An Oasis in the Steppe

The works on the Florentino Ameghino dam began in 1950 and were inaugurated in 1963. A serene town with the same name was formed around it, which is a specific destination to visit the dam almost 135 km from the city of Trelew.

A quiet place on the banks of Chubut

Access is by national route 25, parallel to the river bank, to the town of Las Chapas, and from there a 12 km detour connects with this oasis in the steppe. There you can practice rock climbing, hiking, sport fishing and photographic safaris that are especially enriched in steppe regions of the deepest Chubut. The villa has cabins and camping areas. It is a plateau landscape, whose point of interest forms a green haven of willows, surrounded by reddish walls and silent houses that stood on both sides of the Chubut River. It is a peaceful destination, a quiet place to rest on the banks of the river, walk along trails that lead to panoramic points and enjoy the natural environment. The reservoir is 80 km long, has a surface area of ​​7,400 ha, and receives contributions from the confluence of the Chico River with the Chubut River. It is named after Florentino Ameghino (1854-1911), a prominent naturalist, geologist, and paleontologist. His scientific work is enormous, with several books published, and his name transcends schools, streets, avenues, forests, towns and districts, dikes and canals, and is the eponymous of more than 100 species.

Since its inauguration, the reservoir has been in operation to control the flow of the river, solving problems of flooding in the valley due to the heavy rains and snowmelt in winter and spring and the unfortunate droughts of the summer season. The Florentino Ameghino dam came to fall as a safeguard or guardian of the waters in the face of development needs. The hydroelectric power station supplies a large part of Patagonia and the dam regulates upstream floods and provides water to downstream populations for irrigation, consumption and industries. The railroad once came to carry construction materials from Rawson to the levee. In 1961 it was closed and with it part of the collective life that is generated around a platform that connects with other cities. The remains of the railway are silent witnesses to the construction of the dam. If you travel by car from Trelew to Esquel, the Ameghino dam is a haven in the steppe that deserves a stop.