Chamical
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Chamical
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nicknames = Perla de los Llanos
("Pearl of the Plains"), Ciudad del Cohete ("Rocket City"), Cunabula Primae Bestiae
|settlement_type = City
|motto =
|image_skyline = ChamicalStreet.jpeg
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
View southwest along Avenida Perón in downtown Chamical. The brushy Sierra de los Quinteros range can be seen in the far background
|image_flag =
|flag_size =
|image_seal = ChamicalCOA.jpeg
|seal_size =
|image_map =
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Argentina
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|pushpin_mapsize= 100
|pushpin_map_caption = Map of Argentina with Chamical highlighted
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Argentina}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = La Rioja
|subdivision_type2 = Department
|subdivision_name2 =
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_party = Justicialist Party
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Dora Rodríguez
|established_title = City status
|established_date = 1955
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref =
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 =
|area_land_km2 =
|population_as_of = 2022 census
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total = 15,666
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone = ART
|utc_offset = −3
|coordinates = {{coord|30|21|S|66|19|W|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 471
|elevation_ft =
|elevation_point = at City Hall
|postal_code_type = Zip code
|postal_code = F5380
|area_code = 03826
|blank_name = Climate
|blank_info = BSh
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Chamical is a small city in, and the seat of government of, Chamical Department in the south of La Rioja Province of Argentina.[http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/ Ministerio del Interior] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610230411/http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/ |date=2014-06-10 }} {{in lang|es}} With a population of 15,666 permanent residents at the {{Census-ar|2022}}, up from 12,919 at the time of the 2010 census, it is the third-most populous settlement in La Rioja Province after Chilecito. It is home to the CELPA aerospace test center, founded in 1961 and operated by the Argentine Air Force. The town, which is crossed by the Tirante wadi, lies on the Ruta 38 (Spanish Wikipedia), around 140 km from La Rioja (2 hours by bus), and some 300 km from Córdoba (4 hours by bus).
This young urban habitation has been an important site in several stages of Argentine history during the past fifty years.
Chamical has plentiful wilderness touristic spots, such as "Las Ollitas" (a natural waterfall lake) and
"La Salina" (a long salt flat).
Chamical is regarded as the tango hub in La Rioja Province.
The local demonym for Chamical is a Chamicalense.
Name origin
Chamical got its name from the many specimens of the medicinal herb known in Spanish as chamico (meaning "jimsonweed" in the said language) found growing wild in the area.
Geography
Chamical is located in the droughty Llanos Riojanos (Spanish for "Riojan Plains") and has four marked seasons, giving it a BSh hot semi-arid climate under the Köppen climate classification. The dry period of April to October is mild to cool, with the normal monthly mean temperature reaching its lowest in July at {{convert|11.7|C|F|1}}. The rainy period of November to March is warm to hot, with the normal monthly mean temperature peaking in January at {{convert|26.4|C|F|1}}. There has hardly ever been any snow or frost, but there has often been hail.
Total yearly precipitation averages a scanty {{convert|448.8|mm|in|0}} with plentiful sunny days, and the rainfall centers in summer. The wettest month is January, during which time Chamical receives an average of {{convert|94.1|mm|in|0}}.
Winters are quite cool, but usually sunny; rather, snowfall is an odd occurrence. The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional reports that July is the coldest month with a mean high of {{convert|18.7|C|F|1}} and a mean low of {{convert|5.7|C|F|1}}. Springtime is mild, windy and usually warm. Summers are hot (as is common with La Rioja Province), somewhat rainy and, most often, the mercury rises to 38 degrees Celsius (≈100 Fahrenheit) or higher in the shade, which means unpleasant. The rain brings some relief from the stifling Riojan heat. January, the warmest month, has an average high of {{convert|33.4|C|F|1}} and an average low of {{convert|20.1|C|F|1}}. Fall is mild and pleasant, but can go chilly.
The highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|45.5|C|F|1}} on December 25, 2013 while the lowest temperature on record was {{convert|-7.7|C|F|1}} on July 31, 1993.{{cite web |url = http://www.ora.gov.ar/eval_decadial.php |title = Chamical, La Rioja |work = Estadísticas meteorológicas decadiales |publisher = Oficina de Riesgo Agropecuario |language = Spanish |accessdate = June 15, 2015 |archive-date = August 8, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190808144601/http://www.ora.gov.ar/eval_decadial.php |url-status = dead }}
{{Weather box|location=Chamical (1991–2020, extremes 1963–present)
|single line = y
|metric first = y
|Jan record high C = 45.2
|Feb record high C = 43.5
|Mar record high C = 40.5
|Apr record high C = 38.2
|May record high C = 34.5
|Jun record high C = 29.3
|Jul record high C = 31.5
|Aug record high C = 40.4
|Sep record high C = 41.7
|Oct record high C = 43.0
|Nov record high C = 43.7
|Dec record high C = 45.5
|year record high C = 45.5
|Jan high C = 33.8
|Feb high C = 31.9
|Mar high C = 29.5
|Apr high C = 25.6
|May high C = 21.4
|Jun high C = 18.6
|Jul high C = 18.7
|Aug high C = 22.4
|Sep high C = 25.7
|Oct high C = 29.3
|Nov high C = 31.8
|Dec high C = 33.8
|year high C = 26.9
|Jan mean C = 27.0
|Feb mean C = 25.3
|Mar mean C = 23.2
|Apr mean C = 19.3
|May mean C = 15.2
|Jun mean C = 11.8
|Jul mean C = 11.0
|Aug mean C = 14.3
|Sep mean C = 18.1
|Oct mean C = 22.1
|Nov mean C = 24.6
|Dec mean C = 26.6
|year mean C = 19.9
|Jan low C = 20.6
|Feb low C = 19.5
|Mar low C = 18.0
|Apr low C = 14.3
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 6.5
|Jul low C = 5.0
|Aug low C = 7.5
|Sep low C = 10.9
|Oct low C = 15.0
|Nov low C = 17.8
|Dec low C = 19.6
|year low C = 13.7
|Jan record low C = 10.3
|Feb record low C = 8.9
|Mar record low C = 4.5
|Apr record low C = 1.0
|May record low C = -4.0
|Jun record low C = -5.0
|Jul record low C = -8.3
|Aug record low C = -7.5
|Sep record low C = -3.1
|Oct record low C = -0.5
|Nov record low C = 4.5
|Dec record low C = 6.0
|year record low C = -8.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 93.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 88.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 67.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 27.6
|May precipitation mm = 10.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 3.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 3.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 2.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 7.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 28.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 45.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 82.7
|year precipitation mm = 460.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 7.4
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 4.2
|May precipitation days = 2.6
|Jun precipitation days = 1.6
|Jul precipitation days = 0.9
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 1.9
|Oct precipitation days = 3.0
|Nov precipitation days = 5.1
|Dec precipitation days = 6.8
|year precipitation days = 47.0
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.1
|Jul snow days = 0.1
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 0.1
|Jan humidity = 58.3
|Feb humidity = 62.6
|Mar humidity = 67.3
|Apr humidity = 69.0
|May humidity = 70.3
|Jun humidity = 68.2
|Jul humidity = 60.2
|Aug humidity = 49.7
|Sep humidity = 46.5
|Oct humidity = 48.3
|Nov humidity = 50.7
|Dec humidity = 53.5
|year humidity = 58.7
|Jan sun = 285.2
|Feb sun = 234.5
|Mar sun = 217.0
|Apr sun = 189.0
|May sun = 179.8
|Jun sun = 171.0
|Jul sun = 207.7
|Aug sun = 235.6
|Sep sun = 240.0
|Oct sun = 260.4
|Nov sun = 279.0
|Dec sun = 294.5
|year sun = 2793.7
|Jand sun = 9.2
|Febd sun = 8.3
|Mard sun = 7.0
|Aprd sun = 6.3
|Mayd sun = 5.8
|Jund sun = 5.7
|Juld sun = 6.7
|Augd sun = 7.6
|Sepd sun = 8.0
|Octd sun = 8.4
|Novd sun = 9.3
|Decd sun = 9.5
|yeard sun = 7.6
|Jan percentsun = 62.7
|Feb percentsun = 54.2
|Mar percentsun = 53.2
|Apr percentsun = 57.6
|May percentsun = 51.4
|Jun percentsun = 51.6
|Jul percentsun = 66.0
|Aug percentsun = 66.0
|Sep percentsun = 63.4
|Oct percentsun = 62.8
|Nov percentsun = 63.2
|Dec percentsun = 71.6
|year percentsun = 59.0
|source 1 = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (percent sun 1991–2000){{cite web
| url = https://ssl.smn.gob.ar/dpd/observaciones/estadisticas_normales_9120.zip
