at the Carmen Funes Museum in Plaza Huincul . The provincial government is divided into the usual three branches: the executive, headed by a popularly elected governor, who appoint the cabinet; the legislative; and the judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution of Neuquén Province forms

378-705: A prosperous businessman born in Lebanon . Migrating to Argentina , the Sapag family arrived in Neuquén Territory around 1910 with the railroad, eventually making their home in Zapala , whose dry, fertile mountain valleys and orchards were reminiscent of their native Lebanon . Neuquén is rich in natural resources such as natural gas, petroleum, virgin forests and water resources suitable for electric power and tourism alike. These resources were formerly managed by

441-502: Is Neuquen's. Roughly half its output is accounted for by its mining and extractive sector, mainly on account of its massive gas and petroleum production, the most important in Argentina. That dependency is only likely to increase: development of the province's huge unconventional hydrocarbon reserves is beginning, above all in the Vaca Muerta formation. The province generates a significant part of Patagonia's electric power through

504-910: Is home to the magnificent Arrayanes (Luma apiculata) forest at the Los Arrayanes National Park . Other National parks include Lanín National Park and the Lanín extinct volcano, the Nahuel Huapí National Park shared with Río Negro Province, and the Laguna Blanca National Park . Neuquén Province, being relatively far away from both the Atlantic coast and the Pacific ocean by the Andes mountains, which help to block most moisture coming from

567-727: Is the second most important river of the province of Neuquén in the Argentine Patagonia , after the Limay River . Rocks of the Neuquén Basin are fossiliferous, and the basin hosts what may become important fields of tight oil and gas. The river begins in the northwest of the province at an elevation of 2,300 metres (7,500 ft), to be fed by a number of streams through valleys of the lower Andes while advancing diagonally in southeast direction. Among these streams, some of them from draining of small lakes, are

630-666: The Argentine Army . In return, they were granted periodical shipments of cattle and food. After Alsina died in 1877, Julio Argentino Roca was appointed Minister of War, and decided to change the strategy. In contrast to Alsina, Julio Argentino Roca believed that the only solution against the Indian threat was to extinguish, subdue or expel them. Our self-respect as a virile people obliges us to put down as soon as possible, by reason or by force, this handful of savages who destroy our wealth and prevent us from definitely occupying, in

693-660: The Colorado River to the northeast, separating it from the Mendoza Province , the Limay River to the southeast toward the Río Negro Province , and the Andes mountains to the west, separating it from Chile . There are two main distinctive landscapes; the mountainous fertile valleys with forest on the west, and the arid plateau with fertile land only near the basins of the rivers on the east, mostly

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756-598: The Conquest of the Desert ( Conquista del Desierto ) that finally broke the aboriginal resistance. In 1884 Patagonia's political divisions were restructured and the Territory of Neuquén acquired its current boundaries. The capital of the province moved several times to Norquín (1884–85), Campana Mahuida (current Loncopué ) (1885–1888), Chos Malal (1885–1901), and finally Confluencia currently known as Neuquén . At

819-602: The Inca Empire . Maize remains were found as far south as 40°19' S in Melinquina, with it being found inside pottery dated to 730 ±80 BP and 920 ±60 BP. This maize was probably brought across the Andes from Peru during the Inca Empire that also reached Chile . Agriculture was practised in Pre-Hispanic Argentina as far south as southern Mendoza Province just north of Neuquén Province. Agriculture

882-667: The Pellegrini Lake in Río Negro Province has been built to compensate for abrupt changes in the flow, as well as the Cerros Colorados Complex , also used to generate hydroelectricity . The average flow of the river is of 308 cubic metres per second (10,900 cu ft/s) (measured at Paso de Indios), and its drainage basin covers about 50,774 square kilometres (19,604 sq mi). At its mouth at 38°59′34″S 68°00′06″W  /  38.9927°S 68.0017°W  / -38.9927; -68.0017 ,

945-517: The Salado River was the boundary between the civilizations. Due to land loss and environmental devastation caused by cattle, many Indians were forced to abandon their tribes to work on the farms. Some assimilated or intermarried with the caucasian population. The mixed race gauchos developed from those who worked on the ranches. After Argentina achieved independence in 1816, the provinces had numerous political conflicts. Once these were settled,

1008-532: The 1880s the Argentine advances effectively disrupted Chileans and German Chilean trade with indigenous communities east of the Andes. This meant the leather merchants in Southern Chile had to cross the Andes and establish livestock operations. As a result, a number of Chilean-owned companies were established in Argentina. They imported workers from Chile, mostly people from the Chiloé Archipelago . It

