
Last modified: 2024-10-05 by rob raeside
Keywords: río hondo department | santiago del estero province | argentina | 
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The municipality of Las Termas de de Río Hondo (locally known as Las 
Termas; 32,166 inhabitants in 2010, the second most populated 
municipality in the province) is located in the west of the Province 
of Santiago del Estero, on the border with the Province of Tucumán, 70 
km of Santiago del Estero city. The town, proclaimed a "ciudad" on 6 
September 1954 and a municipality in 1958, is the capital of the 
Department of Río Hondo.
The thermal waters of Las Termas was already known to the Tonocote 
natives as "yacu rupa" (miraculous warm water); the Inca priests 
renamed them "inti yacu" (water of the sun) and kept the place secret 
to organize official ceremonies. The water is exploited today in more 
than 150 hotels, each with its own water well or source, which makes 
of Las Termas de Río Hondo the main spa town in Argentina. The water 
is recommended to regulate blood pressure and to heal rheumatism.
The reservoir of Río Hondo (330 sq. km) was inaugurated in 1965 in the 
valley of river Dulce. It is jointly managed by the Provinces of 
Tucumán (32% of the area) and Santiago del Estero (68%). The Frontal 
Dam, of 40 m in height and 2,368 m in length. is now a main tourist's 
spot.
The motorsport circuit of Termas de Río Hondo, inaugurated in 2007, 
was rebuilt in 2012. It hosted the Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix in 
2014 (winners: MotoGP, Marc Márquez; Moto2, Esteve Rabat; Moto3, 
Romano Fenati) and 2015 (winners: MotoGP, Valentino Rossi; Moto2, 
Johann Zarco; Moto3, Danny Kent).
The Municipal Council of Las Termas has initiated on 10 September 2015 
the process of creation of a municipal flag. The initiative was pushed 
by Julio Máximo Gómez Machado, who convinced the Municipal Council of 
the need of a symbol representing all the inhabitants of the town.
Gómez Machado proposed a flag based on the provincial flag, charged in 
the middle with the town's emblem. To emphasize the significance of 
Francisco Solano* and of the river, waves were added at the bottom of 
the flag. The proposal has yet to be officially adopted by the 
Municipal Council.
At least one copy of the flag in the cloth was produced, made of the 
provincial flag with the waves at the bottom - but lacking the 
municipal coat of arms. I also miss the connection with Francisco 
Solano (aka Francis Solanus; 1549-1610, canonized on 27 December 1726 
by Pope Benedict XIII), a Franciscan monk who preached the Gospel for 
decades in the region.
Ivan Sache, 04 Oct 2015
![[Municipal flag]](../images/a/ar-g-vin.jpg) image located by 
Valentin Poposki, 5 September 2024
 image located by 
Valentin Poposki, 5 September 2024
The flag of the Municipal Commission of Vinara in Department of Rio Hondo is 
 divided per chevron inverted by a black fimbriation. Base field is red, inside 
 the chevron horizontally divided blue voer white, with a yellow half-sun 
 bearing an eight-pointed red star in the upper field and two hands in handshake 
 in the lower field.
Photo:
 
 https://www.facebook.com/536101707317626/photo
 
Valentin Poposki, 5 September 2024