{{for|the meteorite|Esquel (meteorite)}} {{Infobox settlement <!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions --> | name = Esquel | native_name = | native_name_lang = es | settlement_type = [[List of cities in Argentina|Town]] | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 2/1/2 | image1 = Esquel desde Trochita.jpg | image2 = Rivadavia y 25 de Mayo - Esquel - Argentina.jpg | image3 = Chubut - Esquel.jpg | image4 = Terminal de ómnibus de Esquel.jpg | image5 = Cartel Viejo Expreso Patagónico, La Trochita, Esquel, Chubut.jpg }} | image_caption = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Argentina | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Esquel in Argentina | coordinates = {{coord|42|54|S|71|19|W|region:AR_type:city|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]] | subdivision_name = {{flag|Argentina}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Argentina|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Chubut}} | subdivision_type2 = [[Departments of Argentina|Department]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Futaleufú Department|Futaleufú]] | established_title = Founded | established_date = February 25, 1906 | founder = | government_footnotes = | leader_party = [[Republican Proposal|PRO]] | leader_title = [[Intendant#Argentina|Intendant]] | leader_name = [[Matías Taccetta]] | unit_pref = Metric<!-- or US or UK --> | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 563 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 32,343 | population_as_of = 2010 census | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_note = | blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] | blank1_info = [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|Csb]] | timezone1 = [[Time in Argentina|ART]] | utc_offset1 = −3 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = [[Argentine postal code|CPA base]] | postal_code = [[ISO 3166-2:AR|U]]9200 | area_code_type = [[Telephone numbering in Argentina|Dialing code]] | area_code = +54 2945 | website = [http://www.esquel.gov.ar/ esquel.gov.ar] | footnotes = }} '''Esquel''' is a town in the northwest of [[Chubut Province]] in [[Argentina|Argentine]] [[Patagonia]]. It is located in [[Futaleufú Department]], of which it is the government seat. Esquel is the home station for “La Trochita,” a historic narrow gauge railway known in English as “The [[Old Patagonian Express]].” Esquel is also known for its ski area, “La Hoya,” and as a gateway city to Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO protected reserve featuring some of the oldest trees in South America. The name Esquel derives from one of two [[Tehuelche language|Tehuelche]] words: one meaning "marsh" and the other meaning "land of burrs",{{dubious|date=December 2021}} which refers to the many thorny plants including the [[pimpinella]], and the other meaning herbaceous plants whose fruits, when ripe, turn into prickly burrs that stick to the animals' skins and wool or people's clothes as a way of propagation. According to the late Elvey MacDonald, Esquel was named Tre'r Ysgall (Town of thistles) by the original Welsh settlers. As the Spanish-speaking population of the area increased, they found it difficult pronouncing the word Ysgall, and, over time, Ysgall evolved to Esquel.
==History== The founding of the town dates back to the arrival of [[Wales|Welsh]] immigrants in Chubut in 1865. The settlement was created on 25 February 1906, as an extension of the [[Y Wladfa#Expansion towards the Andes 1885.E2.80.931902|Colonia 16 de Octubre]], that also contains the town of [[Trevelin]].
The city, the main town of the area, is located by the Esquel Stream and surrounded by the mountains La Zeta, La Cruz, Cerro 21 and La Hoya. La Hoya is known as a ski resort with good quality snow right through the spring. The [[Los Alerces National Park]] is {{convert|50|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest of the city.
An important tourist attraction is the [[narrow-gauge railway]] (with {{cvt|750|mm}} between the rails), known as ''[[La Trochita]]'' locally and in English as ''The Old Patagonian Express'' after the book ''[[The Old Patagonian Express]]'' by [[Paul Theroux]]. At {{cvt|402|km}} in length, it is said to be the only narrow-gauge long-distance line in operation and the southernmost railway in the world. The first fifty oil-fired steam locomotives were made by [[Henschel & Son]] of Germany in 1922. Later twenty-five locomotives were bought from the [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] of [[Philadelphia]].
