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Punta Alta | |
|---|---|
 Panoramic View of Punta Alta | |
  Punta Alta Location in Argentina | |
| Coordinates: 38°52′48″S 62°04′30″W / 38.88000°S 62.07500°W | |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Province |  Buenos Aires |
| Partido | Coronel Rosales |
| Founded | 2 July 1898 |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 58,315 |
| CPA Base | B 8109 |
| Area code | +54 2932 |
| Website | Official website |
Punta Alta is a city in Argentina, about 25 kilometers southeast of Bahía Blanca. It has a population of 57,293. It is the capital ("cabecera") of the Coronel Rosales Partido. It was founded on 2 July 1898.
The city is located near the Atlantic Ocean, neighbouring the Port Belgrano Naval Base, which is home to the Argentine Naval fleet. The activities revolve around the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, the largest of Argentina. In it, in addition to tasks related to the strict military services are developed to provide Sea Fleet Navy Argentina and work for others, standing naval activity in the dry docks. However, in the early twentieth century, tended to diversify the economy. Punta Alta was the seat of important investments especially from France. In 1903 a railway was concessioned to connect the port of Rosario to Punta Alta, which is already projected a grain shipping terminal. He trained in Paris the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer de Rosario Puerto Belgrano (Railroad Company Rosario Puerto Belgrano), with the participation of large lenders, including Bank Paribas. The railway line was inaugurated in December 1910. With French capital began to build a commercial port at the mouth of the Arroyo couple (2 km from the city center), called to be the largest grain port in South America. Designed by Mr. Abel Julien Pagnard, the works began in early 1912. But after World War froze construction and enabled only part of the picture projected. It was nationalized in December 1947 by the first government of Perón and Puerto Rosales called him, in memory of the eponymous naval hero of the match. Today the revival of the port along with the launch of the free zone-Colonel Bahía Blanca Rosales is a certain hope of the city's economic takeoff. Also noteworthy is that Punta Alta is proud to be the city where he founded the first Electric Cooperative Argentina (1927), which still operates providing electric power to the district. Local Electric Cooperative has electricity turbines, which are the Centennial Wind Farm, one of the most important in the country.