Carlos Osvaldo Scornik; Valeria, Schneider;
Planning with Community Vision of Fontana (Argentina), 43rd ISOCARP Congress 2007
Planning with Community Vision of Fontana (Argentina), 43rd ISOCARP Congress 2007
1. Introduction
The city of Fontana has 26,745 inhabitants and is part of Great Resistencia Metropolitan Area (GRMA) with 359,590 inhabitants (National Census 2001). It is located in the Province of Chaco –in the North East of Argentina- seven kilometres west of Resistencia, its capital city.
As a result, these cities together with Barranqueras and Puerto Vilelas constitute a solid urban region known as Great Resistencia Metropolitan Area (GRMA), physically and functionally integrated. According to data of the census 2001, Fontana has the highest growth rate of the area, absorbing a great part of the population increase rate between 1991 and 2001 (85.2%). See chart 1.
This town has grown over natural environment composed of two river basins: Negro and Arazá, together with other important components of natural ecosystem whose environmental situation is lead into flooding vulnerability. This situation leads into the loss of natural capacity of drainage, resulting in settlement developments on flooding surface of the rivers and lagoons, because people either fill some of them with different materials, close the natural linkage between them or pollute the water resources by diverse human actions. (Scornik C, 1998).
Historically, Fontana has had an important role in the economic development of the GRMR as an industrial zone promoting the urban growth, connecting the existing railway system to the road system. From its beginning, the city has grown around the tannin factory, next to Fortini lagoon. In 1916 the Spanish Fontana brothers arrived in this zone and settled down a tannin factory, originating the current urban downtown.
In 1931, the factory was bought by “La Forestal“ (a multinational company) which closed in 1970, leaving an important historical heritage. In 1959 the Municipality of Fontana was created within a surface of 800 hectares. In 1970 the Industrial Park of Fontana was designed, promoting the location of small industries in the area, giving the industrial identity that it has today.
As a result, these cities together with Barranqueras and Puerto Vilelas constitute a solid urban region known as Great Resistencia Metropolitan Area (GRMA), physically and functionally integrated. According to data of the census 2001, Fontana has the highest growth rate of the area, absorbing a great part of the population increase rate between 1991 and 2001 (85.2%). See chart 1.
This town has grown over natural environment composed of two river basins: Negro and Arazá, together with other important components of natural ecosystem whose environmental situation is lead into flooding vulnerability. This situation leads into the loss of natural capacity of drainage, resulting in settlement developments on flooding surface of the rivers and lagoons, because people either fill some of them with different materials, close the natural linkage between them or pollute the water resources by diverse human actions. (Scornik C, 1998).
Historically, Fontana has had an important role in the economic development of the GRMR as an industrial zone promoting the urban growth, connecting the existing railway system to the road system. From its beginning, the city has grown around the tannin factory, next to Fortini lagoon. In 1916 the Spanish Fontana brothers arrived in this zone and settled down a tannin factory, originating the current urban downtown.
In 1931, the factory was bought by “La Forestal“ (a multinational company) which closed in 1970, leaving an important historical heritage. In 1959 the Municipality of Fontana was created within a surface of 800 hectares. In 1970 the Industrial Park of Fontana was designed, promoting the location of small industries in the area, giving the industrial identity that it has today.
The characteristic vegetation of the area includes native subtropical forests called “Wed Eastern Chaco”, a part of “Chaqueño Park” with grassland and very high and low tree species.
The weather of the area is “subtropical, warm and humid”. The average temperature is about 21ºC, oscillating between a minimum of 2ºC below cero in winter and reaching a maximum of 43ºC in summer. There is a rainy season from May to September and from November to March as well. The North wind is the most common in summer. It’s dry and warm, but in winter it is cold and comes from the South. Most part of the year it has a humidity of 80%.
The weather of the area is “subtropical, warm and humid”. The average temperature is about 21ºC, oscillating between a minimum of 2ºC below cero in winter and reaching a maximum of 43ºC in summer. There is a rainy season from May to September and from November to March as well. The North wind is the most common in summer. It’s dry and warm, but in winter it is cold and comes from the South. Most part of the year it has a humidity of 80%.
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I never heard of this city, i am trying to explore citys that are not so known so its importante to read about this. I am leaving from calafate, i am waiting for the remise at the hotel boutique calafate and i am going to some places at Salta.
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