The colonization of Chubut

Chubut , in the context of the other territories of the seabord in the extreme south end of the Continent had the privilege of being relevant when a geographic portion was mentioned only as the unknown land . It became relevant in times of the Discovery and times of the Conquest of the New World . Hernando de Magellan’s sailed some of the most spectacular topographic accidents , Bahia sin Fonda or Saint Matias Gulf , mentioned by either name by the illustrious mariner, and finally New Gulf . Near the entrance to the Gulf he took shelter to repair his frail caravels that sustained damages going through storms in the southern seas, during his sailing around the Globe . The brave Lusitanian sailor would be the first to recognize the Atlantic Coasts in this desolate end of the World . It was the year of the Lord 1520 . Later Simon de Alcazaba would found on March 9,1535 , in Lion’s Island, south of Camarones, the Province of Nueva León, of symbolic and tragic existence. 244 years would go by till there is a new attempt to establish a populated center in Chubut., and that was when the Spanish Crown decided to create forts in the vast Atlantic litoral . to guarantee it sovereignty over those territories and the places being chosen for such project were Bahia Sin Fondo and San Julian .On January 7, 1779 . Juan de la Piedra set foot in the southern coasts of Golfo San Jose , discovered by himself . he expedition, which counted amongst its members exceptional figures like Antonio de Viedma and Basilio Villarino, after recognizing the topographical characteristics of Peninsula Valdez and after Villarino found springs known today by his name, and Bahia Sin Fondo , which he renamed Puerto Nuervo, he decided the construction of Fort La Candelaria , which later became La Estancia del Rey, with some cattle that were the firsts top be brought to Patagonia. From Chubut was later organized the expedition which under the command of Antonio de Viedma discovered the mouth of Rio Negro and going upstream he built a fort that later became the township of Mercedes de Patagones , presently Viedma.

Despite the loneliness and lack of communications , and the precarious conditions in supplies and the aggressiveness of the weather , the colonizing attempt in Peninsula Valdés was there for more than three decades till it was burnt , most of the men shot dead by an Indians. who savagely killed the Spaniards. After this tragic colonizing attempts by the Spanish Crown the vast territories of the southern regions were, for various decades, opened to the action of aborigine tribes and under the feared threat of the mapuche chieftains coming from Chile, such as Calfucurá – Blue Stone, under whose guidance appeared what he called “the vast and invincible Araucan Empire, name that defined its Chilean origin. Calfu- and his chieftains resisted for almost a century the action of the crown forces and after of the argentine governments. The brave and intelligent cacique commanded puelche and pampas tribes in his attacks to the argentine estancias . Argentine authorities by their part couldn’t stop the Indians in their attacks plundering the estancias in most of the Buenos Aires Province , and the southern parts of Cordoba Santa Fe , San Luis and Men do<a, delaying for decades the establishment of populated centers in those areas. Starting in 1810 and more exactly after the Representatives of United Provinces of South America proclaimed in Tucuman the nation Independence , the national geographical jurisdiction comprised the Provinces of Alto Perú and Uruguay, which later separated but in their territories there were aborigin nations that resisted coming under the legal authority of a Nation. Longwise more than half of the physical territory was dominated by the natives. In 1979 the Desert Campaign , inspired and commanded by General Roca put an end to the threat that the Indian attacks organized by Calfu Cura and his chieftains and later by his successors under Manuel Namun Cura ( Stone Heel ) meant for the rural population

Source Subsecretaria de Cultura. Text by Manuel Porcel de Peralta.

Península Valdés . Protected Area. Patrimony of Humanity

° When You enter a Protected Natural Area remember you are supposed to respect the natural elements of the area, being responsible in the use and enjoyment, protecting and favoring its conservation and respecting the existing norms.° The fee you pays at entering this areas is used for their good keeping.° Before you start off its important to get fuel and fresh water.° Remember to use your safety belt and drive with great precaution on gravel road , remembering that at a slow speed you’ll be able to enjoy greatly the landscape. It is recommended not to go faster than 70 kilometers an hour and don’t step on the brakes brusquely.° To enjoy the fauna you should walk on trails drawn with such a purpose in the authorized areas.° Prevent fires not throwing cigarette butts and do it in the thrash bins . Remember.. in this area vegetation is highly combustible.° Help to maintain the area clean , use the thrash bins and make sure the wind will not carry bags and papers°Each Fauna Warden station is an Operative Unity with sanitary, first aid and control. Check with them your doubts and wishes . –they are there for helping you. ° Respect the regulations in force . Don’t enter the intangible areas, don’t recollect plants and or animals no paleontological and arqueological elements . Don’t enter a protected area with any kind of weapon.

The birth of Madryn

The history of this little town is not simple. It was not the question of a bunch of people arriving, building their houses and staying to live here. The Madryn story mixes firm religious beliefs, migrating sagas and a sense of being oneself So, Madryn is not the result of a group of people arriving, building their houses and staying here for good. And now here they work and live, because one has to live some place. This town grew out of a practical need. But Madryn here is the result also of a deep religious beliefs and of practical considerations that made it be here and in no other place of this vast Argentinean Patagonia . It’s people with a deep sense of identity .The first mentions of a welsh race date back to the Middle East, wrapped in the fogs of time. The only thing known for sure is that one day, for unknown reasons , they packed up their belongings and headed west, in the first step of a long trip that ends in the west shores of the British Islands .They had gone through Spain, leaving behind the Galician’s , and through the northwest lands of France, and those who stayed became the gallous and at last they crossed the Channel and settled on the west shores of the British Islands But the Anglos and the Saxons also arrived there and then it happened what had to happen. . The Welsh were shepherds, poets and singers, and if needed also warriors .The Anglos and the Saxons were men of industries and trade and if that was not enough, they had different ideas about church . The welsh believed that any moment and any place was good for a talk with God and that no interpreter was needed .Before things got worse the welsh, peace loving people, went to the New World only to find that after some time they were American of welsh origin, while they wanted to be Welsh living in American soil And because Charles Darwin had said something about vast , inhabited lands in the south of the New World , there they went. And there is here , In Chubut Province were 153 welsh landed on July 28th, 1865.The Argentine Government gave them land, they saw and harvested their crops and after some time they thought that a railroad to New Gulf would make things easier. And so they built the railroad .The Station still stands and they build the first houses. So.. Madryn was born. …Welcome.

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