Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos

Gualeguaychú is a city in the province|Entre Ríos|Argentina, on the left bank of the Gualeguaychú River (a tributary of the Uruguay River). It is located on the south-east of the province, approximately 190 km (120 miles) north-west of Buenos Aires. It has a population of 76,220 according to the census-ar|2001.

The city hosts an annual Carnival that is regionally well-known and attended by people from many other provinces. It also features hot springs, beach resorts, and a casino.

Gualeguaychú should not be confused with Gualeguay, also a city in Entre Ríos, located about 80 km (50 miles) west.

The conflict of the cellulose plants

Gualeguaychú is located near the international Libertador General San Martín Bridge, which connects the nearby town of Puerto Unzué with Fray Bentos, Uruguay, across the Uruguay River. For years, the local residents had warned about the proposed installation of two large cellulose processing plants near Fray Bentos, which would allegedly pollute the river. In 2005, the Citizens' Environmental Assembly of Gualeguaychú took the step of blocking the Route 136 and the international bridge. Further blockades, sometimes lasting weeks, continued in 2006, seriously damaging the touristic season of Uruguay and causing major inconveniences to the traffic of goods. The ecological cause of Gualeguaychú jumped to the national scene and the conflict escalated, leading to diplomatic and legal battles including an accusation before the International Court of Justice. The final outcome is still to be seen.

References

"In Spanish unless otherwise noted."
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* [http://www.gualeguaychu.gov.ar/ Municipalidad de Gualeguaychú] - Official website of the Municipality.
* [http://www.gualeguaychu.info/ A tourism-oriented site about Gualeguaychú] .
* [http://www.molinodelastermas.com.ar/ A place to stay in Gualeguaychú] .
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