Malargüe Department

Malargüe

Departamento Malargüe
Malargüe Departamento Malargüe
Department
	location of Malargüe Department in Mendoza Province
	Coordinates: 36°10′S 69°20′W / 36.167°S 69.333°W
Country	Argentina
Established	November 16, 1850
Seat	Malargüe
Government
• Mayor	Celso Jaque, PJ
Area
• Total	41,317 km2 (15,953 sq mi)
Population (2001 census [INDEC])
• Total	23,020
• Density	0.56/km2 (1.4/sq mi)
Demonym	malargüino/na
Postal Code	M5613
IFAM	MZA010
Area Code	02627
Patron saint	Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Website	www.malargue.gov.ar

Malargüe is a department located in the south west of Mendoza Province in Argentina. Its borders are San Rafael in the north, La Pampa Province in the east, Neuquén Province in the south and Chile to the west.

The provincial subdivision has a population of about 23,000 inhabitants in an area of 41,317 km² (15,953 sq mi), and its capital city is Malargüe, which is located around 1,180 km (730 mi) from the federal capital Buenos Aires.

Geography

The south of Malargüe Department is considered the northern tip of Patagonia and is home to many nature reserves such as La Payunia, Castillos de Pincheira, Caverna de las Brujas and Laguna de Llancanelo.

Districts

The department is divided into four districts:

Hydrology

Malargüe has many hydric resources. Among its most important rivers are the Grande River, the Colorado River, the Barrancas River and the Malargüe River, and the lagoons of Llancanelo, Negra and Niña Encantada.

Science

Malargüe is home to the Pierre Auger Observatory, an observatory designed to detect ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.

Tourism

The department has many exciting natural landmarks and is well suited for adventure tourism such as mountaineering, paragliding, rafting and kayaking. Here are located such exciting landmarks as Castillos de Pincheira, Tigre Cave, Brujas Cave and Pozo de las Ánimas - two closely located, up to 101 m deep sinkholes, where the wind often creates a howling sound.

Malargüe Department is home to the famous skiing resort of Las Leñas.