Valle de Sarmiento

Valle de Sarmiento (or Sarmiento Valley, also known as the Valley of the Senguer River)[1] is an irrigated agricultural valley[2] spanning 42,000 ha located[3] in the south-central part of Chubut Province, forming an oasis in the midst of the Patagonian Plateau, where the greatest temperature variations in Argentina are recorded.[4][5] It is situated in the center of the Sarmiento Department, between Lake Musters and Lake Colhué Huapi, in the area known as the Gran Bajo de Sarmiento.[6][7]

Its location was strategic, as it lies in an oasis area of the Patagonian Plateau, where an arid climate predominates, with annual precipitation below 200 mm. The local population was able to supply the growing population of Comodoro Rivadavia with food and raw materials via the Comodoro Rivadavia Railway. This ensured greater overall traffic than that on the Puerto Deseado to Colonia Las Heras branch and increased commerce for the area.[8] The productive towns of Sarmiento and Colhué Huapi thrived, continuing to supply Comodoro Rivadavia.

The valley, south of Musters and Colhué Huapi lakes, is one of the southernmost irrigated oases in the world. Here, forage crops (mainly alfalfa), fruit trees, and vegetables are cultivated.[9]

History

The area was already known and visited by the Tehuelche indigenous people.[10][11] In 1876, the site was visited by Francisco Pascasio Moreno, who named the lake to the west of the valley Musters.[12] In 1885, the area was explored by the Chubut Rifles.[13][14]

In 1896, Francisco Pietrobelli submitted a request to Governor Alejandro Conesa for the concession of two unexplored sections in the southern territory, specifically south of Colhué Huapi Lake, to establish an agricultural colony. The proposal was supported by 183 signatures, mostly from immigrants and descendants of Welsh and Italian immigrants.[15][16][17]

On January 5, 1897, Pietrobelli set out from Rawson with indigenous people and immigrants (both Welsh and Italians) to explore the interior of Chubut territory. During the journey, on June 27, the National Government granted the land by decree to establish a colony named Ideal, later renamed Sarmiento in honor of the educator and president from San Juan, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento.[18][19]

Initially, it was called "Valle Ideal" due to its agricultural and livestock conditions.[10]

In November 1897, the town of Colonia Sarmiento was founded. However, the colony faced supply issues, as the nearest port, Camarones, was far away. This led to the founding of Comodoro Rivadavia a few years later.[18][19][20]

Since 1914, the area was served by the Comodoro Rivadavia Railway, which accelerated development with stations like Sarmiento, Colhué Huapi, Enrique Hermitte, and Valle Hermoso to facilitate trade and other activities.[21] The railway played a key role in transporting agricultural products to the oil city of Comodoro Rivadavia, meeting its demand for a long time. The railway declined in the 1970s and was soon discontinued in the area under claims of unprofitability.[20]

Today, road transport has replaced the railway, increasing costs. Currently, the valley spans 42,000 hectares across 150 agricultural operations.[20]

Characteristics

The valley forms an alluvial and aeolian plain, located between Musters and Colhué Huapi lakes.[10] To the west lies the final course of the Senguerr River, and to the north, the meandering watercourse called Falso Senguerr, which connects both lakes.[20] The Senguerr River has several branches in this area, including the Zanjón del Cerro Negro.

The area experiences frequent frosts due to polar air influence, with up to 60 or more frost days, posing a severe restriction on growing cold-sensitive seasonal crops. However, this condition favors the cultivation of cryophilic crops, which require a certain amount of cold hours to grow and develop normally during their vegetative and reproductive cycles (e.g., pome and stone fruits).[22]

Intake structures have been built to supply drinking water aqueducts from Musters Lake (generally to Comodoro Rivadavia) and irrigation canals for local cultivation.[23]

Currently, few farms are inhabited and productive. The few residents remaining in the southern valley are direct descendants of the first settlers. The decline in production is due to 95% of farms using flood irrigation, which affects the Senguer River's flow and its branches. As a result, nearly 8,000 hectares irrigated by old canals have formed natural wetlands in native fields, overwatered even for pasture yields. Permanent flooding produces reeds and other marsh plants, resulting in salinized and degraded soil incapable of production. The total loss from poor water management is estimated at 10,000 hectares.[24] However, 2,700 hectares in Valle de Sarmiento are now systematized, with producers growing alfalfa and pastures for livestock and a small area irrigated by drip systems.[25] The water crisis led the government to plan with producers to level fields, systematize irrigation, and avoid flood irrigation. In Valle de Sarmiento, up to 80% of the Senguer's water is used for agriculture.[26]

