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# Neuquén Province (Argentina)

## Provincia del Neuquén

Last modified: 2026-04-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: neuquén | provincia del neuquén | error | volcano | lanin | pehuen | araucaria araucana | tree: monkey puzzle | star: 8 points (red) | stars: 17 | stars: arc | star: 5 points (golden) | mástice (mario aldo) |
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image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2000

- Description of the flag

- Flag law
- Dark blue version
- Ornato (ornament) version

- Incorrect versions of the flag

- Incorrect version with the provincial coat of arms
- Incorrect version at the official website

- Provincial coat of arms

See also:

- Subdivisions of Neuquén Province
- Argentina
- Argentine subdivisions (Clickable map)

Other sites:

- Province of Neuquén Government Official website
  reported by Francisco Gregoric, 6 Mar 2008

## Description of the flag

The flag of Neuquen has three equal vertical stripes blue, white, blue. In the center, a badge made from elements of the provincial coat of arms. The same person (Mario Aldo Mástice) designed both the flag and the coat of arms. The badge in the center of the flag consists of a blue disc charged with the volcano Lanín and superimping the volcano, a pehuen (monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana) in front of it. Around the disc, laurel branches joined at the bottom by a poincieta, or federal star (estrella federal), a local flower.
Gustavo Tracchia, 23 February 2000

The 16 yellow stars around the central symbol stand for the 16 departments (subdivisions) of the Province. On indoors ceremonial flags the stars are sometimes golden.
Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

### Flag law

On October 31, 1989 the flag of Neuquén was adopted by Law No. 1817. The text of the law is the following (first in Spanish, then translated to English):

LEY 1817
LA LEGISLATURA DE LA PROVINCIA DEL NEUQUEN SANCIONA CON FUERZA DE LEY:
Artículo 1º Créase la Bandera de la Provincia del Neuquén, que será de color blanco y azul celeste, en tres bandas verticales; la central, blanca -y que reitera en su centro los atributos más significativos del Escudo provincial, de acuerdo al diseño proclamado ganador en el concurso realizado- y las bandas laterales azul celeste.
Artículo 2º Autorízase al Poder Ejecutivo a reglamentar esta Ley y a ordenar la confección artística del símbolo y la reproducción de dos mil (2.000) ejemplares para su distribución.
Artículo 3º El primer ejemplar que se confeccione de la Bandera aprobada, quedará en custodia de la Honorable Legislatura Provincial.
Artículo 4º Comuníquese al Poder Ejecutivo.
DADA en la Sala de Sesiones de la Honorable Legislatura Provincial del Neuquén, a los treinta y un días de octubre de mil novecientos ochenta y nueve.- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - Fdo.) José Lucas Echegaray -presidente- Susana Vázquez -prosecretaria legislativa a/c. Secretaría- H. Legislatura del Neuquén. Ley editada en la Dirección de Diario de Sesiones de la Honorable Legislatura Provincial del Neuquén.

English translation:

LAW No. 1817
THE LEGISLATURE OF THE PROVINCE OF NEUQUEN DECREES WITH POWER OF LAW:
Article No.1. The Flag of the Province of Neuquén will be created. It will be white and sky blue colors in three vertical stripes. The central stripe is white -and reproducing at the center the more significant attributes of the provincial Coat of arms, following the design proclaimed as winner in the contest performed. The lateral stripes are of sky blue.
Article No.2. The Executive Power is authorized to regulate this Law and to order the artistic manufacture of the symbol and the reproduction of two thousand (2,000) flags for its distribution.
Article No.3. The first made sample of the approved flag will be kept in custody of the Honorable Provincial Legislature
Article No.4. Executive Power to be notified.
GIVEN in the Hall of Sessions of the Honorable Provincial Legislature, at thirty one days of October, nineteen eigthy nine.- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - Signed by.) José Lucas Echegaray -president- Susana Vázquez -legislative prosecretary a/c. Secretary- H. Legislature of Neuquén. Law edited in the Direction of the Diary of Sessions of the Honorable Provincial Legislature of Neuquén.

