It encompasses
the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán and Catamarca.
It spreads in the form of a north-south band on the eastern sides
of the Argentine north-eastern mountain ranges. It is bounded by the Chaco
Province in the east and by the Pre-Puna or Puna Provinces in the
west.
Climate
Warm and humid, with mainly summer
rainfalls which may reach 2500 mm (98.42 inches) per year
(as much as 3000 mm or 118.11 inches, in some regions). It may snow in winter.
Landscape
Mountains sides and piedmont undulating
plains; soils with three typical, predominantly acid horizons.
Vegetation
It generally looks like a dense jungle.
Communities
From the point of view of the flora,
the Yunga Province has been divided into three large districts:
Transition Jungle District:
It covers the piedmont undulating plains and low slopes, between 350 m (1148
feet) and 500 m (1640 feet). In the northern region the prevailing species
are palo blanco, palo amarillo, guayabí, red
cebil, horco-cebil, white tipa, quina, cedar,
urundel, pink lapacho, etc. Southwards on (Salta - Tucumán),
the prevailing species are white tipa, pacará or timbó
and red cebil.
The region has been deeply altered by human activities, and the crops have
almost completely replaced the jungle.
Mountain Jungle District:
It covers the slopes between the 500 m (1640 feet) and 1,200 m (3937 feet).
It is a region with a very dense shady and humid vegetation. In the upper
arborous stratum (over 30 m or 98 feet) there are laurel, horco
molle, various types of cedars, walnut tree, mato,
horco-mato, etc. The middle stratum (up to 20 m or 66 feet) includes
chalchal, palo luz, cochucho, oak and hackberry
tree. Moreover, there is a shrubby stratum, a herbaceous stratum, a
group of plants growing above ground and a great diversity of lianas
and epiphytes.
Several types of wood are logged in the region: cedar, oak and walnut tree,
among others, and in some others areas the pine crops are replacing the
jungle.
Mountain Forest District:
It encompasses the higher mountain sides, between 1000 and 2300 m (3280
and 7546 feet). There are three types of forests, including the cerro
pine, with an irregular distribution between 1100 and 1700 m (3609 and
5577 feet), the alder forest, between 1100 and 2400 m (3609 and 7874
feet) and the queñoa forest, between 1900 and 2300 m (6233
and 2300 feet), which can reach the 3000 m (9842 feet).
Fauna
The Yunga fauna shares some species
with the Chaco Province, which bounds it in the east and shows similarities
with the Paraná fauna, although more impoverished. The mammals, birds
and amphibians are specially remarkable whereas there are less fish and
reptiles.
Mammals:
Tapir, corzuela, taruca, ant bear, little
anteater, yaguareté, caí monkey, big
ferret, mayuato, coendou, tapití, red
squirrel, agutí, numerous types of bats, some armadillos,
certain marsupials, etc.
Birds:
Pava del monte, burgo, surucuá, pama eagle,
red head chululú, partridge-pigeon, pijuí,
big batará, various parrots, various toucans,
boyeros, woodpeckers, humming birds, etc.
Reptiles:
Culebras (small non-poisonous snakes) and lizards, even though
present in the region, are comparatively little numerous in relation to
the number found in the case of neiboring provinces.
Amphibians:
Some endemic species are among the most important ones, such as the three
Argentine species of marsupial frogs, the red belly toad and
the frogs with direct development.
Fish:
Various types of mojarras, virolo, eel catfish, madrecita,
tararira, vieja de agua, dientudo, big catfish,
limpiavidrios, yusca, etc.
Human Activities
Extensive livestock raising, wood
development, agriculture (sugar cane single crop farming in the
piedmont plains), horticulture. |
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