1071-425: The Andes and raided the royalist encampment. Chileans forced about three thousand people back across the Andes to repopulate Antuco . The Neuquén area came under Argentine influence after explorer Perito Francisco Moreno made several trips to Patagonia and made accurate descriptions of the area in his book "Viaje al Pais de las Manzanas", reaching Nahuel Huapi lake in 1875. In 1879 Julio Argentino Roca started

1134-537: The Argentine soldiers skillfully outfought their attackers, including a bayonet charge mounted by the Chilean detachment. On 21 February 1883, according to Argentine Army Major Manuel Prado, 150-200 Indians armed with Winchesters and Martini–Henry rifles attacked an Argentine Army detachment operating on the Argentine-Chilean border. In a four-hour engagement, 22 Argentine soldiers were killed or wounded at

1197-488: The Buenos Aires Province and south of the Mendoza Province , but found it difficult to escape as the animals slowed their march. They had to confront the patrolling units that followed them. As the war continued, some Indians eventually signed peace treaties and settled among the "Christians" behind the lines of forts. Some tribes allied with the Argentine government, being neutral or, less often, fighting for

1260-470: The Candeleros rocks, including ancient species of fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, small mammals, and several types of dinosaurs. The best known dinosaur found here is Giganotosaurus carolinii , a carnivorous theropod thought to be larger and faster than Tyrannosaurus rex . The recent discovery of a large deposit of shale gas and oil in the deeper Vaca Muerta formation has made the Neuquén Basin one of

1323-456: The Desert extended Argentine territories into Patagonia and ended Chilean expansion in the region. Argentine troops killed more than 1,000 Mapuches , displaced more than 15,000 more from their traditional lands and enslaved a portion of the remaining indigenous people. Settlers of European descent moved in and developed the lands through irrigation for agriculture, converting the territory into an extremely productive area that contributed to

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1386-549: The Indians were violent parasites who attacked farms and kidnapped women" and Beatriz Horn, a history teacher in La Pampa Province , was dismissed for "telling a radio station that Roca deserved praise for putting Indians to flight and opening Argentina's frontier to European settlers". Argentine news sources, however, report Juan José Cresto lost his job for being abusive and violent towards employees and Beatriz Horn

1449-436: The Indians, forcing them to retreat, and leaving fortines on his way south to protect the conquered territories. He also constructed the 374 km long trench named the zanja de Alsina ("trench of Alsina"). It was supposed to be a fortified border to the unconquered territories. Three metres wide and two metres deep, it served as an obstacle to cattle drives by the Indians. The Indians continued taking cattle from farms in

1512-463: The Lihué Calel heights. In a brief but intense battle, 50 Indians were killed, 270 captured, and 33 settlers were freed. Numerous armed encounters would follow, until by December 1878, more than 4,000 Indians had been captured and 400 killed, 150 settlers freed, and 15,000 head of cattle recovered. With 6,000 soldiers armed with new breech-loading Remington rifles , in 1879 General Roca began

1575-699: The Limay River and Neuquén River . The lacustrine system includes other less-important rivers such as the Aluminé River , the Malleo, and the Picún Leufú River, and a series of lakes including Nahuel Huapi Lake (550 km), shared with Río Negro Province, Aluminé Lake (58 km), Lácar Lake (49 km), Huechulaufquen Lake (110 km), Lolog Lake (35 km), Traful, Hermoso, Quillén, Ñorquinco, Tromen and Falkner. The province

1638-657: The Natives stole many horses and cattle, killed settlers defending their livestock, and captured women and children to become slaves and/or forced brides of Indian warriors. The Guardian alleged in 2011 that two education officials lost their jobs due to the controversy concerning the Conquest of the Desert: It reported that Juan José Cresto was forced to resign as a director of the Argentine National Historical Museum because he "said

1701-708: The Neuquén meets the Limay River near the city of Neuquén , to form the Río Negro , which continues its way east towards the Atlantic Ocean. Although not as famous as other fishing rivers in Patagonia, the river is also visited by fly fishing and spinning enthusiasts, as well as the two artificial lakes named Los Barreales and Mari Menuco, located by the river near the border with Río Negro Province. The main catch are trouts and Patagonian pejerrey . In

1764-608: The Pacific Ocean results in a climate that is the most continental in Patagonia with large diurnal ranges. Mean temperatures are relatively cold for its latitude due to the high altitude. The warmest region is the eastern parts of the province where mean annual temperatures range from 13 to 15 °C (55.4 to 59.0 °F). The coldest areas are located in the Andean region where mean annual temperatures are below 5 °C (41.0 °F) or even below 0 °C (32.0 °F) at

