The provincial subdivision has a population of about 29,000 inhabitants in an area of 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi), and its capital city is Ramallo, which is around 250 km (160 mi) from Buenos Aires.
Ramallo massacre
On September 17, 1999, provincial police opened fire on a getaway car from a bank robbery, and two of the hostages in the car were killed. There are several theories to explain the police action, ranging from incompetence to a scandal involving former president Carlos Menem and the suspicious death of his son.[citation needed]
