Rincón de Los Sauces

Rincón de los Sauces is a city in southwestern Argentina. It lies in the north of the province of Neuquen, is the largest city of the department of Pehuenches, but not its capital (which is found in Buta Ranquil ).

Geography

Rincón de los Sauces is located on the south bank of the Río Colorado. South of town is the mountain range of the Sierra Auca Mahuida.

History

The region around Rincon de los Sauces was inhabited from the late 19th century, however, the place was long an insignificant settlement. In 1960 the state-owned oil company YPF with test drilling, which were crowned with success in 1968. On December 20, 1970 Rincón de los Sauces was officially founded, from then on began the village by the extractive industries to grow rapidly. 1996 skeletons were found of dinosaurs in the area, so that even paleontologists settled from then on in the village.

Economy

Rincón de los Sauces is now one of the centers of the petroleum and natural gas production in Argentina. This circumstance has led to the city is the fastest growing of all of Argentina; between 1991 and 2001 they almost threefold increase in its population (from 3,475 to 10,071: 189.8 %).