1827-588: The Pulmarí Valley set by Chilean soldiers. In the engagement that followed, Argentine Captain Emilio Crouzeilles, along with Lieutenant Nicolas Lazcano and several privates, were killed. On 17 February 1883, Lieutenant-Colonel Juan Díaz, commanding a 16-man Argentine infantry detachment, was trailing a war party of 100 to 150 Indians. Upon reaching Pulmarí Valley, they were surrounded by the Indians and about 50 Chilean soldiers. Much outnumbered,

1890-631: The Trocomán, Reñi Leuvü, Agrio and Nahueve. Further down, its main tributaries are the rivers Varvarco, and Agrio, who provides almost a third of the Neuquén flow. Along its way the river receives some sediments from volcanoes Copahue and Domuyo that might sometimes affect the clarity of the otherwise clean waters. After meeting the Agrio, the Neuquén river has no natural lakes that could regulate its flow, which results in sharp raises of level during thawing and rainy periods. A derivative channel towards

1953-451: The beginning of the 20th century the railway reached the city of Neuquén, and a new irrigation system was finished, facilitating the production and later transportation of crops. Petroleum was found in Plaza Huincul in 1918, giving Neuquén a new push forward. Local politics have long been dominated by a single political party, the MPN or Movimiento Popular Neuquino founded by Elias Sapag ,

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2016-471: The central National Government, which resulted in little local benefit at the time. Because of social unrest, Elias Sapag and two younger brothers, Felipe and Amado, started the MPN, an active political movement rooted in federalism and greater local rights over the territory and its resources. The territory was made a province on June 15, 1955, and its constitution promulgated on November 28, 1957. Felipe Sapag soon became politically prominent. Although he

2079-520: The colonisation of the bottom of the country, a raid was made against these poor harmless children of nature, and many tribes were wiped out of existence. The Argentines let loose the dogs of war against them; many were killed and the rest – men, women and children – were deported by sea". Apologists perceive the campaign as intending to conquer specifically those Indigenous groups who refused to submit to Argentine law and frequently performed brutal attacks on frontier civilian settlements. In these attacks,

2142-612: The few regions outside of the United States where companies are pursuing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing . Conquest of the Desert Mapuche tribes The Conquest of the Desert ( Spanish : Conquista del desierto ) was an Argentine military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca during the 1870s and 1880s with the intention of establishing dominance over Patagonia , inhabited primarily by indigenous peoples . The Conquest of

2205-630: The formal law of the province. In Argentina, the most important law enforcement organization is the Argentine Federal Police but the additional work is carried out by the Neuquén Provincial Police. The province is divided into 16 departments ( Spanish : departamentos ). 38°57′06″S 68°04′28″W  /  38.95167°S 68.07444°W  / -38.95167; -68.07444 Neuqu%C3%A9n River The Neuquén River (Spanish: Río Neuquén )

2268-465: The government wanted to occupy quickly the lands claimed by the young republic (in part to prevent Chile from enforcing its claim to the same land). It also wanted to increase the national agricultural production and offer new lands to prospective immigrants. In 1833, Juan Manuel de Rosas in Buenos Aires Province and other military commanders in the Cuyo region coordinated offensives to try to exterminate

2331-783: The government with a plan which he later described as having the goal "to populate the desert, and not to destroy the Indians." The first phase was to connect Buenos Aires and the fortines (fortresses) with telegraph lines. The government signed a peace treaty with chieftain Juan José Catriel. But he violated it a brief time later, as together with chieftain Manuel Namuncurá and 3,500 warriors, he attacked Tres Arroyos , Tandil , Azul , and other towns and farms. The casualties were greater than in 1872: Catriel and Namuncurá's forces killed 400 settlers, captured another 300, and drove off 300,000 head of cattle. Alsina attacked

2394-444: The highest peaks. During the summer months, mean December and January temperatures reach up to 24 °C (75.2 °F) in the eastern parts although during heat waves , temperatures can exceed 40 °C (104.0 °F). In July, the mean temperature ranges from 7 °C (44.6 °F) in the east to 5 °C (41.0 °F) in the west at the foothills of the Andes. Humidity throughout the province varies significantly, depending on

2457-500: The hydroelectric plants of Piedra del Águila , El Chocón , Pichi Picún Leufú , Planicie Banderita (in the Cerros Colorados Complex ), and Alicurá . The town of Arroyito hosts the only heavy water plant in the country. Another important activity is the production of apples , pears , peaches and others, specially in the Alto Valle area, shared with Río Negro . The piquetero movement (organizations of unemployed workers)

