Malargüe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malargüe
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Plaza San Martin
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 Malargüe
Location in Argentina
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| Country | Argentina |
| Province | Mendoza |
| Department | Malargüe |
| Elevation | 1,402 m (4,600 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 27,660 |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (ART) |
| CPA base |
M5613
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| Dialing code | +54 2627 |
| Climate | BSk |
Malargüe (pronounced ma-LAR-gweh) is a city in the southwest part of Mendoza Province, Argentina. It is about 370 kilometers (230 miles) south of Mendoza, the capital city of the province. Malargüe is the main town of the Malargüe Department and has about 27,000 people living there, based on the 2010 census.
Contents
What is Malargüe Like?
Malargüe is located in a dry area, meaning it doesn't get a lot of rain. Farming here focuses on growing special potatoes used for seeds. Other crops like alfalfa, onions, and garlic are also grown. In the past, the city had industries that explored for and produced oil, but these are mostly closed now. There was also uranium mining, which has also stopped.
Today, Malargüe is a popular place for tourists. You can find many hotels and cabins for visitors. In the summer, people enjoy eco-tourism, which means exploring nature in a way that protects the environment. In winter, many come to ski at nearby resorts like Las Leñas and Los Molles.
The city is famous for its traditional dish called chivito, which is roasted baby goat. Every year, in the second week of January, Malargüe hosts two big festivals: the National Festival of the Goat and the Provincial Festival of the Lamb. These events celebrate the local food and culture.
A Look Back: Malargüe's History
A Notable Event in 1972
On October 13, 1972, a plane called Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes mountains. This happened within the area of Malargüe.
Malargüe's Weather
Malargüe has a dry and somewhat cold climate. It's known as a semi-arid climate, which means it's not quite a desert but still very dry.
Summers in Malargüe are usually warm during the day, with temperatures around 28°C (82°F). Nights are cool, about 11°C (52°F). Sometimes, there are thunderstorms. By March or early April, you can expect frost.
Winters, from May to September, can have big temperature changes. The average daytime temperature is about 11°C (52°F), and the average night temperature is around -2°C (28°F). However, strong winds from the Andes can make it feel warmer, up to 25°C (77°F). On the other hand, very cold air from Antarctica can bring snow and temperatures well below 0°C (32°F) during the day, and even colder at night, sometimes below -12°C (10°F).
| Climate data for Malargüe, Mendoza, Argentina (1991–2020, extremes 1958–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.9 (98.4) |
37.0 (98.6) |
33.6 (92.5) |
30.7 (87.3) |
28.6 (83.5) |
27.4 (81.3) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.4 (84.9) |
31.0 (87.8) |
33.0 (91.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
36.5 (97.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.1 (84.4) |
27.2 (81.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
27.5 (81.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.5 (52.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
4.7 (40.5) |
3.8 (38.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.6 (52.9) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
1.3 (34.3) |
4.4 (39.9) |
7.3 (45.1) |
10.0 (50.0) |
4.7 (40.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.5 (32.9) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−6.9 (19.6) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−18.0 (−0.4) |
−24.6 (−12.3) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−24.6 (−12.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 22.7 (0.89) |
32.4 (1.28) |
30.2 (1.19) |
30.4 (1.20) |
30.4 (1.20) |
33.5 (1.32) |
24.4 (0.96) |
26.9 (1.06) |
17.4 (0.69) |
24.5 (0.96) |
25.9 (1.02) |
21.9 (0.86) |
320.6 (12.62) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 5.3 | 6.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 55.7 |
| Average snowy days | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 12.9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 43.8 | 50.3 | 55.4 | 60.6 | 63.7 | 61.9 | 59.8 | 53.7 | 49.2 | 44.9 | 40.9 | 40.0 | 52.0 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 341.0 | 279.7 | 266.6 | 219.0 | 179.8 | 162.0 | 182.9 | 210.8 | 234.0 | 269.7 | 312.0 | 344.1 | 3,001.6 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 11.0 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 7.3 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 8.7 | 10.4 | 11.1 | 8.2 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 78.5 | 70.8 | 66.5 | 60.1 | 57.5 | 50.6 | 58.2 | 59.6 | 62.2 | 65.4 | 72.9 | 76.5 | 64.9 |
| Source: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (percent sun 1991–2000) | |||||||||||||
Getting Around and Cool Science Stuff
How to Travel to Malargüe
Malargüe is connected to northern Mendoza by National Route 40. This road continues south into Neuquén Province. However, the part of the road beyond Malargüe City is not fully built or kept in good condition.
For air travel, Malargüe has the Comodoro D. Ricardo Salomón Airport. As of 2021, airlines like Aerolíneas Argentinas and American Jet offer flights to this airport.
Astronomy and Space Center
Malargüe is home to the Pierre Auger Observatory. This is an international science project that looks for very powerful ultra-high-energy cosmic rays coming from space. Scientists from all over the world work together here.
The European Space Agency (ESA) also built a special deep space ground station about 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Malargüe. Construction started in 2010, and it began working in early 2013. This station, called Malargüe Station, is the third large 35-meter dish in ESA's network, which helps them communicate with spacecraft far away in space.
Images for kids
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Clock tower in the city center
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Las Animas well
See also
In Spanish: Malargüe para niños
