PAMPAS MOUNTAIN RANGES: CHARACTERISTICS, LOCATION, RELIEF - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Sierras Pampeanas correspond to one of the geographical regions in which the Argentine Republic is divided and is located in the center-west of the country. Given its geographical, landscape and socioeconomic characteristics, it is a space of high heritage value for the entire world.

The name this region receives is due to the fact that it is made up mainly of large mountain ranges typical of the center-west of the country, as well as plains and plateaus. In total, it has an area of ​​more than 300 thousand square kilometers.

The provinces through which the Pampas mountains cross are Córdoba, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca and Tucumán. The first settlers of these lands quickly perceived its qualities and fully dedicated themselves to obtaining the benefit of the resources offered by the place they chose to live.

It was not an easy task for the colonizers to conquer these lands dominated by the Argentine natives. There were continuous wars between both sides for the taking of the territories until little by little the Spanish settlements began to be established.

Some chose western Ambato and others preferred to settle in La Rioja or the Catamarca Valley, where they encountered less indigenous resistance.

General characteristics

The Sierras Pampeanas represent a natural region made up of large lands and peneplains. This region is known for its lands, in which the water currents come mainly from rivers. These are usually not very extensive and depend on the rainfall intensity in the region.

The highest point of the Sierras Pampeanas is Cerro General Belgrano, with 6250 meters above sea level, located in La Rioja. This hill is only part of the mountain ranges, which show steep slopes due to their western faces or slopes, unlike the eastern slopes, which are called skirts.

Besides the mountains, the most present figure are the valleys and plateaus. The largest are called ravines, and the smallest are called abras. The plains are located between the mountains: those in the lower parts are mudflats, and those in the highlands are pampas.

The first settlers of this region settled down and founded their towns near the rivers. Even in these times, farmers depend on irrigation systems and natural water currents.

This region is of great importance for archeology; In this, evidence of life dating from the Mesozoic period has been found.

Fauna and Flora

The fauna and vegetation of the Pampean mountain ranges are distributed depending on the types of climates and soils, and the rainfall regime within the region.

Foxes, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas are found in arid areas. Regarding the vegetation, the adaguas, the llareta grass and the tola predominate, although the plant growth is usually poor.

The most humid spaces are dominated by hares, llamas, wildcats and pumas. In these areas carob, tar, broom and chañar abound.

This rich fauna and flora makes the Pampas mountains have a high tourist potential, favored by the cities and towns that have been built in this region.

Location

The Sierra Pampeana limits to the north with the Argentine northwest and the Chaco plain. To the south, its limits are Patagonia and the Pampean Plain. Towards the west it is opposite Cuyo, in addition to being very close to the Chilean border.

The provinces that make up these mountains are Córdoba, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca and Tucumán. Within this region are important cities, such as San Luis.

Relief

The relief of this region is in some areas flat and in others it has slight undulations; that is to say, plains and mountains. The plains are called valleys, intermountain plains or pockets.

The Chilecito pocket in the province of La Rioja and those of Andalgalá and Fiambalá in Catamarca stand out.

The mountains or pampas are mountain ranges that are rounded in their upper part. Some pampas and plains present parts of the land covered by a white blanket of lime and magnesium sulfate, which constitutes the so-called salinas.

These formations are mainly found in the provinces of Catamarca and La Rioja, and some reach as far as Córdoba.

As far as hydrography is concerned, the northwest area is quite poor and with little rivers. However, in the province of Córdoba is where river activity is most important, because the region's rivers are used to generate electricity or irrigation tasks.

Depending on the topography of the area, various types of climate can be achieved, such as the temperate mountain range and its abundant rains in the San Luis and Córdoba mountains. On the contrary, there is aridity in the areas of pockets.

Economy

Thanks to its characteristics of climates and soils, it is a primarily agricultural and livestock territory; for this reason it is considered one of the most economically important regions in Argentina. The main economic sectors in this area are:

Agricultural sector

Agriculture and livestock are the economic activities par excellence of the Sierras Pampeanas. Grains and oilseeds such as corn, wheat, flax, barley, oats, rye, peanuts, soybeans and sunflowers are obtained from the plains. Potatoes, onion, millet, chili, tomato, melon and watermelon are also grown.

In the so-called oases - areas that have greater irrigation channels - vine, olive, vegetables and fruits are grown, mainly in La Rioja and Catamarca. The production of fruits in the region has allowed the establishment of industries and wineries to make sweets and preserves.

