San Luis

Capital of the province of the same name in western Argentina; population (1996) 110,000. San Luis is situated at the foot of the Sierra de San Luis, 230 km/143 mi east of Mendoza, with which it is linked by rail. Its economic activity is mainly concerned with processing the agricultural and mineral products of the surrounding region.

There is an irrigation dam and hydroelectric power station nearby.

San Luis

Province in western Argentina, immediately to the east of Mendoza; area 76,748 sq km/29,632 sq mi; population (1996) 286,458. The capital is the city of San Luis, but the largest town is Villa Mercedes, an important railway junction. The greater part of the province is a fertile plateau, bounded by the Sierra de San Luis (2,100 m/6,890 ft) in the north. Most of San Luis is devoted to cattle- and sheep-breeding. The chief crops are wheat, maize, and alfalfa. Fruit is also grown to a considerable extent. It is also rich in mining potential, with onyx and marble as prime quarry products.

Unitl 1776, the province of San Luis, together with those of Mendoza and San Juan, belonged to Chile.