2520-659: The last mission in Neuquén was destroyed in 1717. The suppression of the Society of Jesus in 1767 halted further missionary activity. During the independence wars initiated by José de San Martín the local natives' rumored the imminent arrival of Spanish Crown Loyalist troops to Patagonia, either from the Chilean port of Chiloé coming from Alto Peru or by the Spanish settlemts in The Patagonian Islands , were common among Mapuches indigenous peoples and of

2583-432: The location. The Andean region has a mean humidity exceeding 60% or even 70% due to lower temperatures while in the eastern parts, humidity is lower owing to higher temperatures. In all locations, humidity is significantly lower during the summer than in the winter. Because the Andes block most of the moisture from the Pacific Ocean from coming in, causing it to release most of the precipitation on its western slopes, most of

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2646-553: The more arid east and the wetter climates to the west and has a Mediterranean like precipitation pattern, similar to central Chile. This is due to the seasonal migration of the South Pacific Anticyclone . Summer months are drier since the South Pacific high is more southwards, inhibiting rainfall. During the winter months, this high is displaced to the north, allowing frontal and low pressure systems from

2709-627: The name of law, progress and our own security, the richest and most fertile lands of the Republic. At the end of 1878 he started the first sweep to "clean" the area between the Alsina trench and the Rio Negro by continuous and systematic attacks on the Indian settlements. On 6 December 1878, elements of the Puán Division commanded by Colonel Teodoro García clashed with a native war party at

2772-403: The natives and they struggled to survive. The Indians fought those in the towns, raiding many cattle and horses that altered Native homelands. In retaliation, the Spanish colonists built forts and performed attacks. As more settlers developed properties, the frontier dividing the colonial farms and the Indian territories gradually moved outwards from Buenos Aires. At the end of the 18th century,

2835-417: The nomadic tribes on the east side of the Andes , with whom they share the same language . In 1872, the indigenous commander Calfucurá and his 6,000 warriors attacked the cities of General Alvear , Veinticinco de Mayo and Nueve de Julio . They killed 300 settlers and drove off 200,000 head of cattle. These events were a catalyst for the government to mount the Conquest of the Desert. The Natives drove

2898-571: The northern Patagonia Pampas of Argentina. The last royalist armed group in what is today Argentina and Chile, the Pincheira brothers , moved from the vicinities of Chillán across the Andes into northern Neuquén as patriots consolidated control of the Spanish Crown colony of Capitania of Chile. The Pincheira brothers was a large mounted outlaw gang made of European Spanish, American Spanish, Mestizos and local indigenous peoples. This group

2961-404: The province is dry, averaging less than 200 mm (7.9 in) a year. Northern and eastern parts of the province have mean annual precipitation exceeding 300 mm (12 in). In the western parts of the province, precipitation ranges from 200 to 1,000 mm (7.9 to 39.4 in) from the Andes to areas 100 km (62 mi) east of it. This area represents a transitional climate between

3024-602: The resistant indigenous tribes, but only Rosas's expedition achieved some success. By this time Chile had founded Punta Arenas in Magellan Strait in 1845, which threatened the Argentine claims in Patagonia. Later in 1861, Chile began the occupation of Araucanía , which alarmed Argentine authorities because of its rival's growing influence in the zone. Chile had defeated the Mapuche in their central region. This indigenous tribe had strong language and cultural ties to

3087-486: The satellite image, the deep reds of the Candeleros Formation, a sequence of sandstones formed roughly 90 to 100 million years ago in a braided river system, dominate the landscape. These rocks are flanked in some areas, especially near the river, by a green-yellow sequence of rocks that are part of the younger Hunical Formation, formed during drier times. Paleontologists have uncovered numerous fossils in

3150-519: The second sweep, reaching Choele Choel in two months, after killing 1,313 Indians and capturing more than 15,000. From other points, southbound companies made their way down to the Rio Negro and the Neuquén River , a northern tributary of the Rio Negro. Together, both rivers marked a frontier from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean . This attack resulted in a large migration of Mapuche into

3213-687: The shores of the Río de la Plata and the foundation of the city of Buenos Aires during the 16th century resulted in the first confrontations between the Spanish and the local Indian tribes, mainly the Querandí (also known as the Pampas). Spaniards had purchased the Buenos Aires hinterland from the local Indians to be used for cattle raising. This use displaced most of the animals hunted traditionally by

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3276-418: The status of Argentina as a great exporter of agricultural products during the early 20th century. The conquest was paralleled by a similar campaign in Chile termed the Occupation of Araucanía . The Conquest is controversial: apologists describe it as a civilising mission and as a defense against attacks by the natives, while revisionists label it a genocide . The arrival of the Spanish colonists on