| title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales - período 1991-2020
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
| language = Spanish
| accessdate = 11 April 2023
| archive-date = 3 March 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230303032103/https://ssl.smn.gob.ar/dpd/observaciones/estadisticas_normales_9120.zip
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230708235600/http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/bitstream/handle/20.500.12160/2506/estad%C3%ADsticas_climatol%C3%B3gicas_normales_1991-2020.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y
| archive-date = 8 July 2023
| url = http://repositorio.smn.gob.ar/handle/20.500.12160/2506
| title = Estadísticas Climatológicas Normales – período 1991–2020
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
| language = es
| access-date = 4 August 2023
| year = 2023}}{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230509192820/http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/78367/Archivo_de_datos_climatol%C3%B3gicos.zip?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
| archive-date = 9 May 2023
| url = http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/78367
| title = Estadística climatológica de la República Argentina Período 1991-2000
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
| language = es
| access-date = 23 May 2023}}{{cite web
| url = https://www.smn.gob.ar/estadisticas
| title = Clima en la Argentina: Guia Climática por Chamical Aero
| work = Caracterización: Estadísticas de largo plazo
| publisher = Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
| language = es
| accessdate = 11 April 2023
| archive-date = 4 September 2017
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904022616/https://www2.smn.gob.ar/caracterizaci%C3%B3n-estad%C3%ADsticas-de-largo-plazo
| url-status = live
|source 2 = Oficina de Riesgo Agropecuario (record highs and lows){{cite web|url= https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=87320&ano=2023&mes=11&day=8&hora=20&min=0&ndays=30|title= 87320: Chamical Aerodrome (Argentina)|author= |date= 7 November 2023|website= ogimet.com|publisher= OGIMET|access-date= 10 December 2023|quote= |archive-date= 10 December 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231210210304/https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=87320&ano=2023&mes=11&day=8&hora=20&min=0&ndays=30|url-status= live}}
|date=2014}}
=Neighboring towns=
{{Geographic Location
|Centre=Chamical
|East=Chañar
|North=Casa de Piedra
|Northwest=La Rioja
|South=Olta
|Southwest=Chepes
|West=Punta de los Llanos
}}
Gallery
ChamicalRoad.jpeg|Motor vehicles at the east entrance to Chamical on Argentina Route 38
ChamicalTrainStation.jpeg|Chamical's former railroad station, now housing the local museum.
TrainWaterTower.jpeg|The dilapidated albeit picturesque railroad water tower in the background (beyond the derelict truck) is a heritage asset; it was built up by a British company in the late nineteenth century.
ChamicalBusStation.jpeg|Chamical Bus Depot.
Cohete Castor CRX-01 en CELPA Chamical.jpg|A sounding rocket on a mobile launch pad at CELPA launching facility. The picture dates back to 1969.
SanMartinMemorial.jpeg|San Martín memorial at the middle of the namesake garden square in downtown at evening twilight.
NiceBankInRocketCity.jpg|Classic brutalist architecture at this Chamical bank.
ChamicalCH.jpeg|Chamical City Hall, located downtown.
ChamicalHistoricalMarker.jpeg|Historical marker telling posterity this military facility was unduly used as a black site by the military junta known as National Reorganization Process.
Biblioteca Popular Mitre.jpg|Mitre Book Club. Established in 1921.
ChamicalCollege.jpeg|The University of La Rioja campus at Chamical finds itself on the south side of town. It attracts a number of students from across the country.
HospitalAgote.jpeg|Façade of Hospital Luis Agote. This aging building is the main hospital of public assistance in the Llanos Riojanos. Its name commemorates Argentina's name physician Luis Agote.
VisitorCenter@RocketCity.jpg|A mini attraction in its own right, the Chamical Tourist Information Center is located just off the Ruta 38 in the immediate surroundings of the local bus depot.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{coord|30|22|S|66|19|W|display=title|region:AR_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}