Chubut (Spanish: Provincia del Chubut, IPA: [tʃuˈβut]; Welsh: Talaith Chubut Welsh pronunciation: [taˈlaɪθ ˈχɨbɨt]) is a province in southern Argentina, situated between the 42nd parallel south (the border with Río Negro Province), the 46th parallel south (bordering Santa Cruz Province), the Andes range to the west (bordering Chile), and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

The province's name derives from the Tehuelche word chupat, meaning "transparent", their description of the Chubut River.

Before the Spaniards arrived in the Americas, nomadic indigenous Tehuelche people had inhabited the Patagonia region for thousands of years.

Chile renounced its claim in order to prevent Argentina from entering into the War of the Pacific, in which it was already fighting against Peru and Bolivia.

As part of the Conquista del Desierto (Conquest of the Desert), Argentina organized the National Territory of Chubut in 1884, after the last indigenous cacique, Inacayal, surrendered to government forces.

[7] This sector's contribution (mostly centered around Comodoro Rivadavia) helped give Chubut the nation's fourth-highest per capita output in 2011, US$25,250.

[citation needed] Petroleum refining is the main economic activity of the province; it generates 13% of Argentine oil production (mostly off-shore).

Sheep ranching, though less than half as productive in the 21st century compared to as recently as 1990, remains important at the local level.

[10] The Andes are not that high in Chubut, with most peaks averaging around 1,500 and 2,000 metres (4,900 and 6,600 ft), which becomes smaller in altitude in the southern parts.

[10] The highest peak is Cerro Dos Picos, located east of Lago Cholila with a height of 2,515 metres (8,251 ft).

[10] The Andes in this province are of tertiary origin and are separated by wide, deep transverse valleys that are oriented in an east–west direction.

[10][11] In the Andean region, the climate is cold for its latitude owing to the higher elevations there and the influence of winds from the Pacific Ocean.

[10][11] The central parts of the province have an arid climate with hot, sunny summers but cold winters and only average 200 mm (7.9 in) of precipitation a year.

[11][12] Because there is little land masses in the Southern hemisphere, most of the cold fronts, which usually move in a west to east direction are moderated as they pass over the Pacific Ocean.

[11] Similar to the rest of Patagonia the climate is characterized by strong winds throughout the year, which also leads to higher evapotranspiration, another factor in the province being mostly dry.

[11] Because the Andes block most of the moisture from the Pacific Ocean from coming in, causing it to release most of the precipitation on its western slopes, most of the province is dry, averaging less than 200 mm (7.9 in) a year.

[13] Further south, on the sparsely populated beaches of the Golfo San Jorge, is the only place in the world where the peculiar, flightless Chubut steamer duck can be observed.

In the Andean region, the Los Alerces National Park, impressive lakes and hikes near Esquel are also visited every year by many tourists.

The Ruta Nacional 25 crosses Chubut from East to West, connecting Trelew and Esquel, but half of it has not yet been paved.

Regular long-distance buses run several times a day to Buenos Aires, and to many locations in the Santa Cruz Province.

The Trelew airport (IATA REL) serves regular flights to/from Buenos Aires and El Calafate.

The province is divided into 15 departments (Spanish: departamentos), listed below with their Number (on map), area and populations at the Censuses of November 2000 and October 2010: Chubut is covered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Comodoro Rivadavia.

The university, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, is based in Comodoro Rivadavia with campuses at Esquel, Trelew and Puerto Madryn, as well as in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.