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Rawson, Chubut

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Rawson is the capital city of the Chubut province in Argentina. It is located within the Patagonia region. The city sits on both sides of the Chubut River.

Rawson ejido
Rawson ejido

It is also close to the Atlantic coast. Down the river, the city features a fishing port named Puerto Rawson.

Puerto Rawson
Puerto Rawson

As of 2010, the city had a population of 24,616 inhabitants. It serves as the chief town for the Rawson Department. Travelers often reach the area by using the Almirante Marco Andrés Zar Airport located in Trelew.

The history of Rawson is closely tied to Welsh immigration. In 1865, immigrants sailed on a clipper ship named the Mimosa. They arrived to establish a national colony.

Puentemadera1900
Puentemadera1900

Upon arrival, the settlers found the remains of a mud-walled fortress. Some believe non-Indigenous hunters built this fort in 1853 to hunt feral cattle. The settlers lived in the fortress for several months. During this time, they explored the area and built permanent houses. The settlers used different names for the structure. They called it Yr Hen Amddiffynfa, which means "Old Fortress." Another name was Caer Antur, or "Fort Adventure." A man named Henry Libanus Jones called it "Fuerte Paz" in 1861.

Different groups of people have shaped the city over time. Between 1885 and 1890, many Italians settled in Rawson. Initially, many of these settlers worked as railway navvies. Navvies are laborers who help build railways. Over time, many Italians moved into different roles in trade. The city itself is named after Guillermo Rawson. He was an Argentine Minister of the Interior. He is remembered for supporting the Welsh settlement in Argentina.

Infrastructure and natural events have also changed the city's course. In 1889, a carpenter named Griffith Griffiths built the first wooden bridge over the Chubut River.

Puentemadera1900
Puentemadera1900

Griffiths was also a Welsh-language poet. He established the Patagonia Gorsedd of Bards. A flood destroyed the wooden bridge ten years later. An iron bridge was built to replace it in 1917. In 2001, officials renamed the iron structure the "poet's bridge" to honor Griffiths. A plaque was installed at the bridge to provide information about him.

Natural disasters have caused significant shifts in the local population. Rawson experienced major floods in 1899 and 1901. These specific floods caused a partial depopulation of the town. Many residents chose to resettle in the nearby town of Trelew. Because of this, Trelew became the temporary capital of Chubut in 1903. This period created a rivalry between the two towns. The rivalry was fueled by different ethnic make-ups. Rawson had a higher proportion of Argentines, Italians, and Spanish residents. It was also more Catholic than Trelew. Rawson eventually regained its status as the provincial capital.

The environment in Rawson is defined by a specific climate type. It experiences a borderline cold desert or cold semi-desert climate. This is known scientifically as the Köppen BWk or BSk classification. The weather includes hot summers and cool winters. There is also low precipitation, or rainfall, throughout the entire year.

Chubut - Rawson
Chubut - Rawson

This dry environment is a key feature of the local landscape.

Today, Rawson remains a significant center for the province. The Rawson Civic Centre serves as the provincial parliament.

Rawson Chubut Centro Civico1
Rawson Chubut Centro Civico1

The city also maintains international connections. It is twinned with the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in Wales, United Kingdom. This connection honors the Welsh heritage of the original settlers. The city continues to be a central part of the Chubut province and the wider Patagonia region.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Puerto Rawson.jpg
Puerto Rawson.jpg
File:Puentemadera1900.jpg
Puentemadera1900.jpg
File:Rawson ejido.png
Rawson ejido.png
File:Chubut - Rawson.jpg
Chubut - Rawson.jpg
File:Rawson Chubut Centro Civico1.jpg
Rawson Chubut Centro Civico1.jpg
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