Hondo Valley, Argentina

Hondo Valley
Valle Hondo
Valle Hondo
Location of the valley in Argentina
Geology
TypeValley
Geography
Country Argentina
State/ProvinceChubut Province
DistrictLanguiñeo Department
Population centerCarrenleufú
Coordinates43°48′41″S 71°41′01″W / 43.81137°S 71.68371°W / -43.81137; -71.68371
Location
Interactive map of Hondo Valley

The Valle Hondo or Hondo Valley is a valley located in the Languiñeo Department, Chubut Province, Argentina, near the border with Chile. The valley lies southwest of the Horquetas Valley and southeast of the California Valley, close to the Engaño Lakes. It was claimed by Chile until 1966 during the Alto Palena–Encuentro River dispute.[1]

History

Hondo Valley was one of the key areas in the Alto Palena–Encuentro River dispute between Argentina and Chile. The area had been settled by Chileans since 1906.[2]

In 1952, the Argentine National Gendarmerie occupied Valle Hondo, together with the Horquetas Valley and the Engaño Lakes, notifying Chilean settlers that they had one month to regularize their status with the Argentine state, which triggered a diplomatic protest from Chile.[2]

In June 1964, the Gendarmerie built facilities in Hondo Valley and erected fences there[2][3][4] as well as in the Horquetas Valley.[5][6][7] In 1965, the presence of the Gendarmerie in the valley, which Chile considered part of its territory, heightened diplomatic tensions. Argentine authorities again notified settlers to regularize their status with the Argentine state, prompting a formal protest from Chile.[8][9]

The conflict culminated in an international arbitration in 1966, resolved by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The arbitral award assigned Valle Hondo, along with the Horquetas Valley and the Engaño Lakes region, to Argentina, while the California Valley was awarded to Chile.[1][10]

Climate

The climate of Valle Hondo is a cold continental climate, typical of the Patagonian region. The average annual temperature is about 2 °C, with maximums of 12 °C in February and minimums of −6 °C in June. Annual precipitation reaches around 3,085 millimeters, with December being the wettest month (350 mm) and September the driest (169 mm).[11][12]

Valle Hondo
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
346
 
 
13
3
 
 
300
 
 
16
7
 
 
315
 
 
10
2
 
 
271
 
 
5
1
 
 
233
 
 
2
−3
 
 
206
 
 
−5
−6
 
 
188
 
 
−2
−7
 
 
185
 
 
−2
−8
 
 
169
 
 
2
−5
 
 
222
 
 
6
−3
 
 
299
 
 
9
0
 
 
350
 
 
12
2
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [11]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
14
 
 
55
37
 
 
12
 
 
61
45
 
 
12
 
 
50
36
 
 
11
 
 
41
34
 
 
9.2
 
 
36
27
 
 
8.1
 
 
23
21
 
 
7.4
 
 
28
19
 
 
7.3
 
 
28
18
 
 
6.7
 
 
36
23
 
 
8.7
 
 
43
27
 
 
12
 
 
48
32
 
 
14
 
 
54
36
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ghisolfo Araya, Francisco (1983). "DIFERENDO LIMITROFE AUSTRAL: ORIGEN Y DESARROLLO" (PDF) (in Spanish). Revista Marina. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Polloni Roldán, Alberto (1972). Las Fuerzas Armadas de Chile en la vida nacional (in Spanish). Editorial Andrés Bello. pp. 356–357.
  3. ^ Madrid, Alberto Marín (1966). Los problemas fronterizos en pocas líneas (in Spanish). Editorial Orbe. pp. 42–49.
  4. ^ Espinosa Moraga, Oscar (1969). El precio de la paz chileno-argentina, 1810-1969, Vol. 3 (in Spanish). pp. 324, 347, 353, 356, 39.
  5. ^ "RIO ENCUENTRO" (in Spanish). Mágicas Ruinas Crónicas del Siglo Pasado. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Nuevas reuniones en torno a situación con Argentina" (PDF). La Nación (in Spanish). 19 August 1964. p. 2. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  7. ^ Clifton Goldney, Adalberto A. (1964). Rio Encuentro: limite internacional de Argentina y Chile entre los hitos 16 y 17 en el tramo comprendido entre la confluencia del Rio Encuentro con el Falso Engaño y el Cerro de la Virgen (in Spanish). Argentina: Círculo Militar.
  8. ^ "Esta noche se conocerá la contrarrespuesta chilena" (PDF) (in Spanish). Crónica. 4 August 1964. p. 9. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  9. ^ Barros, José Miguel (1984). Historia diplomática de Chile (in Spanish). Chile: Editorial Andrés Bello.
  10. ^ Barros, José Miguel (1984). Palena: un río, un arbitraje (in Spanish). Santillana del Pacífico. pp. 10, 275, 292.
  11. ^ a b "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  12. ^ "NASA Earth Observations: Rainfall (1 month - TRMM)". NASA/Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission. Retrieved 30 January 2016.