3339-478: The stolen cattle from the raids ( malones ) to Chile through the Rastrillada de los chilenos and traded them for goods. Historian George V. Rauch notes evidence that Chilean authorities knew about the origin of the cattle and consented to the trading in order to strengthen their influence over Patagonian territories. They expected eventually to occupy those lands in the future. In 1875, Adolfo Alsina , Minister of War for President Nicolás Avellaneda , presented

3402-502: The territory south of the Rio Negro as soon as possible, and ordered a campaign during 1881 commanded by Colonel Conrado Villegas . Within a year Villegas conquered the Neuquén Province (he reached the Limay River ). The campaign continued to push the Indian resistance further south, fighting the last battle on 18 October 1884. The last rebel group, with more than 3,000 warriors commanded by chieftains Inacayal and Foyel, surrendered two months later in present Chubut Province . During

3465-603: The violent March 1976 coup against Isabel Perón , Felipe Sapag was returned to office in 1983-87 and 1995-99. His emphasis on public works and political independence from Buenos Aires have helped him and his successors with the MPN win every province-wide election since. His brother Elias Sapag became senator in 1963-66, 1973–76 and from 1983 until his death in 1993, becoming the longest-serving senator in national history. The MPN also elected Governors Pedro Salvatori (1987–91), Jorge Sobisch (1991–95 and 1999–2007) and current Governor Jorge Sapag (2007–11). The province's limits are

3528-401: The west or southwest, which occur 40–50% of the time. In general, high altitude areas and flat areas receive stronger winds while summers tend to be windier than winters. Cloud cover in the province varies widely with the eastern parts receiving less cloud cover than the Andean region which tends to be cloudier. Winters tend to be cloudier than summers with mean daily sunshine hours ranging from

3591-480: The west to come in, resulting in higher precipitation during this season. As such, most of the precipitation in this area falls during the winter months. In the southernmost parts of the province, some areas receive more than 3,000 mm (120 in) of precipitation a year. The winds in the province are moderately strong (slightly stronger in the south) and play a role in making most of the province arid by favoring evaporation. The predominant wind directions are from

3654-410: The zone around Curarrehue and Pucón , Chile. Many European-Argentinian settlements were built in the basin of these two rivers, as well as a number on the Rio Colorado . By sea, some settlements were erected on the southern basin of the Chubut River , mainly by Welsh colonists at y Wladfa . Roca was elected and succeeded Nicolás Avellaneda as president . He thought it was imperative to conquer

3717-505: Was able to move to Patagonia thanks to its alliance with two indigenous tribes, the Ranqueles and the Boroanos . In Varvarco , far from the de facto territory of the Republic of Chile and the United Provinces , the Pincheira brothers established a permanent encampment with thousands of settlers. From this and other bases the Pincheira brothers led numerous raids into the countryside of the newly established republics. In 1827 Chilean troops commanded by Jorge Beauchef retaliated by crossing

3780-409: Was at times practised beyond this limit in nearby areas of Patagonia but populations reverted at times to non-agricultural lifestyles. By the time of the Spanish arrival to the area (1550s) there is no record of agriculture being practised in northern Patagonia. The extensive Patagonian grasslands and an associated abundance of guanaco game may have contributed for the indigenous populations to favour

3843-443: Was born in Neuquén in the 1990s, during the presidency of Carlos Menem . A destination of many Argentines and foreigners, the province has a number of year-round attractions, including: During the winter, there are the ski resorts in Chapelco , Cerro Bayo and Caviahue . Many hike or fish, mainly for river trout , the lake district region of Southwestern Neuquén that stretches into Río Negro and Chubut Provinces . There were

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3906-469: Was elected governor in 1962 representing the Movimiento Popular Neuquino , a coup against progressive President Arturo Frondizi that March prevented Sapag from taking office. Eventually becoming governor in 1963-66 and 1973–76, he presided over one of Argentina's fastest-growing provinces. The national government established the University of Neuquén in 1964, later incorporated into the new National University of Comahue in 1971. Removed as governor following

3969-443: Was in this context that German Chilean Carlos Weiderhold established the trading post and shop La Alemana in 1895, from which the city of Bariloche developed. To counteract the Argentine conquest of Patagonia, the Chileans supplied arms, ammunition and horses to their Indian allies the Mapuches. On 16 January 1883, a 10-man section of a platoon of the Argentine Army in pursuit of a large Indian war party, ran into an ambush in

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