It is one of Argentina´s most beautiful destinations. In fact, it implies an invitation for visitors to tour around its forests, fertil valleys and naked landscapes, and to mingle with its people in charming towns where ancestral traditions still survive.
Salta lies in Argentina´s northeastern corner and shares borders with six provinces and three countries. Actually, it borders with Jujuy and Bolivia in the northern area, with Paraguay, Formosa and Chaco in the East, with Santiago del Estero, Tucuman and Catamarca in the Southern area and with Chile in the West.
Its capital city is Salta, regarded as one of Argentina´s Northern region´s major cities hosting an airport in the nearby area.
Renowned by its colonial style architecture, the capital city of Salta province has become a major tourist attraction. It was founded on April 16, 1582 by the Spanish conqueror Hernando de Lerma to serve as a communication channel between Lima and Buenos Aires.
The Lerma Valley, where the city of Salta is situated, features a temperate type of climate where a large amount of rainfall is recorded between December and February.
Salta stretches along a territory depicting manifold types of landscape such as temperate valleys, rainforests and Andean deserts. Touristically speaking, all of these regions are endowed with some sort of attractions like lonely spots housing picturesque towns, wineries and rural farms, crafts, or colorful mountain range landscapes. As regards Salta´s heritage, the Spanish and native indian culture, which can be dated back to the Diaguita-Calchaquíes ancient tribes and the Incan culture, is deeply rooted among its kind inhabitants.That is why religious celebrations taking place in this province as well as those relying upon ancestral beliefs carry such a significant value. Furthermore, the musical culture appears to have become deeply ingrained in this province. Actually, folk groups such as Los Chalchaleros, Los Nocheros and the Dúo Salteño definitely excell.
Economy
The industrial crops grown in this region comprise tobacco, sugar cane, grapevines, citrics, beans, potatoes and cotton. Quinoa stands a good chance of becoming a promising crop.
Salta´s livestock industry entails cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, camelids, donkeys and mule breeding. As to goat breeding, such an activity is regarded as a cheese manufacturing-supplementary activity.
As regards camelid breeding, this activity allows securing fiber or wool for crafts and ecological clothing making.
As far as mining is concerned, Salta holds interesting prospects aiming at discovering metallifer and non-metallifer minerals and application rocks. Boron minerals and byproducts such as boric acid, anhydrous borax and borax penta stand out in production mines. Similarly, the productive activity involves perlitas, onyx marble and limestones manufacturing. Mining in Salta achieved a significant growth in the first part of 2005.
Salta is similarly endowed with a beekeeping potential due to the existence of a wide range of microclimates and ecosystems, an intense blooming phenomenon and the lack of pollutants. There is a Provincial Beekeeping Plan targeted at the proliferation of beehives, the development of a sanitary plan and the manufacturing of byproducts with identification of origin. Studies concerning stevia growing suitability in certain regions have been conducted. In fact, stevia stems from a bush used as a sweetener by indians for thousands of years.
As regards winemaking, the fine wines grapes manufacturing process accounts for 99%of Salta´s vineyards total area, therefore accounting for an unprecedented figure in Argentina. 1,200,000 premium wine bottles are currently exported to 30 countries all over the world. Even though Salta holds only 1% of national winemaking, Calchaquí Valley wine exports clearly stand out by accounting for 15% of the total volume of wine shipments abroad. There is an official attempt to have all the Salta wineries take part in all events where they can be exibited and heights wines niceties may be disseminated.
City of Salta
The capital city of Salta, which was founded in 1582, stands as the Argentine city having most properly preserved the colonial style, epitomized by old large houses, the Cabildo and churches such as the Cathedral, the San Francisco church, and San Bernardo convent.
Salta´s Cabildo is deemed to be its most ancient colonial building, and it is, in turn, the most properly kept, thus providing visitors with the most things to appreciate in Argentina.
