SAN NICOLS DE LOS ARROYOS

city and port, northern Buenos Aires provincia, Argentina, on the western bank of the Paran River. It was founded in 1748 as San Nicols de Bari y de los Arroyos by Don Rafael Aguiar and was declared a city in 1819. The Pact of San Nicols (May 1852), signed there by delegates from the United Provinces of the Ro de la Plata, called for a constitutional congress to be held in Santa Fe and named General Justo Jos de Urquiza provisional director of the Argentine Confederation. San Nicols de los Arroyos is accessible to oceangoing vessels by way of the Paran River. The city's economy is based on its river trade in grains, iron ore and coal, and manufactured goods. The city's blast furnace produces steel for Argentina's domestic market, and a large thermoelectric station provides power to the city of Buenos Aires and Santa Fe province. Pop. (1980) 98,495.