Dique Florentino Ameghino

The Florentino Ameghino Dam holds back the waters of the Chubut River, fed by Andean snowmelt, 140 km west of Trelew. Besides generating power, it controls floods and supplies irrigation water to the lower river valley. In Welsh it is called “Yr Argae”: the dam.

Things to do

Trout fishing, hiking and climbing on the high walls of reddish rock that enclose the reservoir.

History

Ever since Welsh settlers arrived in the lower Chubut valley in 1865, the river’s floods were a concern. Work on the dam began on 15 March 1950. A village grew up with the workers: its local development commission was created in 1951, first under the name Eva Perón and later as Villa Dique Florentino Ameghino. The dam is named after the scientist Florentino Ameghino.

Distances: 140 km west of Trelew