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This region reflects a a blend of a native type of steppe scenario coupled with a thick vegetation area surrounding its lakes. It is an invitation for visitors to plunge into the adventure embodied in its eternally challenging snow-capped summits.
The province of Neuquen stretches over the Andes Mountain Range on the Northeastern Patagonian region. As to the name given to this province, the term Neuquen in the mapuche language alludes to something "brave, magnificent, and ennobling”.
With respect to its size, its extends along a 94,078 km2 area, and it is divided into 16 departments.
It shares borders with Mendoza in the North, with Rio Negro in the South, and with the Andes Mountain Range in the west, the latter being regarded as the natural border separating this province from the Republic of Chile. Moreover, it borders with Rio Negro and La Pampa in the East.
The economy of this province is based upon the power generation business, the exploitation of oil, gas and mineral rich resources, and the infrastructure, services and tourism industry, including winery, livestock, fruit growing, commerciall and productive activities, as well.
Its namesake capital city, which is located in the Northeastern region where the Limay and Neuquen rivers converge, counts a 205,000-inhabitant population, therefore being acknowledged as the largest one in the Patagonian region.
With 11 venues dispersed not only in Neuquén but also in the neighboring province of Rio Negro, the National University of Comahue offers undergraduate and graduate courses of study both for local and foreign students.
Neuquen, which is endowed with breathtaking natural beauty, features national parks and provincial protected natural areas, which have been created aimed at preserving the Argentine flora and fauna species. This province offers visitors an unlimited range of options therefore inviting them to unveil its most amazing settings.
Geography
Neuquen´s bordering areas are partly set upon natural features namely the Limay and Colorado rivers and the Andes Mountains.
It depicts two clear-cut distinctive types of scenery. In the western region, the Andes sector features mountains, and high summits like the Lanín, Domuyo and Batea Mahuida volcanos, as well as hills such as Chapelco, Bayo and Trafu, among many others. This portion, particularly the one standing in the Southern half layer, is surrounded by the thickly-wooded Patagonian Andes area. To the east, there is a predominace of valleys and plateaus, including salt pans lying at a base level (Cuenca de Añelo, Bajo de la Raya, Bajo de los Choiques) and natural lagoons such as the White Lagoon National Park, or fresh water man-made lakes like the Barreales Lake Basin, which has been turned into the Cerro Colorados Dam) and El Chocón Basin (Ezequiel Ramos Mexía dam). The climate in this region is generally cold and continental with a , typically a temperate season.
History
The first inhabitants to settle in this province were native indians belonging to three diffferent ethnic communities namely: the pehuenches, known as the huarpes tribe descendants; the tehuelches (patagones) and the mapuche indigenous tribe. Following the Spanish Conquest and as from 1551, explorers began to flow into this area, subjecting most of its native indians to slavery, and dispossessing them of their own lands. As to this situation, it was certainly aggravated with the launching of the Desert Conquest campaign by the end of the XIX century.
It was not until half way through the XIX Century that the Patagonian lands became more enticing for the national governments. In 1853, Neuquén was first thought to be part of Mendoza province. Subsequently, upon the creation of the Patagonian Governance in 1878, which encompassed Rio Negro Southwards region up to the Cabo de Hornos area, currently known as Tierra del Fuego, all the Patagonian region came to be acknowledged as property of the national government.
The Desert Conquest, which was led by Julio Argentino Roca in 1879, put an end to the native indigenous tribe long-standing and deeply-rooted resistance. Therefore, Junin de los Andes was the first city to have been founded in Neuquen in 1883. As to the National territory of Neuquen, it was founded in 1884 and it was ultimately regarded as a province in 1954
Economy
Neuquén´s major economic activity based on the hydrocarbons exploitation business. The Neuquen basin, which is shared with Río Negro, La Pampa and Mendoza, stands as the major Argentine oil and gas region. Furthermore, more than 52% of Argentina´s energy supply – mainly that of hydropower– is generated in this province, with power stations located in Piedra del Águila, Pichi Picún Leufú, El Chocón, Planicie Banderita and Alicurá dams.
Another major economic sector is that of the fruit growing industry in Rio Negro High Valley and Neuquen region, which primarily concerns the growing of apples, pears, peaches, plumbs zarzaparillas and cherries.
Concerning the winemaking industry, it has gained momentum at the local economy over the last couple of years. Famous wineries such as Fin del Mundo, NQN and Familia Schroeder, among others, have sucedeed in positioning top quality products in both the local and foreign markets.
Regarding tourism, it stands as one of industries having achieved the greatest growth over the last years, above all in the Andes Mountains region both in summer and winter time. Neuquen features international tourism centers such as San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura, three skiing resorts namely -Chapelco, Cerro Bayo and Caviahue- and two Snow Parks known as “Cerro Wayle” and “Batea Mahuida”, the latter being run by a native indian tribe residing mostly in Villa Pehuenia.
