Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza is the capital city of the Mendoza province in Argentina.

It sits in the northern-central part of the province. The city is located in a region of high plains and foothills. This area lies on the eastern side of the Andes mountains. Mendoza is a vital regional center for many different industries. These include wine production, tourism, and the exploitation of commodities like uranium and oil. As a metropolitan area, it is quite large. It has a population of 1,055,679 people. This makes Greater Mendoza the fourth largest census metropolitan area in Argentina.

The climate in Mendoza is classified as arid. This means the region is very dry. Most of the precipitation falls during the summer months between November and March. The annual rainfall is only about 200 millimeters. Because it is so dry, extensive farming requires irrigation from major rivers. The Huarpes people originally devised a clever irrigation system for this area. The Spanish later developed these methods to support a growing population. Today, the city uses wide stone trenches called acequias. These canals run along the streets to water approximately 100,000 trees.

The history of the city began with the indigenous Huarpes and Puelches tribes. On March 2, 1561, Pedro del Castillo founded the city. He named it Ciudad de Mendoza del Nuevo Valle de La Rioja. He named it after the governor of Chile, Don García Hurtado de Mendoza.

Early Spanish settlement was small, with fewer than 80 settlers before 1600. Later, prosperity grew through the use of Jesuit presence and various forms of labor. In 1788, tapping nearby rivers for irrigation increased agricultural production. This growth helped lead to the creation of the state of Cuyo in 1813. José de San Martín served as the governor during that time.

In 1861, Mendoza suffered a severe and destructive earthquake. This event killed at least 5,000 people. The city had to be completely rebuilt after this disaster. The new urban design focused on safety and seismic activity. The modern layout was established in 1863. It features a central main square called Plaza Independencia. This is surrounded by four smaller plazas: San Martín, Chile, Italia, and España. The city also has much wider streets and sidewalks than other Argentine cities. Major roads like Bartolomé Mitre Avenue and Sarmiento Avenue provide open space. This design helps the city better tolerate future earthquakes.

Mendoza is a world-famous center for the wine industry. The region around Greater Mendoza is the largest wine-producing area in South America. It is recognized as one of the eleven Great Wine Capitals. Travelers visit the hundreds of wineries along the Argentina Wine Route.

Some of the best wines, like Malbec, come from high-altitude regions. These include Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. These districts sit in the Andes foothills between 2,800 and 5,000 feet in elevation. Higher altitude increases the intensity of sunlight on the grapes. In 1994, Nicolas Catena Zapata pioneered high-altitude growing by planting Malbec at 5,000 feet. This helped give Argentine wines international status.

The city is also a major hub for adventure and outdoor tourism. It is a frequent stopover for climbers heading to Aconcagua. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. In the winter, skiers visit the city to access the Andes. The city features many cultural sites and beautiful landmarks. The Teatro Independencia is a premier performing arts venue. It was designed in a French Academy style and features Neoclassical elements.

The auditorium has four tiers of balconies and seats 730 people. Visitors can also explore General San Martín Park. This park includes a lake and the Mendoza Zoological Park.

You can see a view of the whole city from the top of Cerro de la Gloria.

Transportation in Mendoza connects the city to the rest of the country and beyond. Ruta Nacional 7 is a major road that runs between Buenos Aires and Santiago. The Gov. Francisco Gabrielli International Airport provides quick flights to both cities. The city also uses a trolleybus system and a light rail line called the Metrotranvía. The Metrotranvía opened in 2012 and serves several major suburbs. These suburbs, such as Godoy Cruz and Guaymallén, have grown very quickly. In 2015, these suburbs made up nearly seven-eighths of the total metro population. This makes Mendoza the most dispersed metropolitan area in Argentina.