Trevelin (Spanish pronunciation: [tɾeˈβelin]; Welsh: Trefelin) is a town in the western part of the Patagonian Argentine province of Chubut. It lies on the eastern banks of the Percy River (Spanish: Río Percey) and is located in the department of Futaleufú, approximately 22 kilometers (14 miles) south of the city of Esquel. The town had 6,395 inhabitants at the time of the 2001 census and 7,908 inhabitants in the 2010 census.
History
Trevelin was significant in the Welsh settlement of Chubut. Its name derives from the Welsh word Trefelin, meaning "mill town," after the first flour mill, known as "Los Andes," was established there by John Daniel Evans in 1891. Evans had previously gained renown for leading expeditions into the Pampas in search of new lands and mineral reserves, earning him the nickname "El Baqueano" (meaning guide or scout).
One of the town's notable historical sites is the grave of Malacara, Evans' horse, which in 1884 saved his master's life by escaping down a steep ravine when the traveling party was attacked by a group of indigenous people led by Cacique (chief) Foyel. The three other Welshmen traveling with Evans—Richard Davies, John Hughes, and John Parry—were killed and buried nearby at a place now known as "Dyffryn y Merthyron" (The Valley of the Martyrs).
Following a territorial dispute between Argentina and Chile in early 1902, the Limits Commission met in School No. 18 in Trevelin on 30 April of that year. The British arbiter was Sir Thomas Holdich, while the interested parties were represented by Francisco Pascasio Moreno (Argentina) and Dr. Balmaceda (Chile). The inhabitants of the area—both the indigenous Mapuche Tehuelche and the Welsh colonists—voted to remain in Argentina.
The town is situated in the Valley of the 16th of October (Welsh: Cwm Hyfryd/Bro Hydref), near the Percy River, which flows south into the Río Grande, crosses the frontier with Chile, and thereafter is known as the Río Futaleufú. The Percy River was named after Percy Wharton, an American who settled in Cwm Hyfryd between 1885 and 1904 before returning to Los Angeles, USA.
A replica of John Evans' Los Andes Flour Mill can be found at the Nant Fach Museum in Trevelin, in an area known as Comarca de los Alerces. The decline of the flour milling industry in the area dates to 1949, when the government of Juan Perón declared that the Chubut region was not appropriate for the cultivation of wheat, and the land was subsequently turned over to cattle rearing.
Events
Trevelin first held an eisteddfod (a Welsh festival of literature, music, and performance) in 1922, which became an annual two-day event in 1977. It takes place partly in Spanish and partly in Welsh.
Climate
Trevelin has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb), with a rainfall pattern similar to the Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb). The climate is milder than that of other locations on the Argentine side of Northern Patagonia because of the low altitude and direct exposure to Pacific winds. This microclimate allows for intensive agriculture, a rarity in the region. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 632 mm (25 inches), with most precipitation concentrated from April to August. The mean temperature ranges from 3.8 °C (39 °F) in July, the coldest month, to 16.1 °C (61 °F) in January, the warmest month. Frosts can occur at any time, even in summer, which limits the range of agricultural activities.
Tourism
Trevelin is recognized as a gateway to the Los Alerces National Park and is situated at the foot of the Andes mountain range in Chubut. In 2024, it was recognized by UN Tourism as one of the "Best Tourism Villages."
