Happy TravellerWelcome to Corrientes, the capital city of the province of Corrientes in Argentina. Located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about 1,000 km (621 mi) from Buenos Aires and 300 km (186 mi) from Posadas, Corrientes has a population of 346,334 according to the 2010 Census. The city boasts a mix of colonial and modern architecture, several churches and a number of lapacho, ceibo, jacaranda and orange trees. But that’s not all – Corrientes is also home to one of the biggest carnival and chamamé celebrations in the country. With an annual average temperature of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F), and an annual rainfall of around 1,500 millimetres (59 in), Corrientes is a must-visit destination in Argentina.
Transportation in Corrientes is made easy with the General Belgrano Bridge, which crosses the Paraná River and serves as the natural border with the neighbouring Chaco Province. On the other side of the bridge is Resistencia, capital of Chaco. The Doctor Fernando Piragine Niveyro International Airport is just 5 km (3 mi) away from the city and serves the city. The Ferrocarril Económico Correntino narrow gauge railway line to Mburucuyá operated from 1912 until 1927.
Corrientes has a rich history – Juan Torres de Vera y Aragón founded the city on April 3, 1588 and named it as San Juan de Vera de las Siete Corrientes (Saint John of Vera of the Seven Currents), which was later shortened to Corrientes. The seven currents refer to the seven peninsulas on the shore of the river at this place, that produced wild currents that made difficult the navigation of the river through this part. Nevertheless, its position between Asunción – in present Paraguay – and Buenos Aires made it an important middle point, especially because of its 55-metre-high lands that prevent flooding when the water level rises. During the Argentine War of Independence, it was in permanent conflict with the centralist government of Buenos Aires, but the Paraguayan War united them after the city was attacked by Paraguayan forces in 1865.
The climate in Corrientes is classified as a humid subtropical climate. The annual average temperature is 21.3 °C or 70.3 °F. Frosts are rare, with the dates of the first and last frost being July 5 and July 12 respectively, indicating that most of the year is frost-free. The highest temperature recorded was 43.5 °C (110.3 °F) and the lowest temperature ever recorded was −2.8 °C (27.0 °F).
Corrientes is also well-known for its educational institutions, such as the National University of the Northeast and the University of Cuenca del Plata. The city is twinned with Encarnación, Paraguay and Estepa, Spain.
In fiction, the Graham Greene spy novel The Honorary Consul (1973) takes place in Corrientes. Sports fans can catch a game of football played by the city’s main teams – Huracán Corrientes, Boca Unidos, and Deportivo Mandiyú. And for those who love exploring new places, Barrio Esperanza is a must-visit neighborhood in Corrientes.
Come and visit Corrientes for a unique mix of history, culture, and natural beauty!
