More about 25 de Mayo

Vally Watchover
From this place, located on National Route 151 you can have a general outlook of the Colorado Valley, which is stressed by poplar cores that change their color according to the season and coexist with the autochthonous vegetation and its wild beautiness. Another element of this landscape is the vision of the river in its sinuous run up to the dam-bridge.

Dam-Bridge “Punto Unido”
Inaugurated in 1972, on May 25, the bridge has an extension of 184m placed over the Colorado River. It comprises a leveling dam and an intake work with capacity to detour up to 120m3/s. At the same time, it is the infrastructure of the bridge that crosses National Route 151. This is why the bridge is called United Point, because the building changed the history of the Colorado River crossing that till that moment was carry out by metallic raft.

Free Intake
The little hydraulic work sets the origin of the irrigation system of the farms located in the area of El Sauzal and Ampliación of El Sauzal. Apart from its hydric importance, this place allows you to enjoy the view of the thatches and to have direct contact with the natural landscape.

The Ezquerra’s Willow
This historic monument located 300 m far away from the origin of the “Canal Matriz” survived the so called “Crezca Grande del 14”(the Colorado River flood that took place on December 31, 1914, which devastated the valley of the cordillera up to the sea). This willow is a centennial tree located in the former farm and “Almacén de Ramos Generales” of Vicente y Fermín Ezquerra; the municipality declared it Historic Patrimony in 1990.

“El Sauzal” Farms
The production of 25 de Mayo (vegetables, fruits, delicious homemade jams and preserves) has its origin in the farms. The average surface is 20ha and some of them are the oldest in the Colony whose plantations are more 25 years old and the new plantations show us the technological advance. If you enter one of these farms, the farmer will guide you so that you can learn about production aspects in detail.

Industrial Park: it comprises:
• Cooling and packing warehouses: In these warehouses, fruit is washed, brushed, cured, classified and packed. It can be immediately commercialized, or kept cool for out-of-season consumption.
• Bentonite mill - “Minerales de La Pampa S.R.L.”: Bentonite is a hardly known mineral. It is extracted from the deposits located in Colonia Chica area, and whose applications are innumerable. In the region, it is used in the petroleum exploitation in order to insulate the wells. It is exported and utilized as a component of pharmaceutical products, blended food, etc.
• Logging - “Forestal Medanito”. An important plant engaged in the trade and processing of timber in the area. It is located in 25 de Mayo, near the forest, in which large salicaceous trees are planted.

Museo Geominero “Don José Cholino” (“Don José Cholino” Geology and Mining Museum)
This non-profit organization is located on National Highway Nº 4 (which leads you to 25 de Mayo) within the Industrial Park and it is sponsored by “Minerales de La Pampa SRL” and “Minera José Cholino SRL”. The museum is open to delegations and the public. When visiting it, you will see more than 700 samples of minerals and fossils, coupled with an explanation of their origin, the place they come from, and the importance they have in the world economy. In the case of bentonite (clay from 25 de Mayo), you will receive a plain and easy-to-understand explanation about how it is extracted, processed and its properties. The material that is currently exhibited is the result of more than 20 years of collection of pieces within the area, the country and the world (Morocco, Spain, Italy, United States, Brazil, etc.). Telefax: (0229) 494-8177. Teachers: make reservations to visit the museum. Open hours: Monday through Fridays, from 8 a.m. through 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free admittance.

Biblioteca Popular Mariano Moreno y CTC (Mariano Moreno Popular Library and CTC).
It has complete literature on the area. It receives books from readers and the Conabip. During the year, different activities are permanently carried out: literary contests, projection of educational and recreational videos, “the story hour”. The library also supports the activities of other educational institutions. It accommodates the Communitarian Technological Center (CTC), which has a state-of-the-art equipment interconnected to a networking and to the Internet. The CTC is a program that belongs to [email protected], specially addressed to the community members, regardless their age or literacy. Gabriel García is responsible for the technical operation, whereas Raquel Torrico supervises pedagogical content. The use of Internet is free.

Jam Minifactory “Ana Delia” and Winter Quarter
It belongs to PEC (Polivalent Educational Center), which is an agrotechnical school. Teachers and students show the visitors the processes that transform fruit in delicious artisanal jam that can be tested and bought. The minifactory is located in the PEC’s farm, where you can also see farm animals, plantations and visit a winter quarter.

Hydroelectric Central “Los Divisaderos”
If you go to Colonia Chica, you will encounter the grate hydroelectrical central “Los Divisaderos” after traveling 12km. Taking advantage of a fall of 17.3 m, this central expels the water of Canal Matriz. This channel of 22km has a capacity to impulse 120m3/s and can produce 10,000 kw/h; the energy goes to National Interconnected System. The water is propelled and delivered to Colonia Chica for irrigation, and through a siphon located under the Colorado River, it reaches Catriel (Río Negro Province), which stresses the «regional importance of the work».

Colonia Chica area
Located 30km from 25 de Mayo, this is one of the most beautiful places in the municipal area. Colonia Chica hides unsuspicious richness from the colony age, from history and culture to production: irrigated lands, mineral deposits, petroleum wells, natural gas production, etc.

More information about this area:
LA PROVINCIA, headline: “The Colorado River’s bank, a river of progress and continuous development”.

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