As of 2012, the valley's total production includes:[27]

Agricultural production in Valle de Sarmiento
Hectares Crop Percentage of area Applied technology Production ha/ton Market destination
2144 Polyphytic pastures 18.38% Strip irrigation 2.00 Local and self-consumption
300 Alfalfa 2.57% " 3.00 "
16 Maize Silage 0.14% Furrow 2.80 Local, national, and self-consumption
27 Raspberry 0.23% " 4.00 Local and self-consumption
159 Cherry 1.36% Pressurized/Furrow 9.8 Local, national, self-consumption, and international
7 Grape 0.06% Furrow 3.50 Local and self-consumption
5 Tomato 0.04% " 7.50 "
5 Potato 0.04% " 12.00 "
5 Lettuce 0.04% " 5.00 "
9,000 Mallín 77.13% Flood irrigation Self-consumption

Economy

The main economic activity in the valley is agriculture (consisting of 150 operations) and livestock farming.[3] Among the main crops are alfalfa, vegetables, and soft fruits (cherries, raspberries, etc.).[28]

Most production meets local demand. Livestock activities include raising sheep and cattle. Additionally, dairy production was significant around 1985 (and since 2010), with cheese and yogurt produced in Sarmiento. Some farms engage in agrotourism.[29][30][3]

The valley is home to the Frutos del Lago estate, which produces cherries, apricots, and peaches, as well as wine, making it the southernmost winery in the world.[31]

The valley and its surroundings form part of the San Jorge Gulf Basin, a significant oil and gas basin accounting for nearly 40% of the province's total production. Tourism is also an economic activity in the valley.[5]

Since March 2014, a Chinese investor group has studied expanding irrigation areas in the Lower Chubut River Valley, Valle de Sarmiento, and 16 de Octubre in Trevelin. Governor Martín Buzzi mentioned the Intermediate Terrace project for Valle de Sarmiento, deemed feasible, with a total investment of around $100 million alongside similar projects.[32]

