GEOGRAPHY OF MALARGUE

Climate

Malargue is located very close to a zone of semi-permanent circulation of winds from the West as it is at the Patagonic border. This is one of the causes why the West post-frontal winds prevail, the velocity of these winds and the scarce cloudiness. In fact the district has an average of 120 days per annum of completely clear sky. This is why the region is apt for producing wind and solar energies.

Temperature

Absolute Maximum: 35 degrees Centigrade in December.

Absolute Minimum: Minus 13 degrees Centigrade in July.

Average temperature: never higher than 20 degrees Centigrade; Minus 4 degrees June and July.

River System

Malargue counts with five rivers: the Atuel River which borders San Rafael; the Grande River the longest and most powerful in the province; the Barrancas River bordering Neuquén Province; the Malargue River supplying the city and the LLancanelo lake with water and the Salado River which crosses the Valle de Las Leñas.

The district also has the largest water mirror in Mendoza: Llancanelo Lake, one of the poles of biological and tourist interest in the province as well as Valle Hermoso.

Flora and Fauna

There is in Mendoza a strong contrast between the Andes Cordillera and the flat lands which allows for the existence of various environments with different vegetable species. Shrubs like “mata negra”, “molle blanco”, “jarilla” and thyme, diverse types of leafed grasses and cacti. In and around lakes we find many kinds of rushes and rattan.

The Fauna is also very rich and has become one of its main natural attractions with some species even being uncommon in other regions of Argentina.

In the mountains, we find pumas, “guanacos”, ostriches, wild cats, eagles, flamingos, condors, trout, “pejerrey” and chinchillas. In the Patagonian steppes we find “tuco-tucos”, guanacos and ostriches.

In Llancanelo there are numerous kinds of birds: herons, flamingos, black-necked swans, ducks, storks and hawks amongst others. As regard to mammals, we find hares, rabbits, foxes, and wild cats.

RIVER SYSTEM IN MALARGUE
(Click on image to enlarge)