La Pampa
Province
Flag Coat of arms
Divisions	22 departments
Capital	Santa Rosa
Area	143,440 km2 (55,382 sq mi)
Population	318,951 (2010)
Density	2.2 / km2 (6 / sq mi)
Governor	Óscar Jorge
- Senators	María Higonet, Carlos Verna, Juan Carlos Marino
Timezone	ART (UTC−3)
ISO 3166-2 code	AR-L
Demonym	Pampeano
Website: http://www.lapampa.gov.ar

La Pampa (Spanish pronunciation: [la ˈpampa]) is a sparsely populated province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise San Luis, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Río Negro, Neuquén and Mendoza.

History[link]

Stables at the former Roca-Luro Estate, now the Luro Prairie Preserve.

In 1604 Hernandarias was the first explorer to reach the area later explored by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera in 1662. But it was not until the 18th century that permanent settlements were installed. Resistance of the local aborigines prevented expansion until the government of Rosas, and did not cease until Julio Roca's Conquest of the desert in the 19th century. The territory was divided between the officers, and the first settlements were erected.

The Territorio Nacional de La Pampa Central was created in 1884, containing the Río Negro Province and parts of other surrounding provinces, and around 25.000 inhabitants. In 1915 there were already 110,000. In 1945 the territory was divided and La Pampa became a province.

In 1952 its constitution was indited and the province renamed after Eva Perón. In 1955 both La Pampa and Chaco, the other province renamed at the same time, this one after Juan Perón, were renamed back to their original names.

Geography and climate[link]

Landscape near Winifreda, La Pampa.

Situated in the middle of the pampas, the low, flat steppe receives 500 mm of rain a year, diminishing towards the West. The low humidity and temperate weather result in high contrast in temperature between day and night, which is reflected in the vegetation of the region.

Summers are warm throughout the province, with warmer days in the west (about 32°C, or 90F) than in the east (30°C, or 86F) and cool nights, ranging from 16°C (61F) in the north to 14°C (57F) in the south: the thermal amplitude is thus quite remarkable. Heat waves are frequent, and temperatures reach over 40°C (104F) sometimes. These are often followed by severe storms and much colder periods, where nights can be below 10°C (50F). By early March nights are already noticeably cooler, and April usually brings the first frosty nights. Averages range from 19°C (66F) to 22°C (72F) during the day, and 7°C (45F) to 10°C (50F) at night, with dryer conditions than in the summer. Winters in La Pampa are usually dry and sunny, with cool days and quite cold nights, and some marked variations between warmer and colder periods. Daytime temperatures range from 15°C (59F) in the north and west, to about 12°C (54F) in the southernmost areas. Nighttime lows range from about 3°C (37F) in the northeast corner to around 0°C (32F) or slightly below freezing in many southern and western areas. That being said, northerly winds occasionally bring days of up to 25°C (77F), while southern winds can keep daytime highs below 5°C (41F). Nights below -5°C (23F) are quite common everywhere, with temperatures below -10°C (14F) possible in most areas. Spring is marked by wide variations and periods of drought followed by severe thunderstorms: it is the season of hail, and it is not uncommon to see temperatures reach 35°C (95F) on one day, and then fail to reach 15°C (59F) two days later, with frost possible until October and perhaps later.

Overall, precipitation ranges from about 700 mm in the east/northeast, to 500 mm in the centre (agricultural frontier), and values below 400 mm in the south and west.

Northwestern La Pampa is part of the pampa húmeda, adjacent to the Province of Buenos Aires. The influence of the Cuyo region can be seen in the west, with a low mountain range of 600 meters.

There are only two major rivers in the province: the Colorado ("Red River") on the border with the Province of Río Negro, and the Salado ("Salty River") crossing it. The Salado's level has been dropping, as its tributaries in the Province of Mendoza are diverted for irrigation.

Economy[link]

La Pampa, long Argentina's most economically agricultural province, produced an estimated US$3.2 billion in output in 2006, or, US$10,500 per capita (almost 20% above the national average).^[1]. Now, the GDP per capita of the province is of US$ 14.000

Agriculture contributes a fourth to La Pampa's economy, the most important activity being cattle ranching, with 3,632,684 (2002) head, which takes place all over the province. Other livestock include 202,428 sheep, 140,498 goats and 64,118 pigs.

Parque Luro Natural Prairie Preserve.

The Northeast, on the more fertile lands, has also an important activity with wheat (10% of the national production), sunflower (13% of NP), maize, alfalfa, barley, and other cereals.

