Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is the capital of La Pampa Province in central Argentina and sits at the edge of a large lagoon where two major overland routes cross. The city spreads across flat terrain with wide avenues, low residential neighborhoods, and a few taller buildings in the center, surrounded by the open grasslands of the pampa.

Tomás Mason founded the settlement in 1892 as an administrative hub for surrounding farms and ranches. The town grew through the expansion of agricultural industries in the second half of the 20th century and was declared provincial capital in 1952.

The name honors Saint Rose of Lima, the first saint of the Americas, and residents celebrate her feast day in late August with processions and local festivities. Don Tomás Lagoon on the edge of town becomes a weekend gathering spot where families barbecue and walk along the shore.

Most shops and restaurants cluster around a few blocks near Plaza San Martín in the center, making it easy to walk around and find your way. The lagoon sits about three kilometers from downtown and can be reached by local bus or car.

The airport is named after a local pilot and sits so close to downtown that you can see planes taking off from many streets. The local natural history museum holds a collection of prehistoric fossils from the pampa, including remains of giant ground sloths.