The train remains authentic and in operation thanks to the effort of the team of workers at ''Talleres Ferroviarios El Maiten'', that make several parts by hand. Trains now run as a tourist excursion between Esquel and the small settlement of Nahuel Pan, located at the foot of the volcano of the same name, with other services all the way to El Maitén. Until 1993, the train ran all the way to the city of [[Ingeniero Jacobacci]] in [[Río Negro Province]], from where trains ran to [[Viedma, Río Negro]] and from there to [[Buenos Aires]], forming the General Roca railway.
{{Gallery |File:LaTrochita20EnEstacionEsquel1.jpg|The [[La Trochita|Old Patagonian Express]] at Esquel station |File:Calle de Esquel, provincia del Chubut.jpg|Avenida Alvear }}
According to the {{census-ar|2001}}, the Esquel district had about 28,000 inhabitants, with one of the highest rates of growth in the province, mainly as result of the immigration of people from Buenos Aires, but also from other provinces. It has wide cement streets with sidewalks, and is clean and well maintained. Their hospital is the primary one for the zone and is often a destination for "Medical Tourism" from both foreigners and Porteños (residents of Buenos Aires) alike.
In 2003 a [[mining referendum]] was held in Esquel with 81% of voters, with a participation rate of 75%, rejected the establishment a mining project by [[Median Gold]].<ref name=MecanismosUrd07>Urdinez, María Victoria (2007). Mecanismos de participación y control ciudadano: 'El plebiscito en Esquel. IV Jornadas de Jóvenes Investigadores. Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires</ref><ref name=Wagner2019>{{Cite journal|title=Propuestas de inversiones chinas en territorio mapuche: resistencias a la minería metalífera en Loncopué|journal=[[Estudios Atacameños]]|url=http://www.scielo.cl/pdf/eatacam/n63/0718-1043-eatacam-_2019_0028.pdf|last=Wagner|first=Lucrecia|volume=63|doi=10.22199/issn.0718-1043-2019-0028|year=2019|issue=63 |pages=315–339 |language=es|trans-title=Proposal of chinese investments in mapuche territory: resistances to metallic mining in Loncopué|doi-access=free}}</ref> The mine was estimated to create 1,500 jobs during ten years.<ref name=MecanismosUrd07/>
In May 2009, Esquel was twinned with [[Aberystwyth]] in Wales; with representatives of the Welsh town traveling to Argentina to participate in the signing of a charter formalising the link. [[File:PanoramicadeEsquel.jpg|thumb|center|700px|Panoramic view of Esquel from a nearby hill]]
==Esquel meteorite== {{Further|Esquel (meteorite)}} In 1951 a farmer found a {{convert|755|kg|lb}} [[meteorite]], later called [[Esquel (meteorite)|Esquel]], while digging a hole for a water tank. When cut and polished, the meteorite showed beautiful yellowish [[olivine]] (peridot) crystals. The Esquel meteorite is known worldwide among collectors and the scientific community.
