NEOTROPICAL
REGION: PATAGONIAN-ANDEAN DOMAIN
Argentine Area
Map
of the High-Andean Province. 50 k document.
Biogeography Provinces in Argentina.
57 k document.
It
encompasses the high mountains of the Argentine west, from Jujuy
to Tierra del Fuego.
The upper limit is the end of the continuous vegetation, whereas the lower
limit varies from a maximum of 4400 m (14436 feet) above
sea level in the north of the country, up to 500 m (1640 feet)
above sea level in Tierra del Fuego.
Climate
Typical
of high mountain, cold and dry, with snowfalls or hails
in any season.
Landscape
Typical
of mountain summits, with rocky soils, rocky or sandy and
loose. Very poor in organic matter, except in the peat bogs, which serve
as water reservoirs.
Vegetation
The characteristic
vegetation is a steppe of gramineous plants and plants forming plates
and cushions.
Communities
Three districts
have been identified, each one with several climax communities.
Quichua district:
From Jujuy to La Rioja, between 4300 and 5600 m (14108
and 18373 feet) above sea level. The prevailing vegetation is the steppes
of iro, vizcachera, bitter coirón, cuerno de cabra,
etc.
Cuyo High-Andean
District:
From San Juan to the north of Neuquén, among the 2200 m (7218
feet) and 4500 m (14764 feet) above sea level. The
prevailing vegetation is the gramineous steppes and steppes of low-lying
bushes not exceeding the 50 cm (19.70 inches).
Southern High-Andean
District:
From the center of Neuquén up to Tierra del Fuego, between the 500
m (1640 feet) and 2000 m (6562 feet) above sea level.
The prevailing vegetation are gramineous steppes of various species,
and in some Regions there are communities of low-lying bushes.
Fauna
Very similar
to that of the Puna province, which surrounds it almost completely, though remarkably
more impoverished. There are various endemic species such as lizards
and aquatic frogs.
Human Activities
Practically
non-existent. There may be transhumant pasturing and some mining.
Flora
and Fauna
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