Introduction
The flag of Mendoza, a province in western Argentina, is a distinctive tricolor banner featuring three equal vertical stripes. The design prominently displays the colors sky blue, white, and wine red from hoist to fly. At the center of the white stripe rests the province's official coat of arms, which is a key identifying element of the flag.
The flag's layout is simple yet symbolic, with the central placement of the coat of arms drawing immediate attention. The use of vertical stripes is a less common arrangement in Argentine provincial flags, making Mendoza's flag visually distinct. The combination of celestial blue and white directly references the national colors of Argentina, while the unique burgundy red stripe represents a defining local characteristic.
Meaning & Symbolism
The colors of the flag carry deep symbolic weight. The sky blue and white stripes explicitly connect Mendoza to the Argentine nation and its struggle for independence. The central wine red stripe is the flag's most distinctive feature, symbolizing the blood of the General San Martín's Army and, more broadly, the province's world-renowned wine production industry, which is central to its economy and identity.
The coat of arms at the center encapsulates the province's geography and values. It features the Andes mountains, representing the western border, and a Phrygian cap on a spear, a classic symbol of liberty. The arms also include a laurel wreath and a sun, common Argentine national symbols representing victory and the May Revolution, respectively.
History of the Mendoza Flag
The flag was officially adopted by provincial law on October 21, 1992. Its creation was the result of a public contest initiated by the provincial government, seeking a design that would uniquely represent Mendoza's identity. The winning design was submitted by a local resident named Mario E. Carmona, whose proposal was selected from numerous entries.
The adoption in 1992 was part of a broader movement among Argentine provinces to establish their own official symbols following the return to democracy. The flag's design successfully integrated national symbolism with distinctive provincial elements, particularly the wine red color, ensuring its immediate recognition and acceptance.
Curiosities
- The wine red color is so specific to Mendoza that it is often informally called 'Mendoza Red' in vexillological and design contexts.
- It was one of the last Argentine provinces to officially adopt a flag, doing so over a century after the national flag was created.
- The flag's proportions and the specific shade of red are legally defined in the provincial law that adopted it, ensuring consistency in its reproduction.
Download Flag
Download the flag of Mendoza in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.
Construction Sheet
The flag follows a standard 2:3 proportion (width to length). The field is divided into three equal vertical stripes. The central white stripe is exactly one-third of the flag's width. The coat of arms is centered on the white stripe and its height is officially specified to be two-thirds the height of the white stripe, ensuring proper scale and visibility.
Flags Similar to Mendoza Flag
Argentina
vertical triband with sun · sky blue/white/sky blue
Nicaragua
central coat of arms on triband · blue/white/blue
El Salvador
central coat of arms on triband
Uruguay
white and blue stripes with sun
Common Misidentifications
At a distance or when folded, the central red stripe can be missed, leading to confusion with the national flag of Argentina.