Corrientes

Corrientes (Spanish pronunciation: [koˈrjentes] (listen); Guaraní: Taragüí, literally: "Currents") is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about 1,000 km (621 mi) from Buenos Aires and 300 km (186 mi) from Posadas, on National Route 12. It has a population of 346,334 according to the 2010 Census. It lies opposite its twin city, Resistencia, Chaco.

For other uses, see Corrientes (disambiguation).

Corrientes
City
(From top to bottom; from left to right) Skyline on Paraná River; General Belgrano Bridge; Government House courtyard; San Martin Palace and Cabral Square.
Flag
Coat of arms
Corrientes
Location of Corrientes in Argentina
Coordinates: AR_type:city 27°29′S 58°49′W
Country Argentina
Province Corrientes
DepartmentCapital
Government
 • MayorRoberto Fabían Ríos (Front for Victory)
Area
 • City500 km2 (200 sq mi)
Elevation
52 m (171 ft)
Population
 (2010 census)
 • Urban
346,334
Demonym(s)correntino/a
Time zoneUTC−3 (ART)
CPA base
W3400
Dialing code+54 379
WebsiteOfficial website

It has a mix of colonial and modern architecture, several churches and a number of lapacho, ceibo, jacaranda and orange trees. It is also home to one of the biggest carnival celebrations in the country.

The annual average temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), with maximum and minimum averages of 45 and 5 °C (113 and 41 °F) respectively. The annual rainfall is around 1,200 millimetres (47 in).

Transportation

The General Belgrano Bridge crosses the Paraná River that serves as the natural border with the neighbouring Chaco Province. On the other side of the bridge is Resistencia, capital of Chaco. To the west and up the Paraná, between Paraguay and Argentina, lies the Yaciretá dam, one of the largest hydroelectric power generators in the world.

The Doctor Fernando Piragine Niveyro International Airport (IATA: CNQ, ICAO: SARC) at coordinates 27°26′20″S 58°46′03″W, 5 km (3 mi) away from the city, serves the city.

The Ferrocarril Económico Correntino narrow gauge railway line to Mburucuyá operated from 1912 until 1927.

History

In 1516 Juan Díaz de Solís commanded the first expedition to reach the area populated mainly by Guaraní aboriginals, but his expedition was attacked and Solís perished in the adventure.

Plan of the city of Corrientes in June 1867.

Sebastian Cabot established in 1527 the Sancti Spiritu fort upstream of the Paraná River, and in 1536 Pedro de Mendoza reached further north into the basin of the river, searching for the Sierras of Silver.

Juan Torres de Vera y Aragón founded on April 3, 1588 San Juan de Vera de las Siete Corrientes ("Saint John of Vera of the Seven Currents"), which was later shortened to Corrientes. The "seven currents" refer to the seven peninsulas on the shore of the river at this place, that produced wild currents that made difficult the navigation of the river through this part.

Nevertheless, its position between Asunción - in present Paraguay - and Buenos Aires made it an important middle point, especially because of its 55-metre-high lands that prevent flooding when the water level rises.

In 1615 Jesuits settled near the Uruguay River. In 1807 the city resisted the British invasions. During the Argentine War of Independence it was in permanent conflict with the centralist government of Buenos Aires, but the Paraguayan War united them after the city was attacked by Paraguayan forces in 1865.

Climate

The annual average temperature is 21 °C (70 °F), with maximum and minimum averages of 45 and 5 °C (113 and 41 °F) respectively. The annual rainfall is around 1,200 millimetres (47 in). The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).[1] Frosts are rare; with the dates of the first and last frost being July 5 and July 12 respectively, indicating that most of the year is frost free.[2] The highest temperature recorded was 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) on November 15, 1985 while the lowest temperature recorded was −2.8 °C (27.0 °F) on June 15, 1979.[3]

Climate data for Corrientes Airport (1981–2010, extremes 1962–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 42.0
(107.6)		 40.7
(105.3)		 39.6
(103.3)		 37.2
(99.0)		 34.1
(93.4)		 31.7
(89.1)		 33.0
(91.4)		 36.4
(97.5)		 40.9
(105.6)		 42.0
(107.6)		 42.4
(108.3)		 41.1
(106.0)		 42.4
(108.3)
Average high °C (°F) 33.2
(91.8)		 31.9
(89.4)		 30.6
(87.1)		 26.8
(80.2)		 23.4
(74.1)		 21.0
(69.8)		 21.1
(70.0)		 23.4
(74.1)		 24.9
(76.8)		 27.9
(82.2)		 29.5
(85.1)		 31.9
(89.4)		 27.1
(80.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.0
(80.6)		 26.0
(78.8)		 24.7
(76.5)		 21.4
(70.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 15.9
(60.6)		 15.2
(59.4)		 17.0
(62.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.8
(71.2)		 23.7
(74.7)		 25.8
(78.4)		 21.3
(70.3)
Average low °C (°F) 21.3
(70.3)		 20.8
(69.4)		 19.7
(67.5)		 16.9
(62.4)		 13.4
(56.1)		 11.6
(52.9)		 10.4
(50.7)		 11.5
(52.7)		 13.1
(55.6)		 16.3
(61.3)		 17.9
(64.2)		 20.1
(68.2)		 16.1
(61.0)
Record low °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2)		 11.0
(51.8)		 7.2
(45.0)		 3.9
(39.0)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −1.3
(29.7)		 0.5
(32.9)		 2.8
(37.0)		 7.2
(45.0)		 8.3
(46.9)		 −2.8
(27.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 167.3
(6.59)		 161.9
(6.37)		 175.1
(6.89)		 206.6
(8.13)		 91.9
(3.62)		 70.5
(2.78)		 37.5
(1.48)		 47.2
(1.86)		 75.7
(2.98)		 150.7
(5.93)		 184.3
(7.26)		 157.7
(6.21)		 1,526.4
(60.09)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 8.5 9.4 8.6 10.2 7.5 8.4 6.1 5.7 8.1 10.4 10.0 9.3 102.2
Average relative humidity (%) 70.7 74.6 77.7 80.2 80.0 81.2 76.5 72.3 70.8 72.3 72.1 70.9 74.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 279.0 243.6 232.5 204.0 201.5 171.0 186.0 192.2 195.0 244.9 261.0 291.4 2,702.1
Percent possible sunshine 66 67 61 59 60 54 57 55 54 62 65 67 61
Source 1: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional[4][3]
Source 2: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)[5]

Education

In fiction

The Graham Greene spy novel The Honorary Consul (1973) takes place in Corrientes.

  • View of the Corrientes waterfront
  • The Belgrano Bridge
  • A pastel-hued street near downtown Corrientes
  • May 25 square, Corrientes
  • The Provincial Ministry of the Economy
  • River otter and toy, Corrientes Zoo

References
  1. Climate Summary for Corrientes
  2. "Corrientes, Corrientes". Estadísticas meteorológicas decadiales (in Spanish). Oficina de Riesgo Agropecuario. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  3. "Clima en la Argentina: Guia Climática por Corrientes Aero". Caracterización: Estadísticas de largo plazo (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  4. "Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales - período 1981-2010" (in Spanish). Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  5. "Corrientes AERO Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
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