There's also a dairy industry of 300 centres of extraction and 25 cheese factories, honey production, and salt extraction from salt basins.

La Pampa is home to very little industry, construction or mining and, so, its services sector accounts for over two-thirds of the economy, a fairly high proportion. Tourism is an underdeveloped activity, however. Visitors start at Santa Rosa and reach Lihué Calel National Park, Parque Luro Provincial Reserve or visit one of the many estancias, some of which are dedicated to agritourism.

Political division[link]

Civic Center and governor's offices, Santa Rosa.

The province is divided in 22 departments (Spanish: departamentos).

Department (Capital)

1. Atreuco Department (Macachín)
2. Caleu Caleu Department (La Adela)
3. Capital (Santa Rosa)
4. Catriló Department (Catriló)
5. Chalileo Department (Santa Isabel)
6. Chapaleufú Department (Intendente Alvear)
7. Chical Có Department (Algarrobo del Aguila)
8. Conhelo Department (Eduardo Castex)
9. Curacó Department (Puelches)
10. Guatraché Department (Guatraché)
11. Huncal Department (Bernasconi)
    

    

    Supreme Court of La Pampa.
12. Lihué Calel Department (Cuchillo-Co)
13. Limay Mahuida Department (Limay Mahuida)
14. Loventué Department (Victorica)
15. Maracó Department (General Pico)
16. Puelén Department (Veinticinco de Mayo)
17. Quemú Quemú Department (Quemú Quemú)
18. Rancul Department (Parera)
19. Realicó Department (Realicó)
20. Toay Department (Toay)
21. Trenel Department (Trenel)
22. Utracán Department (General Acha)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: La Pampa

• Official (government) Website (Spanish)
• Provincial Tourist Office (Spanish)
• Universidad Nacional de La Pampa (Spanish)
• REGION Guide to La Pampa (Spanish/English)
• Map of La Pampa and its Departamentos (out of date)

v t e Provinces of Argentina Provinces Buenos Aires Catamarca Chaco Chubut Córdoba Corrientes Entre Ríos Formosa Jujuy La Pampa La Rioja Mendoza Misiones Neuquén Río Negro Salta San Juan San Luis Santa Cruz Santa Fe Santiago del Estero Tierra del Fuego Tucumán Autonomous city Buenos Aires City (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires)

Coordinates: 36°37′S 64°17′W / 36.617°S 64.283°W / -36.617; -64.283

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2010)

Alberto Cortez (born March 11, 1940)^[1] is an Argentine singer and songwriter. Cortez and his wife live in Madrid.^[2]

Cortez was born in Rancul, La Pampa Province, Argentina.^[1][3][4] He began elementary school and the Alberto Williams conservatory at the age of six. He began composing songs at twelve, including "Un cigarrillo, la lluvia y tú". Later he entered Manuel Ignacio Molina de San Rafael Junior High School in Mendoza province. There he continued his studies of music at the Chopin of San Rafael conservatory.

At seventeen, Cortez became the singer of the Arizona orchestra, and he is known as Chiquito García. At eighteen, he went to study in the Social Sciences and Law School of Buenos Aires and sang in bars to help himself with his studies. Later Cortez began to sing in the orchestra of Mario Cardi and later was contracted to sing in the San Francisco jazz orchestra. With this travel over all the country. Begins to use his pseudonym "Alberto Cortez" while singing with the orchestra of Armando Pointier. Cortez dropped out school and dedicated himself fully to music.

At twenty, Cortez travelled by ship to Genova and then by train to Antwerp, Belgium. There he recorded his first record. His record "Sucu Sucu" reached number one. Cortez met Renee Govaerts and later married her. After a difficult start he consolidated himself as one of the more renowned composer-singers of Latin America with hits like "Mi árbol y yo", "Mariana", "Como el primer día", "A partir de mañana" and "Callejero".

See also[link]

• List of singer-songwriters
• List of composers

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c} Alberto Cortez: "Soy un animal de escenario" InfoRegión - Sep 13, 2007
2. ^ Alberto Cortez, Lucho Gatica, Olga Guillot, Los Tigres del Norte, Os ... Business Wire - Sep 17, 2007.
3. ^ Cuatro decadas en busca de la rima.(Cultura) Reforma - Nov 24, 2000
4. ^ La balada: mensaje universal‎ - Carlos Bolívar Ramírez - 2001 - Page 188

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Songs and Bibliography
• Brief biography and some lyrics (English)

This article about an Argentine singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This article on a songwriter is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e