It covers the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán,
Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza.
It occupies the high mountains and plateaus of the Argentine west reaching
4500 m (14764 feet) above sea level. The minimum height
varies between the 2000 m (6562 feet) to the south and the
3400 m (11154 feet) to the north. Its upper boundary is with
the High-Andean Province, whereas the lower one is variable, either with
the Yunga or the Woodland province.
Climate
Cold and dry, with almost exclusively summer rainfalls which decrease
in a north-south gradient up to some areas where it hardly ever rains.
Landscape
Mountains, plateaus and quebradas, with rocky
or arenous soils which are very poor in organic matter.
Vegetation
The characteristic vegetation is a shrubby steppe, though
there are also hebaceous formations and meadows. The height
of the prevailing plants varies from 20 (7.87 inches) and 100 cm (39 inches).
Communities
Several climax communities have been identified, the most outstanding
ones being the following:
Tolilla, chijua and añagua steppes:
The prevailing species are bushes (50 - 100 cm or 19.70-39 inches)
high, very much apart from each other. This is the most characteristic vegetation
of the province.
Chijua steppes:
Frequent in the dry puna. Apart from the chijua, cactuses
and gramineous plants can be frequently found.
Tramontane steppes, cola de león and lampaya:
Restricted to the Puna of La Rioja, between 3100 and 3700 m (10171 and 12139
feet) above sea level.
Other relevant communities are meadows or swamps, formed by
small plants which develop in water-saturated soils.
Fauna
This is one of the provinces better characterized from the point
of view of fauna, with several endemic species. The most outstanding fauna
species are the birds related to the large lagoons existing in the region.
It consists of both local and migratory species. The chief species are:
Mammals:
Vicuña, guanaco, llama, taruca, fox,
puma, gato del pajonal, skunk, red fox, numerous
rodents (chinchillas, chinchillones, cuises,
country mice, chinchilla rat, etc.), various types of bats,
Andean quirquincho, etc.
Birds:
Suri, perdiz, kew, agachonas, vizcacha¹s
burrow owl, macaes, gallaretas, Andean gull, cóndor,
stone woodpecker, humming birds, Andean matamico, three
species of flamingos, Puna chorlito, phalarope, chorlo
de vincha, tero serrano, Andean avoceta, Puna duck,
Puna crow, etc.
Reptiles:
Various types of lizards and few culebras.
Amphibians:
They are little diversified and are mainly from four genera (see Puna
amphibians in the glossary).
Fish:
These are not very remarkable, and are limited to some small species. Trout
has been introduced in some brooks.
Human Activities
Subsistence agriculture, and the raising of llamas,
sheep and donkeys, mining. |
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