town and port, capital of Chubut provincia (province), southern Argentina. It lies along the Chubut River near the latter's mouth, about 5 miles (8 km) upriver from the Atlantic Ocean coast. It was founded in 1865 by Welsh settlers and named for Guillermo Rawson (1821–90), then Argentine minister of the interior. Although the port has declined in importance, there are small installations for fisheries. The town and nearby beaches draw large numbers of summer tourists. Pop. (2001) 22,493.