==Climate== Owing to its location on the immediate leeward side of the Andes, Esquel has a cool summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csb'') bordering on a [[Humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dsb'').<ref name="IRNesquel">{{cite web|url=http://www.mineria.gob.ar/estudios/irn/chubut/u-2.asp#m1|title=Provincia de Chubut–Clima Y Metéorologia|publisher=Secretaria de Mineria de la Nacion (Argentina)|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417232521/http://www.mineria.gob.ar/estudios/irn/chubut/u-2.asp|archive-date=April 17, 2015|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref> Other climate systems, such as the [[Trewartha climate classification]], place it within the oceanic zone (''Do''), like much of Western Europe and the [[Pacific Northwest]]. Temperatures are relatively cold for its climate due to its higher altitude.<ref name="IRNesquel" /> Summers are mild with warm temperatures during the afternoon followed by cool nights.<ref name="SMN2">{{cite web |url= http://www.smn.gov.ar/serviciosclimaticos/?mod=elclima&id=7&provincia=Chubut&ciudad=Esquel |language = es |title= Datos Estadísticos (Período 1981-1990) |publisher= Servicio Meteorológico Nacional |access-date= October 6, 2015}}</ref> The mean temperature during the summer is around {{convert|14|C|F|1}}.<ref name=IRNesquel/> It's the sunniest season, averaging as much as 10 hours of sunshine per day in January with an average of 7–8 clear days and only 5-7 overcast days.<ref name=IRNesquel/><ref name=IRN/> Spring and fall are transition seasons featuring mild temperatures during the day and cool to cold nights.<ref name=SMN2/> Spring starts out with cool temperatures during the day and very cold nights which progressively becomes warmer.<ref name=SMN2/> Both spring and fall have highly variable weather.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.esquel.tur.ar/conoce/clima |language = es |title= El Clima en Esquel |publisher= Secretaría de Turismo de la Ciudad de Esquel |access-date= October 6, 2015}}</ref>
Winters vary from cool to cold with mean temperatures close to freezing while precipitation is high.<ref name=IRNesquel/> Temperatures regularly fall below freezing during the winter nights.<ref name=SMN2/> Winters are characterized by cloudy weather, averaging 11-13 overcast days from June to August.<ref name=IRN/> Snow falls on average on twenty days each winter but accumulation is usually less than {{cvt|10|cm|0}}. The average date of the first frost occurs on March 7 while the average date of the last frost occurs on November 10 although frosts have been recorded in all months.<ref name = ORA> {{cite web |url = http://www.ora.gob.ar/eval_decadial.php |title = Esquel, Chubut |work = Estadísticas meteorológicas decadiales |publisher = Oficina de Riesgo Agropecuario |language = es |access-date = October 6, 2015}}</ref>
The average relative humidity is 62%, ranging from a high of 77% in June and July to a low of 49% in January.<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REGIII/AG/87803.TXT | server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] | title = Esquel Aero Climate Normals 1961-1990 | access-date = March 31, 2015}}</ref> Summers have lower humidity due to higher temperatures.<ref name=IRNesquel/> Most of the wind comes from the west or the southwest with calm days being uncommon.<ref name=IRNesquel/> The relief modifies the wind speeds with southern areas receiving more wind than the north.<ref name=IRNesquel/> Mean wind speeds range from {{convert|17.4|km/h|abbr=on}} in July to {{convert|30.4|km/h|abbr=on}} in December with summers being more windy than winters.<ref name=IRNesquel/><ref name=SMN2/> Esquel receives an average annual precipitation of {{convert|504.2|mm|in|0}} a year; much of it being concentrated in the winter months.<ref name=IRNesquel/> Esquel, which lies in the zone of transition between the wetter Andes to the west and the steppes to the east,<ref name=IRNesquel/> records higher precipitation in the town than in the airport located {{cvt|13|km}} to the east.{{sfn|Trees in Patagonia|2008|p=13}} It is estimated that Esquel receives an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day, ranging from a high of 10 hours in January to a low of 5 hours in July.<ref name=IRNesquel/>
