Villa La Angostura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villa La Angostura
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s):
Jardín de la Patagonia
|
|
 Villa La Angostura
Location in Neuquén Province
Villa La Angostura
Location in Argentina
|
|
| Country | Argentina |
| Province | Neuquén |
| Department | Los Lagos |
| Established | 15 May 1932 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 79.6 km2 (30.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 870 m (2,850 ft) |
| Population
(2010 census [INDEC])
|
|
| • Total | 11,063 |
| • Density | 138.98/km2 (359.96/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (ART) |
| CPA base |
Q8407
|
| Dialing code | +54 02944 |
| Climate | Cfb |
Villa La Angostura is a beautiful town in Argentina. Its name means "Town of the Narrowing" in Spanish. It is located in the Neuquén area, right by the Nahuel Huapi Lake.
This town is found inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park. It is surrounded by amazing lakes, thick forests, and tall mountains. Many people think it is one of the most stunning places in the Patagonia region. Because of its natural beauty, it is often called the Garden of Patagonia.
Villa La Angostura is close to the border with Chile. You can reach Chile through the Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass. It is also near other popular places like Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes. This makes it a busy spot for tourists all year round, both in summer and winter.
Contents
Exploring Villa La Angostura's Location
Villa La Angostura is located between the cities of San Martín de los Andes and Bariloche. It sits within the Nahuel Huapi National Park. The town is very close to the narrow strip of land called the Quetrihue Peninsula. This peninsula is home to the Los Arrayanes National Park, famous for its unique arrayan trees.
The town is also near the Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass. This pass connects Villa La Angostura with Osorno in Chile. The center of the town is about 790 meters (2,592 feet) above sea level. The lake itself is a bit lower, at 765 meters (2,510 feet). The mountains around the town are quite tall, ranging from 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) to about 2,000 meters (6,562 feet). For example, Cerro Bayo, a mountain right behind the town, is 1,782 meters (5,846 feet) high.
Weather and Seasons in Villa La Angostura
Villa La Angostura has a special mountain climate, even though it's not super high up.
- Summer (December to February): Summers are usually sunny and nice. High temperatures are often between 18°C and 25°C (64°F and 77°F). Nights can be cool, from 2°C to 9°C (36°F to 48°F). Sometimes, it can get as warm as 30°C (86°F). It can also get frosty at night, even in summer. There are often long periods of sunny, windy weather. But sometimes, storms can last for days or weeks, bringing colder temperatures. It rains about 70 to 85 mm (2.8 to 3.3 inches) each month, but this can change a lot year to year.
- Autumn (March to May): March brings more frost, but also sunny days. The average high is 19°C (66°F), and the low is 4°C (39°F). By April, the weather changes a lot as Pacific storms arrive. April gets about 168 mm (6.6 inches) of rain. The average high is 14°C (57°F), and the low is 2°C (35°F). May is very rainy, with about 434 mm (17.1 inches) of rain, including sleet and snow. It's often when the first big snowfall happens. Highs are around 9°C (48°F), and lows average 1°C (34°F). Temperatures can sometimes drop to -10°C (14°F).
- Winter (June to August): This is the coldest time. Highs are from 5°C to 8°C (41°F to 46°F), and lows are from 0°C to -2°C (32°F to 28°F). Storms are common, bringing rain, snow, and sleet. It rains or snows about 200 to 300 mm (7.9 to 11.8 inches) each month. Snowstorms can be heavy, with over 20 cm (8 inches) of snow. Very cold weather can bring temperatures down to -18°C (0°F) or lower.
- Spring (September to November): In September, storms happen less often, with 172 mm (6.8 inches) of rain. Highs reach 11°C (52°F), but lows are still around -1°C (30°F). By the end of September, the weather can be pleasant. This month also starts the windiest part of the year. October is very changeable, with windy, sunny days and sudden cold snaps. Highs are 14°C (57°F), lows are 1°C (34°F), and it rains about 121 mm (4.8 inches). November brings spring-like weather with less rain (83 mm or 3.3 inches) but strong winds. Highs are 17°C (63°F) and lows are 3°C (37°F).
Overall, Villa La Angostura is one of the rainiest places in Argentina, getting about 2,074 mm (81.7 inches) of rain over almost 300 days a year. It always has some frost, even in summer. But its summer days are often clear, dry, and very pleasant.
| Climate data for Villa La Angostura (1993–2004) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.2 (73.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
7.5 (45.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.7 (58.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
11.8 (53.2) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.8 (42.4) |
3.8 (38.8) |
3.1 (37.6) |
4.7 (40.5) |
5.7 (42.3) |
8.6 (47.5) |
10.3 (50.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) |
5.2 (41.4) |
3.9 (39.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
1.2 (34.2) |
0.3 (32.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
0.4 (32.7) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.3 (37.9) |
5.6 (42.1) |
2.5 (36.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−8.1 (17.4) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−8.9 (16.0) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 63.7 (2.51) |
44.5 (1.75) |
77.8 (3.06) |
141.3 (5.56) |
207.8 (8.18) |
362.4 (14.27) |
249.6 (9.83) |
226.3 (8.91) |
144.3 (5.68) |
139.8 (5.50) |
123.1 (4.85) |
67.7 (2.67) |
1,848.2 (72.76) |
| Source: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria | |||||||||||||
Near Villa La Angostura is Cerro Bayo, which has a ski center. The base of the resort is only 250 meters (820 feet) higher than the town. It usually gets enough snow for skiing for only a few weeks in mid-winter after big storms. However, the slopes higher up, above 1,200 meters (3,937 feet), always have good snow. Most of the skiing happens between 1,500 and 1,780 meters (4,921 and 5,840 feet). Here, you might even find snow pockets until mid-summer. The view from the top is amazing, especially looking west across Nahuel Huapi lake. You can clearly see the huge, icy Cerro Tronador, which is 3,450 meters (11,319 feet) tall.
Fun Things to Do: Tourism in Villa La Angostura
Villa La Angostura is one of the top places to visit in Argentina's Andean Patagonia. People love it not just for the charming wooden town, but also for its beautiful sights. On its west side is the Nahuel Huapi Lake, and to the east, you'll find the Correntoso Lake.
These two lakes are connected by the Correntoso River. This river is only 200 meters (656 feet) long, making it one of the shortest rivers in the world! It's a popular spot for sport fishing near La Angostura.
The buildings in the town have a special style, like a wooden Alpine village. It's similar to the style you might see in Bariloche. You can find shops and restaurants selling local treats like chocolate, beer, and fresh trout. Even though about 11,000 people live here, it still feels like a cozy mountain village.
Volcanic Ash Event in 2011
In June 2011, Villa La Angostura faced a big challenge. A volcano in Chile, called Puyehue, erupted to the west. This caused a huge layer of ash to fall on the town. Because of this, Villa La Angostura was declared a disaster area.
See also
In Spanish: Villa La Angostura para niños
