Chamical

Chamical got its name from the many specimens of the medicinal herb known as chamico (Spanish, "jimsonweed") found growing wild in the area.

Chamical is located in the droughty Llanos Riojanos (Spanish for "Riojan Plains") and has four marked seasons, giving it a BSh hot semi-arid climate under the Köppen climate classification. The dry period of April to October is mild to cool, with the normal monthly mean temperature reaching its lowest in July at 11.7 °C (53.1 °F). The rainy period of November to March is warm to hot, with the normal monthly mean temperature peaking in January at 26.4 °C (79.5 °F). There has hardly ever been any snow or frost, but there has often been hail.

Total yearly precipitation averages a scanty 448.8 millimetres (18 in) with plentiful sunny days, and the rainfall centers in summer. The wettest month is January, during which time Chamical receives an average of 94.1 millimetres (4 in).

Winters are quite cool, but usually sunny; rather, snowfall is an odd occurrence. The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional reports that July is the coldest month with a mean high of 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) and a mean low of 5.7 °C (42.3 °F). Springtime is mild, windy and usually warm. Summers are hot (as is common with La Rioja Province), somewhat rainy and, most often, the mercury rises to 38 degrees Celsius (≈100 Fahrenheit) or higher in the shade, which means unpleasant. The rain brings some relief from the stifling Riojan heat. January, the warmest month, has an average high of 33.4 °C (92.1 °F) and an average low of 20.1 °C (68.2 °F). Fall is mild and pleasant, but can go chilly.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 45.5 °C (113.9 °F) on December 25, 2013 while the lowest temperature on record was −7.7 °C (18.1 °F) on July 31, 1993.[2]

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  Motor vehicles at the east entrance to Chamical on Argentina Route 38
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  Chamical's former railroad station, now housing the local museum.
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  The dilapidated albeit picturesque railroad water tower in the background (beyond the derelict truck) is a heritage asset; it was built up by a British company in the late nineteenth century.
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  Chamical Bus Depot. Wanderer, on passing through, don't miss the cozy buffet that runs here 24/7.
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  A sounding rocket on a mobile launch pad at CELPA launching facility. The picture dates back to 1969.
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  San Martín memorial at the middle of the namesake garden square in downtown at twilight.
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  Classic brutalist architecture at this Chamical bank.
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  Chamical City Hall, located dowtown.
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  The University of La Rioja campus at Chamical finds itself on the south side of town. It attracts a number of students from across the country.
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  Façade of Hospital Luis Agote. This is the main hospital of public assistance in the Llanos Riojanos. Its name commemorates Argentina's name physician Luis Agote.
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  A mini attraction in its own right, the Chamical Tourist Information Center is located just off the Ruta 38 in the immediate surroundings of the local bus depot.