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Chos Malal | |
|---|---|
  Chos Malal   Chos Malal | |
| Coordinates:37°23′S70°16′W / 37.383°S 70.267°W /-37.383; -70.267 | |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Province |  Neuquén |
| Department | Chos Malal Department |
| Founded | 4 August 1887 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Víctor Hugo Gutiérrez |
| Elevation | 974 m (3,196 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 13,092 |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (ART) |
| CPA Base | Q 8353 |
| Area code | +54 02948 |
| Climate | BSk |
| Website | Chos Malal Municipality |
Chos Malal is the capital city of theChos Malal Department inNeuquén Province, Argentina.
Chos Malal was founded on 4 August 1887 by ColonelJosé Olascoaga. It developed as a control point for policing the movement ofcattle with a view to the suppression ofcattle raiding.
The city was the capital of theTerritorio del Neuquén until 1904 when the capital and administrative buildings were moved toNeuquén, capital city of theConfluencia Department, the arrival there of the railway having provided an economic boost which helped the city of Neuquén to grow very rapidly.
The name Chos Malal derives fromMapuche words meaning "yellow corral" – from the distinctively yellow colour of the sedimentaryflagstone rock that predominates in the hills surrounding the city.
Chos Malal is located between theNeuquén River andCuri Leuvú river in theCordillera del Viento. It is surrounded byconifer forests, mostly ofAraucaria trees.
Chos Malal has asemi-arid climate (KöppenBSk), with cold winters and hot summers; during the winter there are regularsnow storms.
| Climate data for Chos Malal (1901–1960) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 40.6 (105.1) | 40.6 (105.1) | 37.8 (100.0) | 34.2 (93.6) | 30.6 (87.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.1 (77.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 33.9 (93.0) | 33.4 (92.1) | 37.5 (99.5) | 39.6 (103.3) | 40.6 (105.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.1 (88.0) | 30.3 (86.5) | 27.4 (81.3) | 22.1 (71.8) | 17.0 (62.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 12.8 (55.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 22.8 (73.0) | 26.5 (79.7) | 29.2 (84.6) | 22.1 (71.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) | 20.2 (68.4) | 17.1 (62.8) | 12.6 (54.7) | 9.6 (49.3) | 6.6 (43.9) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.4 (45.3) | 9.7 (49.5) | 13.7 (56.7) | 17.3 (63.1) | 20.0 (68.0) | 13.5 (56.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.4 (54.3) | 11.1 (52.0) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.7 (40.5) | 3.4 (38.1) | 1.3 (34.3) | 0.4 (32.7) | 0.9 (33.6) | 2.8 (37.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.6 (51.1) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | −3.0 (26.6) | −9.1 (15.6) | −10.6 (12.9) | −12.5 (9.5) | −13.9 (7.0) | −9.6 (14.7) | −9.1 (15.6) | −4.5 (23.9) | −4.2 (24.4) | −0.6 (30.9) | −13.9 (7.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 10.0 (0.39) | 10.3 (0.41) | 11.0 (0.43) | 17.1 (0.67) | 42.2 (1.66) | 36.3 (1.43) | 32.6 (1.28) | 30.2 (1.19) | 14.6 (0.57) | 13.0 (0.51) | 10.4 (0.41) | 9.4 (0.37) | 237.1 (9.33) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 40.7 | 44.0 | 32.3 | 53.0 | 58.7 | 62.3 | 61.3 | 57.0 | 51.0 | 44.3 | 41.0 | 39.0 | 48.7 |
| Source: Secretaria de Mineria[1] | |||||||||||||
The Jose Olascoaga historical museum located in the city has exhibits of many historical pieces of theConquest of the Desert such as documents, soldier's equipment andMapuche objects.