I do not recall which subscriber posted a message about Patagonia or which
Wales Shire list it was posted to, but I just received an email from a lady
who lives in Patagonia who has a lot of historical information.....and links
to more.....about the 120 Welsh people who settled in Patagonia in 1865 and
started several towns there.
Patagonia was named after Magellan era natives who averaged 6 ft 10 inches
in height and were written about by members of Magellan's crew who met these
big men in 1520.
Here is a summary of what Marita Alasio provided on the subject.
Dear Donal:
The northern area in the Chubut Province, in Patagonia, was the place where
the Welsh settlers arrived in the beginning of the XIX century
The cities of Rawson, Puerto Madryn, Gaiman, Trevelin, and others keep many
memories and treasures of those first settlers: Chapels, flour windmills,
costumes (as an example, the Eisteddfod takes place here), Tea houses,
schools where the Welsh language is taught, etc.
You may find further information in our site at:
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/atlantica/puertomadryn/madryn.htm
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/atlantica/puertomadryn/gaiman.htm
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/content/la_gente_galesa.htm
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/atlantica/trelew/trelew.htm
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/andina/trevelin/trevelin.htm
Besides, there are several sites with information regarding the Welsh
Culture in Patagonia:
http://www.glaniad.com/ A Welsh Settler's Site: in welsh language
http://trevelin.itgo.com/ in spanish, english and welsh.
Some others have interesting information but they are in Spanish
http://www.almargen.com.ar/sitio/seccion/cultura/eiste/
I do hope you find this information useful.
Yours,
Marita Alasio
Content Manager
mailto:contenidos@patagonia-argentina.com
PATAGONIA-ARGENTINA.COM
http://www.patagonia-argentina.com/i/
"Planet Earth, the way it used to be"