San Julián is a small town in the province of Santa Cruz of some 9,600 inhabitants located in a mining area (Cerro Vanguardia). There is also sheep breeding and a modest tourism activity based on the nearby animal reserves and also a small fishing industry; it is located on the Highway Nº 3 which links all the main patagonian towns. The closest commercial airport is in Río Gallegos, some 350 km away.