Futaleufú Department

Place in Chubut, Argentina

42°54′S 71°19′W / 42.900°S 71.317°W / -42.900; -71.317CountryArgentina

ProvinceChubut

FoundationFebruary 25, 1906Founded by?CapitalEsquelGovernment

• MayorRafael Williams PJArea

• Total9,435 km² (3,643 sq mi)Population

(2001)2001 census [INDEC]

• Total37,540 • Density4.0/km² (10/sq mi) • Change 1991-2001

+21.95%Post Code

U9200

Area code02945Resident?Distance to Buenos Aires1,998kmDistance to Rawson, Chubut?Patron?Websitehttp://www.esquel.gov.ar

Futaleufú (Spanish pronunciation: [futaleʊ̯ˈfu]) is a department in the north west of Chubut Province, Argentina. Its main town and capital is Esquel to the north, with Trevelin and El Corcovado as the only other towns of significant size. Other settlements are Cerro Centinela, Aldea Escolar, Los Cipreses and Lago Rosario. The population of the department is 37,500 inhabitants as per the 2001 census [INDEC], which represents a population density of fewer than 4 inhabitants/km².

The partido is bordered to the north by the Cushamen Department, to the south and east by the Languiñeo Department and to the west by Chile. The name comes from the Futaleufú River, which originates in the Los Alerces National Park and flows through the department into Chile and on to the Pacific Ocean.