Trevelin
Trevelin (Spanish pronunciation: [tɾeˈβelin]; Welsh: Trefelin) is a town in the western part of the Patagonian Argentine province of Chubut. The town lies on the eastern banks of the Percy River (Spanish: Río Percey). It is located in the department of Futaleufú, 22 kilometres (14 mi) south of Esquel, and had 6,395 inhabitants at the time of the 2001 census [INDEC] and 7,908 inhabitants in the 2010 census [INDEC].
Trevelin Trefelin | |
|---|---|
A winter day in Trevelin | |
Trevelin Location of Trevelin in Argentina | |
| Coordinates: 43°5′S 71°28′W / 43.083°S 71.467°WCoordinates: 43°5′S 71°28′W / 43.083°S 71.467°W | |
| Country | Argentina |
| Province | Chubut |
| Department | Futaleufú |
| Elevation | 385 m (1,263 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 9,123 |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (ART) |
| CPA base | U9203 |
| Dialing code | +54 2945 |
| Climate | Csb |
History
The town was important in the Welsh settlement of Chubut. It was named Trevelin (from Trefelin, the Welsh for "mill town") after the first flour mill, known as "Los Andes", was established there by John Daniel Evans in 1891.[1] Evans had previously become well known for leading expeditions into the Pampas in search of new lands and mineral reserves, which had earned him the nickname 'El Baqueano' (meaning guide or scout).
One of the tourist attractions of Trevelín is the grave of Malacara, Evans' horse, who a few years earlier in 1884 had saved his master's life by escaping down a steep ravine when his travelling party was attacked by a group of indigenous people led by Cacique (chief) Foyel.[2] The three other Welshmen with whom he was travelling (Richard Davies, John Hughes and John Parry)[3] were killed and buried nearby at a place now known as 'Dyffryn y Merthyron' or The Valley of the Martyrs.[1]
Following a territorial dispute between Argentina and Chile in early 1902, the Limits Commission met in School No.18, Trevelin on 30 April of that year.[4] The British arbiter was Sir Thomas Holdich (King's Surveyor General of India) whilst the interested parties were represented by Francisco Pascasio Moreno (Argentina) and Dr. Balmaceda (Chile).[3] The inhabitants of the area (both the indigenous Mapuche Tehuelche and the Welsh colonists) voted to remain in Argentina.[5]
The town, in the Valley of the 16th of October (Welsh: Cwm Hyfryd/Bro Hydref), is near the Percy River, which flows south into the Río Grande, crosses the frontier with Chile, and thereafter is known as the Río Futaleufú. The Percy River was named after Percy Wharton, an American who was settled in Cwm Hyfryd between 1885 and 1904 before returning to Los Angeles, USA.[6]
A replica of John Evans' Los Andes Flour Mill can be found today at the Nant Fach Museum, Trevelin, in an area known as Comarca de los Alerces. The decline of the flour milling industry in the area can be dated to 1949 when the government of Juan Perón declared that the Chubut region was not appropriate for the cultivation of wheat, and therefore the land was turned over to the rearing of cattle.[3]
Climate
Trevelin has a cool summer humid climate (Köppen Cfb), but with a rainfall pattern similar to the Mediterranean climate.[7][8] The climate is milder than that of other locations on the Argentine side of Northern Patagonia because of the low altitude and the direct exposure to Pacific winds. This microclimate allows for intensive agriculture, a rarity in the region where mid-summer frosts occur every year. Nighttime temperatures rarely drop below −10 °C (14 °F) and although snowfall is frequent, it does not cover the ground for long periods of time. Winters are stormy with frequent rain, sleet and snow while summers are cool, windy and relatively dry.
Mean annual precipitation is 632 mm (25 in).[8] The precipitation pattern resembles a Mediterranean one, where most (75%) of the precipitation is concentrated from April to August, the cooler months with a dry period from September to March.[8] Snowfall can occur during the colder months while rainfall predominates in warmer months; hail rarely occurs.[8]
The mean temperature in Trevelin ranges from 3.8 °C (39 °F) in July, the coldest month to 16.1 °C (61 °F) in January, the warmest month.[8] Frosts can occur at any time, even in summer, which limits the range of agricultural activities.[8]
| Climate data for Trevelin (1970–2009) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37 (99) | 38 (100) | 35 (95) | 27 (81) | 22 (72) | 18 (64) | 20 (68) | 21 (70) | 25 (77) | 29 (84) | 33 (91) | 36 (97) | 38 (100) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 24 (75) | 24 (75) | 21 (70) | 16 (61) | 11 (52) | 8 (46) | 7 (45) | 10 (50) | 14 (57) | 17 (63) | 20 (68) | 22 (72) | 16 (61) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16 (61) | 16 (61) | 13 (55) | 9 (48) | 6 (43) | 4 (39) | 3 (37) | 5 (41) | 8 (46) | 10 (50) | 12 (54) | 14 (57) | 10 (50) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8 (46) | 8 (46) | 5 (41) | 3 (37) | 1 (34) | 0 (32) | −1 (30) | 0 (32) | 1 (34) | 3 (37) | 5 (41) | 7 (45) | 3 (37) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2 (28) | −2 (28) | −4 (25) | −7 (19) | −13 (9) | −13 (9) | −15 (5) | −13 (9) | −9 (16) | −9 (16) | −5 (23) | −3 (27) | −15 (5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 47 (1.9) | 35 (1.4) | 55 (2.2) | 81 (3.2) | 156 (6.1) | 155 (6.1) | 150 (5.9) | 121 (4.8) | 72 (2.8) | 61 (2.4) | 54 (2.1) | 45 (1.8) | 1,032 (40.6) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 58 | 60 | 65 | 76 | 79 | 77 | 71 | 64 | 61 | 57 | 58 | 66 |
| Source: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria[9] | |||||||||||||
References
Notes
- ^ a b CulturenetCymru. "John Daniel Evans, 'El Baqueano' (1862-1943)". Glaniad. The National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Trevelin, Patagonia. "Trevelin". PATAGONIA-ARGENTINA.COM. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Trevelin, History and Legends. "Trevin: History of the City and Legends from the Area". InterPatagonia. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Ray, Leslie (2007). Language of the Land: The Mapuche in Argentina and Chile. IWGIA. p. 98. ISBN 978-8791563379.
- ^ 1 1902 Referendum: historical research book
- ^ Culturenet Cymru. "Percy Wharton's place, Cwm Hyfryd, Chubut, c. 1890s". Glaniad. The National Library of Wales. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ (in Spanish). Secretaria de Mineria de la Nacion (Argentina). Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "Parámetros Climáticos: Periodo 1970–2009" (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
Sources
- Municipal information: Municipal Affairs Federal Institute (IFAM), Municipal Affairs Secretariat, Ministry of Interior, Argentina. (in Spanish)
External links
- Project-Hiraeth – Documents the stories of the Welsh colony in Patagonia, Argentina through film, text and illustration.