{{Weather box |location = Esquel (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present){{efn|The record highs and lows are based on the Secretaria de Mineria link for the period 1901–1990 while records beyond 1990 come from the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional link since it only covers from 1961–present. When these 2 sources are used together, the record highs and lows are from the period 1901–present}} |metric first = yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 38.6 |Feb record high C = 35.6 |Mar record high C = 32.2 |Apr record high C = 27.0 |May record high C = 22.3 |Jun record high C = 21.2 |Jul record high C = 20.7 |Aug record high C = 19.5 |Sep record high C = 23.7 |Oct record high C = 29.6 |Nov record high C = 32.6 |Dec record high C = 35.0 |year record high C = 38.6 |Jan high C = 22.0 |Feb high C = 22.3 |Mar high C = 19.2 |Apr high C = 14.7 |May high C = 10.5 |Jun high C = 7.0 |Jul high C = 6.2 |Aug high C = 8.7 |Sep high C = 11.9 |Oct high C = 14.6 |Nov high C = 17.6 |Dec high C = 20.1 |year high C = 14.6 |Jan mean C = 15.4 |Feb mean C = 15.1 |Mar mean C = 12.4 |Apr mean C = 8.4 |May mean C = 5.2 |Jun mean C = 2.6 |Jul mean C = 1.7 |Aug mean C = 3.4 |Sep mean C = 5.6 |Oct mean C = 8.4 |Nov mean C = 11.3 |Dec mean C = 13.7 |year mean C = 8.6 |Jan low C = 8.6 |Feb low C = 8.1 |Mar low C = 5.8 |Apr low C = 2.9 |May low C = 0.8 |Jun low C = -1.4 |Jul low C = -2.4 |Aug low C = -1.1 |Sep low C = 0.2 |Oct low C = 2.3 |Nov low C = 4.9 |Dec low C = 7.3 |year low C = 3.0 |Jan record low C = -5.4 |Feb record low C = -4.6 |Mar record low C = -7.0 |Apr record low C = -11.5 |May record low C = -12.5 |Jun record low C = -21.2 |Jul record low C = -22.8 |Aug record low C = -20.9 |Sep record low C = -14.8 |Oct record low C = -10.3 |Nov record low C = -7.0 |Dec record low C = -4.5 |year record low C = -22.8 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 22.1 |Feb precipitation mm = 20.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 23.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 41.1 |May precipitation mm = 64.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 81.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 64.5 |Aug precipitation mm = 55.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 29.4 |Oct precipitation mm = 28.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 21.3 |Dec precipitation mm = 20.3 |year precipitation mm = 472.6 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 3.8 |Feb precipitation days = 4.1 |Mar precipitation days = 5.3 |Apr precipitation days = 7.0 |May precipitation days = 9.5 |Jun precipitation days = 11.6 |Jul precipitation days = 9.7 |Aug precipitation days = 10.4 |Sep precipitation days = 6.8 |Oct precipitation days = 6.2 |Nov precipitation days = 4.9 |Dec precipitation days = 3.9 |year precipitation days = 83.2 |Jan snow days = 0.1 |Feb snow days = 0.1 |Mar snow days = 0.1 |Apr snow days = 0.8 |May snow days = 2.5 |Jun snow days = 5.6 |Jul snow days = 7.1 |Aug snow days = 6.5 |Sep snow days = 3.1 |Oct snow days = 1.6 |Nov snow days = 0.7 |Dec snow days = 0.1 |year snow days = 28.1 |Jan humidity = 47.4 |Feb humidity = 49.9 |Mar humidity = 56.0 |Apr humidity = 63.0 |May humidity = 72.1 |Jun humidity = 75.4 |Jul humidity = 75.3 |Aug humidity = 70.1 |Sep humidity = 61.7 |Oct humidity = 55.0 |Nov humidity = 49.9 |Dec humidity = 47.5 |year humidity = 60.3 |Jan sun = 325.5 |Feb sun = 274.0 |Mar sun = 232.5 |Apr sun = 186.0 |May sun = 130.2 |Jun sun = 102.0 |Jul sun = 120.9 |Aug sun = 164.3 |Sep sun = 195.0 |Oct sun = 251.1 |Nov sun = 288.0 |Dec sun = 313.1 |year sun = |Jand sun = 10.5 |Febd sun = 9.7 |Mard sun = 7.5 |Aprd sun = 6.2 |Mayd sun = 4.2 |Jund sun = 3.4 |Juld sun = 3.9 |Augd sun = 5.3 |Sepd sun = 6.5 |Octd sun = 8.1 |Novd sun = 9.6 |Decd sun = 10.1 |yeard sun = 7.1 |source 1 = [[Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentina)|Servicio Meteorológico Nacional]]<ref name = SMN>{{cite web | url = https://ssl.smn.gob.ar/dpd/observaciones/estadisticas_normales_9120.zip | title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales - período 1991-2020 | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = es | access-date = 1 May 2023 | archive-date = 3 March 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230303032103/https://ssl.smn.gob.ar/dpd/observaciones/estadisticas_normales_9120.zip | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=SMNestadisticas>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230708235600/http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/bitstream/handle/20.500.12160/2506/estad%C3%ADsticas_climatol%C3%B3gicas_normales_1991-2020.