- Geography and climate of the sub-Andean mountains
- Demography
- Fauna of the sub-Andean mountains
- Flora of the sub-Andean mountains
- References
The sub-Andean mountain ranges are formed by a mountainous system (cordones) in the north of Argentina, with 2,500 meters of height above sea level on average, and they go from the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán, on the border with Bolivia (north), to the valley of the river Salí (south).
It is an area that is part of the Central Andes in America and that communicates the Eastern Cordillera with the Chaco plain. Its highest point, the Crestón hill, reaches 3,370 meters above sea level.
Geography and climate of the sub-Andean mountains
It is a region with abundant rainfall (more than 1,500 millimeters), and a subtropical climate in several of its points (between 12 ° and 18 ° centigrade), such as: the valleys of Siancas, the San Francisco river and the Bermejo river, El Piedemonte eastern, the Umbral and the Chaco. While the valleys of Lerma and Jujuy have a rather temperate climate.
During the dry season it can reach 30 ° Celsius in the Rosario basin, while in a dry winter it can drop to -7 ° Celsius. There the soils are alluvial and are conducive to agriculture.
In these mountains you can enjoy landscapes as varied as the meadows of the pampas, canyons, indigenous peoples (omaguacas, coyas, ava guaraní, chané and tapiete, among others), alpine forests and the Chaco desert.
Within its limits are the Baritú, Calilegua and El Rey National Parks, which preserve the southern sector of the Mountain Forest that is also known by the name Yunga.
Some of the sub-Andean mountains are: Sierra de Metán, Sierra Colorada, Sierra de Lumbreras and Sierra de San Antonio.
The main cities found in this region are: San Miguel de Tucumán (the metropolis of the region), Salta and San Salvador de Jujuy, where a steel center and one of the most important cathedrals in the country is located.
Demography
The demography of these mountains has reflected a downward trend in recent years with a predominance of the male population and with almost half of them of productive age. Many of the inhabitants speak Quechua and Spanish.
It is a territory with numerous rivers (Bermejo, San Francisco and Pasaje o Juramento, among others), which have caused many of the particular formations that the mountains exhibit in their topography: sharp peaks in the mountains, gates, narrow and transversal valleys.
These valleys are today the location of hydroelectric plants and reservoirs that provide water for human consumption and for irrigation. This is the case of the Itiyuro, El Tunal, Los Sauces and Las Colas dikes.
In these mountain ranges, iron, oil and gas reservoirs have been discovered in some of the concave folds of their terrain (anticlines), as is the case of those found near Campo Durán and Madrejones, which has influenced the development of a mining economy that competes with the traditional rural farmer economy.
In fact, today it is one of the most important oil areas in Argentina.
However, it is a space that has grown around the sugar, tobacco and wood industries.
These mountains are also home to some Inca ruins in one of their national parks (Calilegua).
This variety is constituted in tourist attractions that move the economy while offering space for the practice of sports such as skiing, mountaineering, water skiing and rafting.
The sub-Andean mountain ranges are made up of mountain ranges called cords, among which are mentioned, from north to south:
- In the province of Salta: Cumbres de San Antonio, Tartagal, de los Cinco Picachos, de las Pavas, del Divisadero, among others.
- In the province of Jujuy: Calilegua, Zapla, Santa Bárbara, Cerro del Crestón and de la Ronda, etc.
- In the province of Tucumán: De Medina, del Nogalito and de las Botijas, among others.
Geologically speaking, the sub-Andean mountain ranges in the Tertiary orogeny comprise part of the Andean orogeny belt and are characterized by two levels of detachment: a lower one in Silurian shales and an upper one in the Devonian shales.
According to the most recent research, thrust movements occurred in the Cenozoic and its thermal history is preserved at that level.
Fauna of the sub-Andean mountains
Andean condor.
The characteristics of this region require that the animals that live there be robust, agile and can keep warm.
For this reason there are the following animals: porcupine, surucá, royal crow, chinchilla, llamas, alpacas, honey bears, corzuelas, tapirs, the Andean condor, the vicuña coati, wild cat, ferret and the red fox.
In these mountains you can find endangered animals such as jaguars, anteaters, frontinos bears, ocelots and the northern huemul.
Flora of the sub-Andean mountains
Since these mountain ranges function as natural barriers for the winds that come from the Atlantic Ocean, their eastern slope is rich in vegetation.
It houses about 30 thousand species of plants among which can be found: ceibos, carob trees, alders, lapachos, jacarandas (or tarcos), tipas, cebiles, molles, caspis squash, urundeles, guava etc.
There are also myrtles, ferns, laurels, mountain pines, imboes, palo blanco and palo amarillo trees.
In short, it is such a wide area and with such a different relief in its journey, which houses a diversity of landscapes with their associated climates, flora and fauna.
Despite being mostly rural, the oil industry and the creation of iron and steel and hydroelectric complexes has boosted the economy and generated urban centers.
In addition, it is an area that preserves many cultural elements that speak of a very old native history and its ties with the Inca culture.
References
- De Guardia, José (2016). Sub-Andean mountain ranges. Relief of the Province of Salta. Recovered from: portaldesalta.gov.ar.
- Echavarria, L. and others (s / f). Subandean thrust and fold belt of northwestern Argentina: Geometry and timing of the Andean evolution. Recovered from: colorado.edu.
- The Tribune (2012). The imposing geography of northern Argentina. Recovered from: eltribuno.info.
- Gutierrez, Natalia (2012). The Sub-Andean Sierras and the Eastern Cordillera. Recovered from: prezi.com.
- Pellini, Claudio (2014). Sub Andean Mountains Cordillera Oriental- La Puna Cuyanos environments. Recovered from: historiaybiografias.com.
- I travel to Salta (s / f). The Sub-Andean Sierras: Subtropical mountain climate. Recovered from: viajoasalta.com.
- Zimmermann, Kim Ann (2013). World's Longest Mountain Range. Recovered from: livescience.com.