Due to the subdivision of the land and the scarcity of natural irrigation flows, farm families generally have low production and low income. This is why the oases are the ones that have the advantage in terms of the exploitation of the region's resources.

The cattle activity, with the bovine and ovine exploitation, is of great importance in the provinces of Córdoba, La Rioja and San Luis.

Mining sector

Mining in this region has been linked to environmental controversies since the late 20th century. This is mainly due to the diversion of fresh water to the mines, pollution and destruction of landscapes.

However, given the mining wealth of the Sierras Pampeanas, the exploitation of metals constitutes a highly valued source of income in San Luis, Catamarca and La Rioja. These metals are gold, silver, nickel, iron, tin, and copper.

There are also nonmetallic mineral deposits in Catamarca, Córdoba and San Luis, where feldspar, granite and marbles are extracted. Mining in this region is largely supported by foreign companies that are in charge of these items.

Industrial sector

Thanks to the diversity of products offered by this territory, the industrial activity is mainly food, tobacco, textile and wood. The textile industry is made up of companies producing cotton fabrics and yarns; many of these are usually exported to Brazil.

On the other hand, it is relevant to highlight the growth of items such as automotive and aeronautics, as well as the manufacture of machinery and chemical products, among others.

It was in the province of Córdoba where the first metallurgical industries began to be established from the 1950s. Since then they have developed in such a way that today they represent the most important industrial center in the Argentine territory.

In an artisanal way, a beekeeping industry has developed, but the products are only sent to the national market when they are generated in the oases. They also produce wines, various liqueurs and olive oils, as well as different types of typical food.

Salt, the most important product

In Argentina, the greatest production of salt comes from the industry in charge of the exploitation of the salinas. These are the largest spaces in the country for this production, occupying more than 8000 square kilometers. Of all the salt produced, only 8% goes to the domestic sector.

About half of the production goes to use in the chemical industry. The products obtained are chlorine, caustic soda and artificial sodium carbonate.

Approximately 25% of the salt is used by the food industry. The rest is distributed in water treatment, leather conservation, the paper, textile and plastic industries, among others.

Tourism sector

The province of Córdoba once again stands out within the Sierras Pampeanas and throughout Argentina, because it is the one that occupies the third place in terms of the number of hotel rooms, after the city of Buenos Aires.

The favorite places for tourists in the Sierras Pampeanas are the valleys of Pumillas and Carcaráu, in Córdoba and San Luis, respectively.

There are also places of interest in the province of La Rioja. The most famous are the protected areas of Talampaya and the Valley of the Moon in San Juan. In addition to the beauty of their landscapes, they are also sites of great archaeological and paleontological value.

Ecotourism

Among the main ecotourism options included in the Sierras Pampeanas, the Quebrada del Condorito National Park stands out in Córdoba, declared a protected area to conserve its biodiversity and the indigenous cultures of those lands.

Cerro Champaguí is another great attraction. This mountain is preferred by many tourists for hiking and admiring the Calamuchita and Traslasierra valleys.

In the province of San Luis, the Sierra de las Quijadas National Park is well differentiated from other landscapes in the region due to its particular characteristics. This has made its archaeological and paleontological sites attractive to tourists.

Other aspects of tourist interest are the offers of typical artisan products. Some of these are manual weavings made with vicuña wool, in addition to the preparation of foods and liquors typical of the region and crafts.

These products are usually highly valued by tourists; they also represent a good source of income for the families that make them.

References

1. Bloom, A., Malizia, D. and Strecker, M. (1990). Neotectonic activity in the northern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina. Recovered from: researchgate.net.
2. Martínez, M., Sánchez, M. and Spagnotto, S. (2013). Structural features in the Sierra Pampeana de Velasco and surroundings from gravimetric and magnetrometric fields. Journal of the Argentine Geological Association, 70 (2), 193-201. Recovered from scielo.org.ar.
3. Mogni, A. (1991). The saline bodies, a resource of arid zones. Befall, 177: 16-18. Recovered from produccion-animal.com.ar.
4. Nores, M. and Yzurieta, D. (1983) Speciation in the Sierras Pampeanas de Córdoba and San Luis (Argentina), with a description of seven new subspecies of birds. Hornero 012 (01extra): 088-102. Recovered from digital.bl.fcen.uba.ar.
5. Richardson, T.; Ridgway, K.;. (2013). Neogene and Quaternary tectonics of the Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina: Active intraplate deformation inboard of flat-slab subduction. Tectonics, (32): 780–796. Recovered from: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com.