Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego

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See Rio Grande (disambiguation) for other meanings

Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego

Río Grande is a town in Argentina, on the northern part of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. It has a population of 60,000 and it's the industrial capital of the Tierra del Fuego Province. Its city mayor is Jorge Martín (2000 - to date).

Sheep, as in many places in Patagonia, are the reason for population settlements since the end of the 19th century.

Abundant rivers, sea coasts and good pastures are some of the reasons that justify the population growth. Río Grande was founded on July 11, 1921, when the central government issued a decree recognizing this locality as the "Agricultural Colony of Río Grande".

In the beginning the land was subdivided among a few families owning large estates until the agrarian reform of 1925. Cattle raising became one of the most important economic activities in the area.

Thanks to a law promoting industrial development, several companies involved in the manufacture of electronic products have opened their factories here, giving the city an industrial profile.

Today, Río Grande is a bustling town where you will be able to visit natural and historical sites. Río Grande offers fishing, trekking, horseback riding, photographic safaris and even the possibility of observing sheep shearing.