The city of Puerto Madryn was founded in 1865, when the first white inhabitants arrive at the place: the gales.
The first important turning point was the building of the railway, inaugurated in June 1889 witrh the purpose of transporting products from the valley to the harbour. Another important thing was the building of the aluminium factory ALUAR, built in 1971, when the population was of 6.5000people. from that on, this city started growing.
According to the last census in 2001, in Puerto Madryn live 57.571 people (average age: 25).
As well as the city, the educational institutions have grown, in all levels. (National University San Bosco of the Patagonia, National Technologic University). Offering between others specific courses: Licenciatura en Biologia Marina y en Zonas Aridas and Ingenieria Pesquera.
Also, in the National Patagonian Center CENPAT-CONICET, many investigations are taking place by scientists from the entire world.
Puerto Madryn posee un valor turístico y una ubicación estratégica indiscutibles siendo el mayor centro de servicios de la costa patagónica y la puerta de entrada a la Península Valdés, declarada por la UNESCO en 1999, Patrimonio Natural de la Humanidad.
Puerto Madryn has a great tourist value and a strategic location, because of this it is an important services center in Patagonia and it was declared Patrimonio natural de la Humanidad, in 1999.
The principal incomes come from the fishing activity, the production of aluminium and the tourism, activity that was born in the sixties, when the Comision Promotora del Turismo Submarino de la Bahia Nueva was formed with the purpose to build artificial reef within the San Jose and Nuevo gulfs.
Whales and summer season:
The city is extended over 5km of beach. There are 7 resorts that work as restaurants and cafes during the year and as a center for nautical activities in summer. In winter, when the tourists come back from the outings, they usually go to the city by bicycles or they go walking to the shopping centre to enjoy the peace and safety that the city offers.
During the whales season (from June to December) you can regularly see whales from the coast and, during the night, you can hear their typical sounds. + Península Valdés. + Puerto Pirámides. + Poem.
