Tandil

:"Tandil can also be a spider genus, and a German detergent."Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename


imagesize = 200px
image_caption =
image_shield =
pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ARG
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_type2 = Partido
subdivision_name2 = Tandil
established_title = Founded
established_date = April 4 1823
population_as_of = census-ar|2001
population_total = 101,010
population_density_km2 =
latd = 37
latm = 19
longd = 59
longm = 08
latNS=S|longEW=W
elevation_m = 188
postal_code_type = CPA Base
postal_code = 7000
area_code = +54 2293
website =
subdivision_name1 = Buenos Aires
pushpin_map1 = Buenos Aires Province
pushpin_label_position1 =bottom
pushpin_map_caption1 =Location in Buenos Aires Province
pushpin_mapsize1 =200

Tandil is the main city of the homonym partido (department), located in the southwest of Buenos Aires Province, over Tandilia hill range.

Geography

It's located 180 m above sea level and its coordinates are coord|37|19|08|S|59|08|05|W|. Tandil borders Rauch and Azul (to the north), Ayacucho and Balcarce (to the west), Lobería, Necochea and Benito Juárez (at south) and Azul and Benito Juárez (to the west).

The city is about 330 km away from La Plata (provincial capital) and Bahía Blanca, 160 km away from Mar del Plata, and 360 km from Buenos Aires. It is in a zone known as the Humid Pampa.

Its population is 108,109 inhabitants, as of the 2001 census (INDEC), but now Tandil's government estimates that the population reaches 110.000 people. The total partido area is 4,935 km².

Climate

Tandil's climate is mild and humid, with an average temperature of 13.7°C and 888.6mm of precipitation annually. Mornings are often cold in autumn, winter and spring, and generally fresh in the summer. Fog is very common in autumn and winter (when frosts are also common). Minimum temperatures below -5°C have been recorded in the winter months. Rainfall occurs throughout the year but more frequently in summer. Snow and heat waves are not very common.

The climatological data in the table below is from the perdiod 1981-1990:

Infobox Weather
location = Tandil, Argentina
single_line =Yes
metric_first =Yes
Jan_Hi_°C = 27.9
Feb_Hi_°C = 26.9
Mar_Hi_°C = 23.9
Apr_Hi_°C = 20.2
May_Hi_°C = 16.2
Jun_Hi_°C = 12.7
Jul_Hi_°C = 12.3
Aug_Hi_°C = 14.4
Sep_Hi_°C = 16.3
Oct_Hi_°C = 19.7
Nov_Hi_°C = 23.0
Dec_Hi_°C = 26.6
Year_Hi_°C = 20.0
Jan_Lo_°C = 14.4
Feb_Lo_°C = 14.1
Mar_Lo_°C = 11.8
Apr_Lo_°C = 8.9
May_Lo_°C = 5.4
Jun_Lo_°C = 2.8
Jul_Lo_°C = 2.5
Aug_Lo_°C = 3.3
Sep_Lo_°C = 4.5
Oct_Lo_°C = 7.8
Nov_Lo_°C = 10.5
Dec_Lo_°C = 12.9
Year_Lo_°C = 8.2
Jan_Precip_cm = |Jan_Precip_mm = 124.2
Feb_Precip_cm = |Feb_Precip_mm = 78.1
Mar_Precip_cm = |Mar_Precip_mm = 101.7
Apr_Precip_cm = |Apr_Precip_mm = 54.0
May_Precip_cm = |May_Precip_mm = 75.7
Jun_Precip_cm = |Jun_Precip_mm = 21.5
Jul_Precip_cm = |Jul_Precip_mm = 33.8
Aug_Precip_cm = |Aug_Precip_mm = 42.7
Sep_Precip_cm = |Sep_Precip_mm = 56.7
Oct_Precip_cm = |Oct_Precip_mm = 108.4
Nov_Precip_cm = |Nov_Precip_mm = 103.1
Dec_Precip_cm = |Dec_Precip_mm = 88.7
Year_Precip_cm = |Year_Precip_mm = 888.6
source =Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentine Meteorological Service)cite web
url =http://www.smn.gov.ar/?mod=clima&id=30&provincia=Buenos%20Aires&ciudad=Tandil|title = Guía Climática para el Turismo (Climate Guide for Tourists)
accessmonthday = Jan 21
accessyear =2008
language = Spanish]
accessdate = Jan 2008

Place name

The name of the city comes from the Mapuche words "tan" ("falling"), and "lil" ("rock"). It is probably a reference to the "Piedra Movediza" ("Moving Stone"), a large boulder which stood seemingly miraculously balanced on the brink of a chasm. The Moving Stone toppled on February 29, 1912. Some people thought that "tan" in fact meant "moving". In order to demonstrate the slight movements of the boulder, it was common practice to place bottles or some other things on its base to see them break.As of May 2007, a replica was set up in the same place where the original stood.

History

The city was founded by Martín Rodríguez on April 4, 1823, named "Fuerte Independencia" (Independence Fortress).Between that year and 1875, the native aborigins (Pamas and Ranqueles) defended from European usurpation, the invaders thinking they would not pose a threat.

With the annihilation and expulsion of the original inhabitants, "operation Conquest of the Desert", European presence became stronger in Tandil, receiving a large number of immigrants from various countries in Europe.

The vast majority of immigrants came from Spain and Italy but also Basque and Danish people settled, the latter constituting a very active community.

Tandil was designated a city in 1895 and became a popular tourist destination attracting people from Buenos Aires, other parts of the country and also from abroad.

The "Piedra Movediza" fell down in 1912, for unknown reasons. There have been projects to restore it, but other similar stones remain like "El Centinela", making the scenery very attractive. This made easier the creation of other touring places like "Sierra del Tigre" or "Monte Calvario".

Notable natives

* Mauro Camoranesi (born October 4 1976), professional football player
* Mariano González (born May 5 1981), professional football player
* René Lavand (born September 24 1928), famous illusionist
* Víctor Laplace (born May 30 1943), actor
* Juan Mónaco (born March 29 1984), professional tennis player
* Juan Martín del Potro (born September 23 1988), professional tennis player
* Juan Eduardo Eluchans (born April 14 1980), professional football player
* Mauricio Macri, politician
* Guillermo Pérez-Roldán (born October 20 1969), professional tennis player
* Bernardo Daniel Romeo (born September 10 1977, professional football player
* Mariano Zabaleta (born February 28 1978), professional tennis player
* Maximo Gonzalez (born July 20 1983), professional tennis player

References

External links

* [http://www.tandil.gov.ar/ Official government website]
* [http://tandil.marcelo7300.com.ar/ "Tandil, lugar soñado"]
* [http://www.lapiedramovediza.com.ar/ "La Piedra Movediza"]
* [http://www.unicen.edu.ar/ "Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires" (university)]
* [http://www.tandil.com.ar/ Hotels, business and gastronomy guide of Tandil]
* [http://www.nuevaeranet.com.ar/ Nueva Era, Traditional Local Newspaper]