The Museum of High Altitude of Archeology (MAAM) is regarded as an unmissable attraction for tourists, since items belonging to the Incan Culture Heights Sanctuary, including three mummified native indian children discovered in the Llullaillaco volcano, are currently on display. As a matter of fact, these three Incan children´s bodies have been amazingly preserved.
The city of Salta and the Lerma Valley may be appreciated as from the top of San Bernardo mountain. As to the surrounding areas, they are the perfect scenario to go on excursions, for instance to San Lorenzo summer villa or to the Cabra Corral Dam. Standing at 12 kilometres away from the city, the cowmen town hosts workshops of artists devoted to the manufacturing of leather, weaving and ceramic items.
Procesión del Milagro (Miracle Procession)
This procession traditionally held in homage to the city protectors, God and the Miracle Virgin takes place every September 15. It, in fact, symbolizes the end of the Fiesta del Milagro (Miracle´s Fiesta), which commemorates the aftermath of the earthquakes hitting this province on September 13,1692.
Such earthquakes hit the city and devastated Esteco´s thriving villa. As it was historically confirmed, the tremors did not actually come to an end until the sacred images were walked around the city under procession.
Cabra Corral Dam and Las Juntas Spot
Lying 68 kilometers southwards from Salta´s capital city, the Cabra Corral dam stands as one of the country´s major dam constructions. As to the surrounding landscape, it is bordered by mountains and is, actually, a suitable setting to take up water skiing and sailing.
With respect to the Guachipas district, it is located in the vicinity of this area. two-hour trip by car enables visitors to access the Painted Caves, which have been preserved in the town of Las Juntas where a Rupestrian paintings collection dating back to the 900-1470 DC period can be appreciated.
Calchaquíes Valleys. The wine culture and rural tourism
The grapevines crops began to be grown by the Jesuitas in Salta´s Calchaquíes Valleys region, lying at a 1,600 meter altitude in the XVIII century. The Torrontés white wine grapevines, characterized by its fruit-tasting flavor, are grown in Cafayate region.
Vineyards extend along the Departments of Cafayate, San Carlos, Angastaco and Molinos respectively. On the other hand, red grapevines account for 55% of the total grown area. Among these red grapevines, there are the Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tannat, Bonarda, Syrah, Barbera and Tempranillo varietals. In fact, 95 % of the grown area actually results in the manufacturing of fine wine grapes. The quality of the latter wines has definitely improved over the last years due to the introduction of new grapevines and renowned technology.
It is recommended that tourists visit the Calchaquíes Valleys and stay in their wineries so as to become familiar with wines culture such as that of Colomé, Etchart, San Pedro de Yocochuya, Viñas de Altura, Finca Las Nubes, Los Castillos or Vasija Secreta wines.Moreover, winetherapy is regarded as another activity, which has actually reached its acme, and offers visitors wine-based treatments conducted in spas.
The Calchaquíes Valleys´ wine culture blends with those activities focusing on ecotourism, adventure tourism, and on visits to ranches where typical food such as tamales, humitas, locro and empanadas(turnover pies) may be tasted.
Valleys Circuit
The Cafayate or the Conchas Quebrada standing amidst this circuit displays several natural formations such as the Garganta del Diablo´s canyon (the Devil´s Throat canyon). As to Cafayate, it is, no doubt, regarded as the Calchaquíes Valleys´ major town. Another center of attraction, lying in the proximity of this town, is the 350-year mill, which is currently up and working. Visitors may go on touring the districts of Animaná, San Carlos, Angastaco, Molinos, Seclantás, and Cachi by driving along Route 40. These are all picturesque towns endowed with colonial buildings, native indian ruins and textile crafts.
Cachi, which was founded in 1673, stands as one of the most visited destinations. It is surrounded by Nevado de Cachi mountain ranges, being therefore a permanently snow-capped summit. As to the neogothic style church, it is considered a national historical monument. Furthermore, there is another beautiful landscape to be looked at by driving around Route 33, which crosses the Cuesta del Obispo and the Quebrada del Escoipe, and it is regarded as a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.
