Salta is a province located in the north of the Republic of Argentina. It borders with Jujuy, Bolivia and Paraguay, forming a triple border. In this article, we are going to talk about its history and touristic attractions.
History
The history of this northern province dates back to the 15th century. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the population that inhabitated the territory was diverse and they all shared the Cacán language. After settling down, the Spanish decided to establish a city. Hernando de Lerma, under the orders of viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, founded the first village in the province in 1582 called San Felipe de Lerma del Valle de Salta, which later turned into Salta.
Tourism
In the province, there is a wide variety of activities you can do: excursions, tours, must-sees, theme routes, museums, natural reserves, and national parks. Among so many posibilities, we are going to recommend some activities and destinations that are essential.
- City of Salta: it keeps colonial buildings such as the Cabildo and Catedral Basílica. In Panteón de las Glorias del Norte, the rests of the General Martín de Güemes are kept.
- Train to the clouds: it combines land and railway routes in the Puna salteña. The tour starts in the City of Salta, then continues to de las Cuevas mountain passes and arrives at San Antonio de los Cobres. In total, the route is 2,6 miles above sea level.
- Wine route: It allows you to enjoy from a rather unknown or not highly spread part of the province. The vineyards reach more than 33 square miles among several counties. It is an optimal area for farming and production, mainly for the Torrontés.
- Puna: It is an enigmatic and unique destination. There, you can find salt flats, volcanoes, steppes, blue lakes, and a limpid sky that will make your jaw drop.
Fauna, flora and climate
Its flora consists of low shrubs, creeping plants, thorny plants with small leaves or leafless plants. These plants can adapt to drought, such as tola, jarilla, cardones and añagua, among others. The cardones stand out among the rest because its trunk can store water and be up to two meters heigth.
Its wildlife is limited due to environmental conditions. Some species that stand out are llamas, vicunas, guanacos and the almost extinct condors. In some areas, you can find rodents such the chozchorito, cuis enano and chinchilla.
Its climate is steady throughout the year, and thus, you can visit Salta at any season of the year without any concerns. Temperatures fluctuate a lot, reaching nearly 32° F at night during the summer, and under 32° F during the winter.
It is a destination with plenty of history and peculiarities, which makes it perfect for those who wish to be close to such arid climate and deserts as well as its attractive fauna and flora. It is a destination you can choose at any time time of the year without major problems, which is certainly an advantage if you do not enjoy planning your vacation beforehand.
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