Patagonia

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Geographic region of South America, in southern Argentina and Chile; area 780,000 sq km/301,000 sq mi. A thinly populated vast plateau area, it stretches from the Río Colorado in central Argentina to eastern part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the south, and slopes eastwards from the Andes to the Atlantic coast. It consists of the provinces of Neuquén, Rio Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz. The main towns are the port of Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile).

There is extensive sheep farming, and there are important coal and oil resources; deposits of uranium ore were found in 1993. The eastern part of Patagonia receives little annual rainfall, and is mainly desert; the west is scattered with a series of lakes. Grapes and fruit are grown in the Rio Negro and Chubut valleys. There is little agricultural activity except in the Colorado and Negro river valleys where some cattle are raised. Patagonia's major economic activity is sheep farming on the sprawling ranches on the cool arid steppes pastures. However, the region's natural resources: coal, iron, copper and uranium are progressively being exploited. There are large oil fields currently being exploited in Chubut and Neuquén provinces. The Andean national parks have encouraged a major tourism industry in the region.

Black and white reflect the black and white communities and the harmony between them. Yellow represents the golden beaches. Blue stands for the sea. Effective date: 22 February 1979. >>