Las Lajas, Neuquén
| Las Lajas | |
|---|---|
 Las Lajas
|
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| Coordinates: 38°36′S 70°18′W / 38.600°S 70.300°WCoordinates: 38°36′S 70°18′W / 38.600°S 70.300°W | |
| Country |
 Argentina
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| Province | Neuquén Province |
| Department | Picunches Department |
| Founded | 8 February 1987 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Néstor Omar Baiz |
| Elevation | 703 m (2,306 ft) |
| Population (2001 census [INDEC]) | |
| • Total | 4,078 |
| CPA Base | B 8347 |
| Area code(s) | +54 02942 |
| Website | www.laslajas.gov.ar |
Las Lajas ("The Flagstones") is a town in Neuquén Province, Argentina, and the capital of Picunches Department. The town, at an altitude of 900 metres (3,000 ft) above mean sea level, is located on the right shore of Agrio River at the Andean foothills. National Routes 22 and 40 intersect in this area of the central Neuquén Province. The Cuchillo Curá range, considered the most important underground ecosystem in Argentina, extends approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Las Lajas.
Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, Las Lajas was originally populated by Pehuenche and Picunche natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory, under the command Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, reached Las Lajas. In 1882, commander Ortega established a fort for the Argentinian Army. The town was established on 8 February 1897, by General Enrique Godoy, the Argentinian Army's 4th Division commander. To take possession of the region and protect the inhabitants from the natives, the town became the headquarters of the 8th and 9th Cavalry Regiments. It was named "Las Lajas" after the creek Las Lajitas, whose bed soil is mainly composed of the stones. Governor Alsina and the inhabitants of the town requested to move the National Territory's capital from Chos Malal to Las Lajas. The capital was ultimately moved to Neuquén city in 1902. The town received its current status of second-category municipality in 1967.
The fodder production is largest agricultural activity in the region. The soils of the area remain unexplored, and for the lack of technical information, subsequently the oil and natural gas invest in locations such as Loma de La Lata. Another major aspect of the town is the Argentina Army's 21 Mountain Infantry Regiment. Following its closure of in the late 1990s, the regiment re-opened in 2004 with a diminution of the personnel to 250 soldiers as of 2011, out of an original of 1,000. This increased the number of customers and raised the solicitations for commercial licenses. The opening of the Pino Hachado Pass increased the quantity of vehicles and people that go through the town.
Archeological evidences found at Mallín del Tromen suggest that the Picunches Department was populated at around 4500 BP. Before the Araucanization of Patagonia, which took place sometime between 1550 and 1850, this region of the current Neuquén Province was inhabited by Picunche and Pehuenches natives. In 1788, the first expedition into the territory of the current province reached the Las Lajas area under order of commander Francisco Esquivel y Aldao, who traveled 2,000 kilometres (1,243 mi) from Mendoza with his men.
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