TOPOGRAPHY OF ARGENTINA. 



455 



the landing stage. Surrounded by vineyards, whicli yield the mucli esteemed 

 Chocoli wine, Bahia Blanca enjoys a climate analogous to that of West Europe, 

 and corresponds in latitude to that part of Chili between Concepcion and 

 Valdivia, where the plants of the temperate zone thrive best. It is connected 

 with Buenos Ayres by two railways and a weekly service of steamers. It also 

 trades directly with the European seaports, and holds the first links in the chain 

 of railways by which this seaboard will ultimately be connected with the upland 

 valleys of the Ptio Colorado and with the Chilian harbour of Yaldivia. 



Bahia Blanca receives its supply of water by a canal derived from the Rio 



Fig. 179. — Bahia Blanca. 



Scale 1: 1,400,000. 



West oF Greenxv,cVi 



Depths. 



m 



0to5 

 Fathoms. 



5 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



30 Miles. 



Naposta, and from two artesian wells sunk in the district between the town and 

 the estuary to the respective depths of 790 and 886 feet. But although drinkable 

 the water from this source is charged with a certain quantity of salt, which it is 

 hoped may be got rid of by more closely cementing the sides of the wells. 



Extensive swamps, especially ia the direction of Ciiatrero, have already been 

 drained seawards and the slush replaced by the pure water of irrigation canals. 

 These hitherto unproductive tracts are now covered with gardens and fields. 



The great territorial division, which takes the name of La Pampa, and which 

 is traversed by the Rio Salado as far as Lake Urre Lafquen north of the Rio 



