Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Río Grande
City
Río Grande
Seal
Río Grande Location in Southern Patagonia
Country	Argentina
Province	Tierra del Fuego
Department	Río Grande
Established	11 July 1921
Area
• Total	12,181 km2 (4,703 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2022 Census)
• Total	98,017
• Density	8.0467/km2 (20.8409/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (ART)
CPA Base	V 9420
Area code(s)	+54 2964
Climate	Dfc/Cfc

Río Grande, which means Big River in English, is a city in Argentina. It's located on the northern coast of the eastern part of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. With about 98,017 people, it's known as the industrial center of the Tierra del Fuego Province. The city is about 212 kilometers northeast of Ushuaia, which is the capital of the province.

The city has its own airport, called Hermes Quijada International Airport, making it easy to travel to and from Río Grande.

History of Río Grande

Early Settlements and Farming

In the late 1800s, people started settling in this area, much like in other parts of Patagonia. The main reason was sheep farming. The land had many rivers, a coastline, and good pastures for animals. These things helped the population grow.

Río Grande was officially founded on July 11, 1921. The government called it the "Agricultural Colony of Río Grande." At first, a few families owned large areas of land. But in 1925, there was a land reform, which changed how land was divided. Raising cattle then became a very important part of the local economy.

Economy and Industry

Why Río Grande is an Industrial Hub

To help industries grow, the Tierra del Fuego province has special rules. Companies here don't have to pay certain taxes, like VAT (Value Added Tax) or federal income tax. Because of this, many manufacturing companies, especially those that make electronic products, have opened factories in Río Grande.

Population Growth and Jobs

Since the 1980s, the city's population has grown very quickly. Many people have moved here from other parts of Argentina and even from countries like Bolivia. They come to work in the factories because the wages are often higher than in other provinces. Companies like ITT also opened plants here to make and assemble television sets.

Making Laptops and Netbooks

One of the fastest-growing industries in Río Grande is making laptops and netbooks. Before 2006, almost all these products were brought in from other countries. But by 2010, thanks to new government plans, factories in Río Grande and Vicente López were making 42% of the laptops and netbooks sold in Argentina.

In April 2011, companies announced plans to produce over 6.9 million units in Tierra del Fuego Province. Most of these would be made in Río Grande. This means that more than half of the netbooks sold in Argentina could come from this region.

Climate and Weather

Understanding Río Grande's Climate

Río Grande's weather is greatly affected by the ocean. It's usually quite cool and often very windy. The city has a subpolar oceanic climate (which is a type of Köppen Cfc climate). This climate is very rare for the Southern Hemisphere. Temperatures stay cool all year round.

It also has weather that is very close to a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) and a tundra climate (ET).

Temperatures and Sunlight

In the warmest months, January and February, the average temperature is about 11°C (52°F). In the coolest month, the average temperature is around 0°C (32°F). Río Grande has the coldest average monthly temperature among cities in Argentina, at about -0.3°C (31.5°F) in the coldest month.

The city gets about 330 mm (13 inches) of rain each year, which is not a lot. Because of how far south it is, the amount of daylight changes a lot throughout the year. In winter, there might be only seven hours of sunlight. But in summer, days can have as many as seventeen hours of sunlight.

Frost and Extreme Temperatures

Frost can happen at any time of the year. In winter, temperatures can stay below freezing for long periods. The time without frost is very short, usually from late November to late February. During summer, it's often very windy and cloudy, and nights stay cold. Sometimes, it can even snow in the middle of summer!

The highest temperature ever recorded was 30.8°C (87.4°F) on February 4, 2019. This is thought to be the southernmost place where temperatures have gone above 30°C (86°F). The lowest temperature ever recorded was -22.2°C (-8.0°F) on July 19, 1984.

Images for kids

• 

  Río Grande at sunset

• 

  A monument to the Argentine Navy's MB326 aircraft.

• 

  San Martín Avenue

See also

In Spanish: Río Grande (Tierra del Fuego) para niños