THE MISIONES PROVINCE - ARGENTINA -
Agriculture
and cattle-raising are the main activities of Misiones population. This Argentinean
province was colonized by the Jesuits at the 11th and 12th
centuries.
Misiones
is located at the North East of Argentina, surrounded by the rivers Paraná (
West), Iguazú (North) and Uruguay (South East).
It
constitutes the northern portion of the Argentinean Mesopotamia and it is
bounded by Brazil ( North, East and South East), Paraguay ( West) and the
province of Corrientes (South West).
Its
superficial extension is of 29.801 km2 and Posadas is the name of the capital
city.
The
population is concentrated in the southern plain, were Posadas and Apóstoles
are located.
The
main farming crops are mate, tea, manioc, tobacco and cereals.
The
cattle- racing activity is also important and has allowed the development of the
milk products , farming crops and timber industries.
Posadas
is the main industrial center. The Jesuits ruins and the outstanding Iguazú
Falls, located at the Iguazú National Park, are considered to be important
tourist destinations, besides the Moconá gorges, which is a geographic
unevenness at the bed of the Uruguay river.
The Jesuits evangelized the guaranies during the 16th and 17th centuries by means of the foundation of missions.
THE MISSIONS ARE DECLARED CULTURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE ( UNESCO 1984)
After the expulsion of the
Order, in 1767, the territory became part of the Rio de la Plata viceroyalty. Brazil
and Paraguay disputed the possession of Argentina in the 19th century
and, after 1870, the Paraguayan military defeat meant the consolidation of Argentinean
rights over the region.
Misiones
population grew progressively, and according to the law on December 10th,
1953, it became a province.
The
most important places are Posadas, capital city founded in 1870 by decree of the
Corrientes governor, and called like this since 1879; Candelaria, Santa Ana,
with a significant port dedicated to he shipment of mate; Oberá, Cerro Azul and
San Ignacio.