Las Heras

Las Heras is in the Deseado department in northern Santa Cruz, 214 km from Comodoro Rivadavia, 134 km from Caleta Olivia and 80 km from Pico Truncado. With 24,731 residents (2022 census) it is the province’s fourth largest town. Its economy revolves almost entirely around oil. It is named after Juan Gregorio de Las Heras, independence general and governor of Buenos Aires.

History

Long before the town existed, ranchers met here on their way to take wool by cart to Puerto Deseado. The Patagonian Railway, built from 1909, set up Las Heras station here, known as “Punta Rieles” (“railhead”), and the town grew alongside the tracks. It was also called “Rastro de Avestruz” and “Parada 283”. A decree by President Hipólito Yrigoyen on 11 July 1921 created the town; in 2017 a municipal ordinance set 6 October 1914 as the founding date of Colonia Las Heras.

Distances: 214 km from Comodoro Rivadavia · 134 km from Caleta Olivia · 80 km from Pico Truncado