Last modified: 2024-09-07 by rob raeside
Keywords: río hondo department | santiago del estero province | argentina |
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The municipality of Las Termas de de Río Hondo (locally known as Las
Termas; 32,166 inhabitants in 2010, the second most populated
municipality in the province) is located in the west of the Province
of Santiago del Estero, on the border with the Province of Tucumán, 70
km of Santiago del Estero city. The town, proclaimed a "ciudad" on 6
September 1954 and a municipality in 1958, is the capital of the
Department of Río Hondo.
The thermal waters of Las Termas was already known to the Tonocote
natives as "yacu rupa" (miraculous warm water); the Inca priests
renamed them "inti yacu" (water of the sun) and kept the place secret
to organize official ceremonies. The water is exploited today in more
than 150 hotels, each with its own water well or source, which makes
of Las Termas de Río Hondo the main spa town in Argentina. The water
is recommended to regulate blood pressure and to heal rheumatism.
The reservoir of Río Hondo (330 sq. km) was inaugurated in 1965 in the
valley of river Dulce. It is jointly managed by the Provinces of
Tucumán (32% of the area) and Santiago del Estero (68%). The Frontal
Dam, of 40 m in height and 2,368 m in length. is now a main tourist's
spot.
The motorsport circuit of Termas de Río Hondo, inaugurated in 2007,
was rebuilt in 2012. It hosted the Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix in
2014 (winners: MotoGP, Marc Márquez; Moto2, Esteve Rabat; Moto3,
Romano Fenati) and 2015 (winners: MotoGP, Valentino Rossi; Moto2,
Johann Zarco; Moto3, Danny Kent).
The Municipal Council of Las Termas has initiated on 10 September 2015
the process of creation of a municipal flag. The initiative was pushed
by Julio Máximo Gómez Machado, who convinced the Municipal Council of
the need of a symbol representing all the inhabitants of the town.
Gómez Machado proposed a flag based on the provincial flag, charged in
the middle with the town's emblem. To emphasize the significance of
Francisco Solano* and of the river, waves were added at the bottom of
the flag. The proposal has yet to be officially adopted by the
Municipal Council.
At least one copy of the flag in the cloth was produced, made of the
provincial flag with the waves at the bottom - but lacking the
municipal coat of arms. I also miss the connection with Francisco
Solano (aka Francis Solanus; 1549-1610, canonized on 27 December 1726
by Pope Benedict XIII), a Franciscan monk who preached the Gospel for
decades in the region.
Ivan Sache, 04 Oct 2015
