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Los Cardones National Park is located in the
central western part of the Salta Province, between the designated
Calchaquíes Valleys, occupying a surface of more than
130,000 acres. The terrain consists of the typical sierras and dry
gorges between 2700 and 5000 m (8856 and 16,400 ft) above sea
level, where bushes and "cardones" or thistles (Trichocereus
pasacana) make up the abundant vegetation that grows there.
The "cardón" or thistle, column-like cactus
plant that exists in areas 3400 m (11,152 ft) in altitude, is the
symbolic species of this National Park. Another notable type of
vegetation among this landscape is the "churqui", member
of the leguminous tree family that displays its little forests
within this park.
The altitude gradient of this region makes for a largely
diverse environment that allows an appreciable variety of animals
to exist in such a desert-like area. There have been more than 100
species of birds detected, a few that deserve recognition are the
inambu serrano, quiula puneña, and the aguilucho puneño (eaglet
of the puna region), among others. These birds are typical of
Argentina. Other kinds of animals include the vicuña and the
northern guemul, whose populations have declined dangerously in
Argentina.
There are three kinds of environment: the sierran, marked by the mountains and isolated
hills; the piedmont
and lowlands, with slightly inclined surfaces, preserved by the
activity from the streams and with surfaces exposed to erosion and
contribution from fluvial sediment. And lastly, that of the basin or
quarry, which corresponds to the low areas where
there is continuous contribution of fine material transported by
water.
The sierras are distinguished by their variety of colors, from
reds to diverse shades of green and black, and can be seen in the
eastern foothills of the Cerro Tin-Tin. On this particular hill are also
widespread deposits of lime that contain countless well-preserved
fossil remains that belong to gastropods, seaweed, fish, and
dinosaurs.
The greater part of this area has a climate distinctly arid:
dry and warm with average temperatures of 11ºC (52ºF) in the
winter (with lows slightly below 0ºC or 32ºF) and 18ºC
(64ºF) in the summer (with highs of around 30ºC or 86ºF).
Precipitation is scarce, averaging no more than 200 mm (7.8 in)
yearly, and this only during the summer time (November to March)
when more than 90% of the year's precipitation falls. Of course,
it doesn't rain the same amount in all the areas nor the same
every year. An exceptional case is the snow that sometimes falls
in the lower areas (8856 ft above sea level), where the annual
temperature varies between 48º and 50ºF.
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Location
When to go
Year-round
How to get there
Los Cardones National Park is found to the southwest of the city of Salta,
Provincial Route #33 cuts across the area towards Cachi.
There are regular flights from Buenos Aires to Salta. There
are also several bus companies that travel in that
direction.
Activities
Observing flora and fauna
Services
None within the
area
Surroundings
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Valle Encantado, Piedra del Molino, Escolpe Gorge, Cuesta
del Obispo.
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