Los Cardones National Park (Large Cactuses´ National Park)
Los Cardones National Park lies between Cachi and Escoipe, and hosts endangered species such as the taruca or the northern huemul (venison). It stands as a majestically natural beauty extending along a 65,000 hectare area, which is crammed with giant cactuses or simply cactuses, a vegetal species that is likely to grow until reaching a three-meter height. At the time the Incas were the land owners, roads forming part of the Northeastern Argentine socio-political control system were built by such precolumbian culture. Moreover, it hosts paleontological remains such as dinosaurs footprints.
La Puna Circuit
Visitors may access San Antonio de los Cobres district by driving along Route 51. This town is located at 3,755 meters above sea level, in a setting where crafts, and largely llama wool weavings may be bought.
San Antonio de los Cobres and Tolar Grande´s inhabitants still preserve native indian customs, which are respected in ceremonies and targeted at Pachamama (Mother Earth), or the misachicos, a set of small religious celebrations aiming at paying homage to a Saint, where Christianity and Paganism actually get blended.
There are other tourist attractions for visitors to enjoy such as La Poma, which due to its housing construction, is regarded as a strikingly beautiful town, and the Salinas Grandes, which is an enormously vast white area where ancient salt extracting techniques are still in place. On the way to San Antonio de los Cobres there lies the Santa Rosa de Tastil archeological field.
Tren de las Nubes
The famous Tren de las Nubes (Train of the Clouds) is expected to start running once again as from August 6. It departs from the lowest-lying point in the city of Salta, and from there it embarks on a climbing scale up until reaching the itinerary final spot known as La Polvorilla viaduct, the highest-standing setting all across this region, and lying at more than 4,000 meters above sea level. The inhabitants of these towns exhibit their crafts and clothing items at the manifold train stations. As to the train itinerary, it covers a 217 kilometer distance and it crosses 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 "rollers" and 2 zigzags. It is made up of a dining car, a bird´s eye car, folk shows, a doctor´s office, audio and video devices and bilingual guides.
South Circuit
The major cities lying in this region are namely Güemes, Metán and Rosario de la Frontera. Visitors may decide to go on ecotourism excursions to Las Lajitas, take up fishing journeys at El Tunal and Río del Valle areas and try agrotourism and health tourism activities. This region´s large ranches host horse rides and visits to farming production facilities.
Due to its biological diversity, El Rey National Park stands as another tourist attraction to visit. Heading southwards in Salta city, visitors can get to Rosario de la Frontera, whose thermal waters are regarded as some of the hottest at a worldwide level. The Termas Hotel offers an anti-stress treatment spa.
El Rey National Park
It can be reached on foot by walking along paths and visitors may also drive around roads in the park. The rainforest, hills and transparent water landscapes unfold before the eye of visitors, who may thus enjoy watching birds and other animals.
Andean Northern Area
This hills endowed arid region, where adobe houses towns may be seen, hosts the city of Iruya, which stands suspended from a ravine gully. Its precolumbian roots are ingrained in pagan-religious celebrations such as the patronal festivity held the first weekend of October in homage to Del Rosario Virgin. On this occasion, hundreds of local people sing and play native instruments such as quenas, cajas and sikus. In the meantime, there is a show where the "cachis", who are disguised with masks, dance. Their dance epitomizes the never-ending struggle between good and evil. Furthermore, there are other little mountainous towns known as Nazareno and Santa Victoria, respectively.
Northern Circuit
The train above goes through the Yungas Forest by touching on manifold districts such as as Pichanal, Embarcación, Tartagal, Aguaray, Salvador Mazza, Orán and Los Toldos.
The colonial ranches and districts known as Campo Santo, El Bordo and Cobos stand as major towns lying in the vicinity of this region. This region is deemed to be a tropical crop forest region inhabited by a native indian community.
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