Villa Unión facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Villa Unión
City
Villa Unión Location in Argentina
Country	Argentina
Province	La Rioja
Department	Coronel Felipe Varela
Elevation	1,153 m (3,783 ft)
Population
• Total	12,263
Time zone	UTC-3 (ART)
CPA base	A5250
Dialing code	+54 3825
Climate	BWk

Villa Unión is a city located in the northwest part of Argentina. It's the main town in the Coronel Felipe Varela Department and is home to about 12,263 people.

About Villa Unión

Villa Unión is located in the middle of the Bermejo Valley. It sits 1,153 meters (about 3,783 feet) above sea level. The city is at the foot of the Andes mountains. It is surrounded by the red mountains of Sierra de Famatina and Sierra de Maíz. You can also find traditional wineries and the Bermejo River nearby. The river can flow very strongly during the rainy season.

Weather and Climate

Summers in Villa Unión are hot and rainy, especially in January and February. Winters are dry and cold. Because the soil doesn't absorb heavy rain easily, the area often floods during the wet season. The climate is typical of a mountain desert. This means there's a big difference in temperature between day and night.

Villa Unión is also affected by a special wind called the "Zonda wind." This is a dry wind that often carries dust. It comes from cold air that warms up as it blows down from the mountains. This wind can reach speeds over 40 km/h (25 mph). It can also cause changes in air pressure, which sometimes gives people headaches.

Getting There

The closest airport is the Capitán Vicente Almandos Amonacide Airport. This airport is in La Rioja, about 3 kilometers (less than 2 miles) from the center of La Rioja city. Aerolíneas Argentinas offers three flights each week between Buenos Aires and La Rioja.

Nearby Places

Some towns close to Villa Unión include Los Palacios, Banda Florida, Villa Casteli, Vinchina, Guandacol, Aicuña, and Patquía. Larger cities nearby are San Juan, La Rioja, Chilecito, Catamarca, and Córdoba.

History of Villa Unión

The area where the Coronel Felipe Varela Department is now was once home to the Diaguita-Chapayane Indians. They lived in a village called Guandacol. Spanish explorers arrived in the Bermejo Valley around 1634. The Guandacol Indians fought against the Spanish. In 1636, Don Geronimo Luis de Cabrera punished them for their resistance. He forced them to leave their lands and move to the Famatina mountain range. Many Indians died during this journey. The few who survived settled in a new place.

In 1649, General Pedro Nicolás Brizuela took back the old land of the Guandacol Indians. On January 25, 1650, the land was officially given back to them.

Early Settlements

In the early 17th century, a group of white settlers lived in a place called Hornillos. This is where Villa Unión is today. They lived peacefully with the local native people. These native people had moved to the region after being forced from their original lands.

Around 1750, three families from Western Chile came to the region. They first settled in Guandacol. For reasons unknown, they later moved and settled in Los Hornillos. Los Hornillos got its name from the "kilns" (or ovens) that people used. These kilns were on the banks of the Bermejo River and were used to bake homemade bread.

From Los Hornillos to Villa Unión

On December 1, 1869, the province was divided into twelve departments. This division set the borders for the Departamento Guandacol. Villa Guandacol became the main town of this department. Los Hornillos was just a district within it.

Then, on September 9, 1881, the name of Departamento Guandacol was changed to Departamento General Lavalle. At this time, Los Hornillos became the main settlement. Its name was changed to Villa Unión.

The name Villa Unión means "Village of Union." It got this name because of the three Chilean families who moved there in 1880. The local residents not only protected them but also gave them land. This allowed the families to settle down. So, Villa Unión represents the strong bond and support between these two groups of people.

The city used to be centered around the area where the Hospital Zonal Dr. Eduardo Salomón Neira is now. However, an earthquake in 1854 destroyed the city. The people had to move their settlement a little to the north. The new village of Villa Unión had three main streets running north to south. Today, the main street is Avenida Nicolás Davila.

Economy

Villa Unión is mainly an agricultural city. About 50% of its farming is for growing grapes. The rest of the farming includes various fruits, cereals, and animal feed. The grapes grown here have a high alcohol content. This is because of Villa Unión's excellent climate. The average yearly temperature is 17°C (63°F). It can get as hot as 42°C (108°F) and as cold as -7°C (19°F).

Raising livestock (farm animals) is not a big part of the economy. There are just enough animals to provide for the local people.

Mining and Tourism

Around Villa Unión, there are several mines. They extract materials like clay, barytes, cobalt, galena, iron, pyrophyllite, lead, coal, and talc. There are also two marble quarries.

In recent years, Villa Unión has become a popular place for Ecotourism. This means tourism that focuses on nature and the environment. The city offers many tours and destinations. The most famous one is the amazing Talampaya canyons.

An international road from Villa Unión to Copiapó in Chile is being built. It will have a paved road and a tunnel. This will allow people to cross the Andes mountains all year round on good roads. This new route is expected to improve life in Villa Unión in the coming years. It will make the city an important spot for international trade.

Attractions

• Talampaya National Park
• Ischigualasto National Park
• Banda Florida
• Laguna Brava
• Vinchina
• Corona del Inca
• Anchumbil
• Miguel Angel Gaitán "The Miraculous Angel"
• Aicuña
• Cuesta de Miranda
• Guandacol

Culture and Arts

Villa Unión is known for some special foods and drinks. These include Vino Patero (a type of wine made by stepping on grapes) and dried fruits. Every year during Carnaval, there is a festival called Festival del Peon Viñador. This festival celebrates the grape harvest. It also honors the traditional ways of making wine, like stepping on the grapes.

See also

In Spanish: Villa Unión (La Rioja) para niños