General Alvear Department, Mendoza

General Alvear is a department located in the south east of Mendoza Province in Argentina.

The provincial subdivision has a population of about 44,000 inhabitants in an area of 14,448 km2, and its capital city is General Alvear, which is located around 900 km from Buenos Aires.

The City of general Alvear is home to a campus of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo.

The partido and its agricultural lands are irrigated by the Rivers Diamante and Atuel.

Name
The department and its head town are named after General Carlos María de Alvear (1789-1852) a hero of the Argentine War of Independence.

History

 * 1879, The land now forming Departamento General Alvear is conquered in the 2nd desert campaign.
 * 1884, The lands are purchased by Diego de Alvear, son of General Carlos María de Alvear.
 * 1912, The Departamento was officially created on August 12 and the Sarmiento Railroad arrived in the city of General Alvear.

Districts

 * Bowen
 * General Alvear
 * San Pedro del Atuel

Smaller settlements

 * Canalejas
 * Carmensa
 * Cochicó
 * Colonia Alvear Oeste
 * Corral de Lorca
 * El Ceibo
 * El Juncalito
 * La Escandinava
 * La Mora
 * Línea de Poste
 * Los Compartos
 * Ovejería
 * Poste de Hierro