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y | archive-date = 8 July 2023 | url = http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/handle/20.500.12160/2506 | title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales – período 1991–2020 | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = es | access-date = 8 July 2023 | year = 2023 | last1 = Nacional | first1 = Servicio Meteorológico }}</ref><ref name = SMN1>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230509192820/http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/78367/Archivo_de_datos_climatol%C3%B3gicos.zip?sequence=1&isAllowed=y | archive-date = 9 May 2023 | url = http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/78367 | title = Estadística climatológica de la República Argentina Período 1991-2000 | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | doi = 10.35537/10915/78367 | language = es | access-date = 23 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=SMNextremes>{{cite web | url = https://www.smn.gob.ar/estadisticas | title = Clima en la Argentina: Guia Climática por localidades | work = Caracterización: Estadísticas de largo plazo | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = es | access-date = 1 May 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190207103528/https://www.smn.gob.ar/caracterizaci%C3%B3n-estad%C3%ADsticas-de-largo-plazo | archive-date = February 7, 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=SMN3> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190304010102/https://www.smn.gob.ar/noticias/fin-de-febrero-lo-destacado-del-mes | archive-date = 4 March 2019 | url = https://www.smn.gob.ar/noticias/fin-de-febrero-lo-destacado-del-mes | title = Fin de febrero: lo destacado del mes | publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional | language = es | access-date = 3 March 2019}}</ref> |source 2 = Secretaria de Mineria (extremes 1901–1990),<ref name = IRN>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150119032939/http://www.mineria.gob.ar/estudios/irn/chubut/estacionesmeteorol%C3%B3gicas3.asp | archive-date = January 19, 2015 | url = http://www.mineria.gob.ar/estudios/irn/chubut/estacionesmeteorológicas3.asp | language = es | title = Provincia de Chubut - Clima Y Meteorologia: Datos Meteorologicos Y Pluviometicos | publisher = Secretaria de Mineria de la Nacion (Argentina) | access-date = March 31, 2015}}</ref> [[FAO]] (percent sun only),<ref name = fao>{{cite web | url = http://www.fao.org/docrep/field/009/91265s/91265s02.pdf | language = es | title = Cuadro 13: Sumas Mensuales y Anuales de las Horas de Sol Efectivas y Porcentaje de los Totales de Horas de Sol | work = Estudio Sobre la Rehabilitacion de Tierras en el Valle de Viedma: Informed Final–Volumen II | page = 97 | publisher = [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] | access-date = July 13, 2015}}</ref> |date=November 2011 }}
==See also== {{portal|Argentina}} *[[La Trochita|Old Patagonian Express]]
==References== {{reflist}}
===Notes=== {{notelist}}
==Books== * {{cite book |last1=Gut |first1=Bernardo |title=Trees in Patagonia |publisher=Springer |year=2008 |isbn=978-3-7643-8837-9 |ref={{sfnRef|Trees in Patagonia|2008}}|doi=10.1007/978-3-7643-8838-6 }}
==External links== {{Commons category|Esquel}} * {{ar-mi-muni|CHU018}} * [http://www.esquel.gov.ar/ Municipality of Esquel] - General, government and tourism information (in English and Spanish).
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Populated places established in 1906]] [[Category:Tourism in Argentina]] [[Category:Welsh settlement in Patagonia]] [[Category:Cities in Chubut Province]] [[Category:1906 establishments in Argentina]]