Geosur 2010
INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS
ON THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
MAR DEL PLATA - 22 - 23 NOVEMBER 2010

SYMPOSIUM VENUE
Symposium will be held at the SHERATON HOTEL in Mar del Plata
Address: L. N. Alem 4221 - Mar del Plata
ph. +54 223 414 0124, Fax +54 223 414 0015)
more informations: http://www.sheraton.com/mardelplata).

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Located about 400 km south of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic Coast, Mar del Plata is the most important seaside tourist center in the Republic of Argentina.
It was founded in 1874 by a developer named Patricio Peralta Ramos, who turned the town into an industrial center. The true wealth of the city, however, has come with the overwhelming tide of tourism that has taken place in the last 50 years.
In the summer, not only does it welcome millions of visitors from all over the country, but Mar del Plata also combines the beauty and charm of its natural resources with the infrastructure and services available, and with the hospitality of its people. However, there are 700.000 residents who live there year round. It is a very large city with lots to do, and not only in the summer months.
As an important fishing port, industry concentrates on fish processing and at least two large shipyards.
Besides an exceptional sea, Mar del Plata has cliffs, sand hills and vast sandy beaches ideal to enjoy summer walks, cycling or riding. Paragliding and first-time parachuting jumps are practiced in the air. In the sea, nautical activities such as surfing, windsurfing, jet skiing, SCUBA diving, motorboat, boat sailing and swimming stand out, though one of the sports chosen by visitors to "the Pearl of the Atlantic" is sport fishing, practiced both from the city piers and on boats leaving from its famous port. On that location, visitors may watch sea lions and the routine of seamen that return with their catches everyday or taste all kinds of seafood and fish in the dozens of restaurants located in the area.
Mar del Plata has everything. Its cultural life is reminiscent of the City of Buenos Aires. The most outstanding attractions include Colón Square, Torreón del Monje, Los Troncos Neighborhood, the port and Punta Mogotes. At night, its pubs, discos, bingos and the famous Casino of Mar del Plata are ready to welcome the most demanding customers. The theaters in the city get crowded as the most outstanding plays are presented each season.
 Its surroundings offer kilometers of some of the best beaches in South America. Along with the natural beauty of the area's wind-swept dunes and cliffs, there are ecological reserves, fancy resorts and charming fishing villages.

CLIMATE
Mar del Plata has temperate climate with masses of warm and humid subtropical sea air and an average temperature of over 22º C during the hottest month.The weather pattern for the region is that of an oceanic climate, with humid and moderate summers and relatively cool winters, although polar air masses from Antarctica are frequent. The average temperatures for January reach 20°C and 8°C for July. The West-Southwest winds bring down the temperature below 0°C, while the Southeast ones (the so called Sudestada) are stronger, producing coastal showers and rough seas, as well as strong squalls, but the cold is much less intense.
There are about 20 days of frost each year, and almost 60 in the west hills area (some 300 mts above the sea level). Snowfall is not uncommon, but snow accumulation on the ground is rare, a phenomenon that takes place every 6 years or so, according to the last 40 year's data. There is fog in the last days of fall, and springtime is often marred by sea winds and sudden temperature's changes. There are some ten days of 30°C each summer, certainly milder values than the rest of the pampas region. Usually, the summer nights are cool and pleasant, with values between 13º to 17°C.

TRAVEL, AIRPORT AND ACCESS:
Mar del Plata is served by Ástor Piazzola International Airport (MDQ/SAZM) with daily flights to Buenos Aires served by Aerolíneas Argentinas.
It has a bus terminal serving most cities in Argentina. There is a train station with two daily trains to Buenos Aires' Estación Constitución.
Highway 2 connects Mar del Plata with Buenos Aires and Route 11 connects it through the coastline, ending at Miramar, 40 km south of Mar del Plata. Route 88 connects to Necochea and Route 226 to Balcarce, Tandil and Olavarría.
Manuel Tienda Leon offers a direct bus service from the Ezeiza Airport (EZE) for around 90 Pesos one way. The trip is less than 5 hours through the Argentine Pampas. This is highly recommended for anyone coming by plane.
Daily trains arrive from Buenos Aires. However, buses are much faster and cleaner.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
- Taxi: Official taxis, marked jellow with official identification, are available from outside the airports ground floor at the terminals, running to destinations such city centre.
- Bus: Buses serve uptown and downtown.
More information can be found at www.turismomardelplata.gov.ar

HOTEL ACCOMODATION:

More information can be found at www.turismomardelplata.gov.ar