Law translated by Francisco Gregoric and Gus Tracchia, 5 March 2008.

### Dark blue version

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2000

The color of the provincial flag is just defined as "sky blue" by law. The usual color used is the same one than the color of the national flag. However, flags of Neuquén with a darker shade of blue appear sometimes.
Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

### Ornato (ornament) version

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2000

Ornato flag is a flag for decorative purposes.
Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2000

The Bandera de ornato (ornament flag) is defined in Argentina as a flag usually used for ornamentation of schools during patriotic celebrations and commemorations. It is usually hung in balconies as a patriotic decoration, but rarely seen in a flagstaff.
In the case of the Argentine national flag, a plain triband without sun is used as ornament flag. In the case of the provincial flag of Neuquén a plain vertical triband is used as ornato flag. These ornato flags can never be raised over the normal national or provincial flags.
Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

#### (dark blue version)

image by Jaume Ollé, 31 August 2000

As the normal provincial flag, the Bandera de ornato also appears sometimes in a darker shade of blue.
Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

Other sites:

- Information about the provincial symbols at the Neuquén Government official website
- PDF file of the flag law text at the Neuquén Legislature official website (it can also be seen a photocopy of the law in TIF format
- Flag and Coat of Arms of the Province of Neuquén at the website www.visitingargentina.com
- The flag of the Province of Neuquén at the website www.elchenque.com.ar
- Photo of Argentine flags with a flag of Neuquén at the provincial government official website.
- Photo of a light blue variant of the provincial flag at the Flags Square in Neuquén City at the website of www.welcomeargentina.com
- Photo of a dark blue variant of the provincial flag at the Flags Square in Neuquén City at the website of www.interpatagonia.com
reported by Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008
- Jaume Ollé’s page about Neuquén flags
  reported by Jaume Ollé

Other sources:

- [pzz02] Alberto Rubén Perazzo (2002): Nuestras Banderas - Vexilología Argentina (second edition)

## Incorrect versions of the flag

### Incorrect version with the provincial coat of arms

image by Pascal Gross, 09 December 1998

This image is not correct. The Neuquen’s flag is certainly blue - white - blue vertical, but the central emblem is not the arms of the province, depicted in this image, but a stylized version in green and gold, including 16 golden stars in semi-circle. Also proportions should be c. 4:5 instead of the used 2:3.
Mario Fabretto and Jaume Ollé, 10 Dec 1998

### Incorrect version at the official website

image by António Martins, 13 December 2001

At the official website there is a flash presentation including the flag.
Dov Gutterman, 13 December 2001

The image at the provincial website, coming from the province government, should be best, though it is not. Neither technically, but is also shows design differences comparing with Jaume’s image above — the width of the blue stripes, it’s shade respective to the national flag and to the sky on the emblem, and design details of the emblem itself. Official websites presenting incorrect versions of their symbols is hardely seldom, but noteworthy even so.
António Martins, 14 December 2001

#### Incorrect version at the official website detail

image by António Martins, 13 December 2001

## Provincial coat of arms

image by Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

The provincial coat of arms of Neuquén was adopted by Law No.16 on September 10, 1958. It was designed by Mario Aldo Mástice, the same designer of the provincial flag.
According to Mr. Mástice explanation, its shape is the feeling of the century, the advacement and exceeding.
The laurels and the sun that are part of the national coat of arms, stand for glory and freedom inheritatad from the ancestors. The sky blue and white colors are testimony of being Argentine.
The Lanín Volcano and the Pehuén Tree are indigenous symbols of the Province of Neuquén.
The hands are an offer thanking the gifts of nature.
The 16 stars stand for the 16 departments (subdivisions of the province).
Between the hands a mountain river appears. It is similar to the Limay and Neuquén rivers of the province (the latter one gave its name to the whole province).
Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008

Other sites:

- Information about the provincial symbols at the Neuquén Government official website
- Flag and Coat of Arms of the Province of Neuquén at the website www.visitingargentina.com
- Province of Neuquén Coat of Arms at the website www.elchenque.com.ar
  reported by Francisco Gregoric, 6 March 2008