Esquel, Argentina

Esquel is a town in the northwest of Chubut Province in Argentine Patagonia. It is located in Futaleufú Department, of which it is the government seat. Esquel is the home station for “La Trochita,” a historic narrow gauge railway known in English as “The Old Patagonian Express.” Esquel is also known for its ski area, “La Hoya,” and as a gateway city to Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO protected reserve featuring some of the oldest trees in South America. The name Esquel derives from one of two Tehuelche words: one meaning "marsh" and the other meaning "land of burrs", which refers to the many thorny plants including the pimpinella, and the other meaning herbaceous plants whose fruits, when ripe, turn into prickly burrs that stick to the animals' skins and wool or people's clothes as a way of propagation. According to the late Elvey MacDonald, Esquel was named Tre'r Ysgall (Town of thistles) by the original Welsh settlers. As the Spanish-speaking population of the area increased, they found it difficult pronouncing the word Ysgall, and, over time, Ysgall evolved to Esquel.