Since 2011, production has progressively shifted toward viticulture, making the valley the southernmost wine-producing region in the world. The first entrepreneur, Alejandro Bulgheroni, allocated 1,300 hectares to the project of the southernmost winery. Initial grape varieties were Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, later incorporating Merlot, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Torrontés, and Malbec. The first vinification took place in 2017. In 2023, the National Institute of Viticulture recognized the valley as a registered wine-producing area.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Sarmiento, en el Valle del Río Senguer" [Sarmiento, in the Valley of the Senguer River] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  2. ^ "Sarmiento (city)." Microsoft® Student 2008 [DVD]. Microsoft Corporation, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Municipalidad de Sarmiento Chubut Argentina" [Sarmiento Municipality Chubut Argentina]. Colonia Sarmiento (in Spanish). April 15, 2013. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "Lago Musters." Microsoft® Student 2008 [DVD]. Microsoft Corporation, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Sarmiento: la puerta al Bosque Petrificado - Sarmiento, Patagonia, Argentina" [Sarmiento: the gateway to the Petrified Forest - Sarmiento, Patagonia, Argentina]. www.patagonia.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Valle de SARMIENTO" [Sarmiento Valley] (in Spanish). October 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "PNPyE Lobesia botrana - Vigilancia - Ubicación de trampas - Chubut - Valle Sarmiento" [PNPyE Lobesia botrana - Surveillance - Trap Locations - Chubut - Sarmiento Valley] (in Spanish). March 13, 2012. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "La línea petrolera. Construcción e inauguración" [The oil pipeline. Construction and inauguration]. Ferrocarriles en el cono sur (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  9. ^ Valladares, Andrea (March 2004). "Cuenca de los ríos Senguerr y Chico" [Senguerr and Chico Rivers Basin] (PDF). Cuenca (in Spanish).
  10. ^ a b c "DEMOGRAFÍA Y CARACTERÍSTICAS – Municipalidad de Sarmiento" [Demography and Characteristics – Municipality of Sarmiento]. Municipalidad de Sarmiento (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  11. ^ "¡Celebramos el 127º Aniversario de Sarmiento!" [We celebrate Sarmiento's 127th anniversary!]. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (in Spanish).
  12. ^ "Llegada de Francisco P. Moreno al Lago Nahuel Huapi" [Arrival of Francisco P. Moreno at Lake Nahuel Huapi]. Museo Histórico Sarmiento (in Spanish). 2023. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  13. ^ Mangini, Blanca Juliana (2019-03-07). "La Compañía de Rifleros del Chubut (*) » El Valle Online" [The Rifle Company of Chubut (*) » El Valle Online]. El Valle Online (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  14. ^ Acheritobehere, Jessica; Gómez, Hernán (2017). ""La huella de los rifleros" puesta en valor de un atractivo turístico único. Continuación de una propuesta" ["La huella de los rifleros" highlights a unique tourist attraction. Continuation of a proposal.] (PDF). Actas Científicas CIG - 78° Semana de la Geografía (in Spanish).
  15. ^ "Crónicas del Centenario, 1901 - 2001". Diario Crónica, Comodoro Rivadavia (in Spanish). p. 19.
  16. ^ Primeras exploraciones y colonizaciones de la Patagonia Central, Pietrobelli, Francisco, edición 1970 (in Spanish).
  17. ^ "5 de Enero de 1897: Parte la exploración de Francisco Pietrobelli hacia el suroeste de la Gobernación Nacional del Chubut – Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología del Chubut" (in Spanish). 2020-01-05. Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  18. ^ a b "Crónicas del Centenario, 1901 - 2001". Diario Crónica, Comodoro Rivadavia (in Spanish). p. 20.
  19. ^ a b "Comodoro nació como una ciudad que no estaba en los planes de nadie" [Comodoro was born as a city that was not in anyone's plans] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d "HISTORIA – Municipalidad de Sarmiento" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  21. ^ "HISTORIA – Municipalidad de Sarmiento" [History] (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-21.
  22. ^ "Aspectos geológicos de la región" [Geological aspects of the region] (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. ^ "Búsqueda de amebas de vida libre (AVL)" [Search for free-living amoebae (FLA)] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "Recuperación de 10 mil hectáreas bajo riego" [Recovery of 10,000 hectares under irrigation]. Gobierno del Chubut (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  25. ^ "El caudal del Rio Senguer es de 6 metros cúbicos por segundo" [The flow of the Senguer River is 6 cubic meters per second]. El Patagónico (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  26. ^ "Preservación del recurso hídrico: Ambiente, producción y el IPA se reunieron con productores y vecinos de Sarmiento" [Water resource preservation: Environment, production, and IPA met with Sarmiento producers and residents]. Secretaria de Ambiente y Control del Desarrollo Sustentable (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  27. ^ "El Gobierno del Chubut trabaja en la optimización del sistema de riego en Sarmiento" [The Chubut Government works on optimizing the irrigation system in Sarmiento]. Gobierno del Chubut (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria" [National Institute of Agricultural Technology]. Argentina.gob.ar (in Spanish). September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  29. ^ "Municipalidad de Sarmiento Chubut Argentina" [Sarmiento Municipality Chubut Argentina] (in Spanish). February 9, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  30. ^ "Radio Del Mar -- 98.7 Mhz -- Comodoro Rivadavia -- Chubut -- Argentina" [Radio Del Mar -- 98.7 Mhz -- Comodoro Rivadavia -- Chubut -- Argentina]. September 24, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  31. ^ "Buzzi recorrió el Valle de Sarmiento evaluando la mejora de los sistemas hídricos" [Buzzi toured the Sarmiento Valley to assess improvements to water systems] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  32. ^ "Mis Días en la Vía" [My Days on the Way]. misdiasenlavia1.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  33. ^ "BOLETIN OFICIAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE VITIVINICULTURA - Resolución 9/2023" [OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF VITICULTURE - Resolution 9/2023]. www.boletinoficial.gob.ar. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  • "Catálogo de Lagos y Embalses de la República Argentina" from the "Sistema Nacional de Información Hídrica". Undersecretariat of Water Resources of the Republic of Argentina.
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