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Argentina National Parks
Quebrada Del Condorito National Park
Province of Córdoba
This national park is on the rolling top of Pampa de Achala in the Sierras
Grandes in Córdoba province. Its 37,000 ha are the nucleus of a
protected area of some 150,000 ha, the rest corresponding to a provincial
park created to protect the headwaters of streams and rivers feeding the
various dams in the vicinity. It was created in 1996.
ITS NATURAL ASPECTS
Though difficult to place in the accepted biomes of Argentina, it is included
in the hill chaco district in spite of its similarity to andean uplands.
The dominant vegetation is rolling upland grasslands with occasional patches
of Polylepis woods.
One of the special aspects is the number of endemisms - exclusive species
and subspecies - examples of which are two batracians, a green lizard
and a striped snake and a race of the "red" fox, all of which are restricted
to Achala. There are also several birds recognised as distinct forms.
The feature which gives its name to the park is the canyon from the rims
of which one can observe, at eye level and below, the great andean condors.
Though typical of the Andes proper, this apparently isolated eastern population
is holding its own after years of persecution by cattle ranchers.
CULTURAL ASPECTS
Pampa de Achala was occupied in prehistoric times by groups of hunter-gatherers.
Their cultural achievements are seen expressed in the artefacts and rock
paintings left by them in the rock shelters they once occupied. Arrowheads
and morters in the bed-rock are common and seem to indicate that the area
was a hunting-ground, associated with an abundance of guanacos and their
young in due season. At the time of the europeans' arrival it was frequented
by Comechingones who undoubtedly used the area as a refuge against the
abuses by the Spaniards. At the end of the XIXth century waves of colonisers
arrived, after the construction of the first chapel by Franciscan friars.
Estancias were established at that time. At present the europeans display
cultural mores which differentiate them enough to merit a name: Achalenses
or "del alto". These small landowners live off the produce of the land
in family groups. Their homes are built of local materials, somewhat dispersed
in the area. Theirs is an isolation from the market economy and modern
technical advances. Their handicrafts are an important part of the auto-economy,
with pottery, primitive weaving and practical leatherwork. Theirs is a
social structure within their own strict sense of values and beliefs.
How to get there
The area is reached along route 14 known as the "altas cumbres road" between
Villa Carlos Paz and Mina Clavero. The entrance is about half way along
this route, just at the end of the climb from the east.
OF INTEREST TO THE VISITOR
Because of its recent creation there are but incipient facilities for
the visitor. A trail leads to the north rim overlook and there are others
less well defined. A visitor centre is projected for the not-too-distant
future. Information is to be obtained from the information service of
National Parks at Santa Fé 690 (Buenos Aires) or by 'phone: 4311-0303
Quijadas Mountain Range
A few 122 km. away from SAN LUIS City, advancing along the beautiful
147 Route, you come to meet with a sign indicating Hualtarán.
Just in front, there opens the road that leads to the QUIJADAS MOUNTAIN
RANGE, a 120 million years old stone formation. It was given this name
because of the great amount of Pterosaurs jawbones found in its geological
formation.
As from a geographical point of view it, the magnificence of its physical
space, very specially blended with the red ground, commands the view.
Archeological recoveries, indicated next to the road, lead to the heart
of the mountain range.
Ahead, you will find, half buried by time, some of the old aboriginal
ovens discovered by archeologists. Further on, the space is opened to
the visitors‚ curiosity. There, according to biologist Silvia Alabama´s
summaries, Pterosaurs fossil remains were found. These animals spread
all over the five continents in the Jurassic Period, when acquired their
best flying performance.
Walking along each one of those places where archeologists made their
research constitutes a real attraction for tourism. This is blended
with the view of the crag baptized "GIANT TURTLE" and others you can
name with your own imagination.
The reddish landscape is full of rocks, cliffs, eroded pillars, cornices
and terraces, reminder of our geological past. It also counts with healing
power water flows, fossil remains and a complex fauna and flora world
that will lead you to the heart of the mountain range.
Once there, at the same time you reach the top, you find a huge wall
made of red stone in the back and the impressive Potrero de la Agüada
in front, the infinity of which surpasses by far the meaning of said
word. The total surrounding view will remind you of the Grand Canyons
of the Colorado River, here at this province of San Luis.
Talampaya National Park
Province of La Rioja In mid-west La Rioja province, covering an area
of 215,000 ha, this park contains an interesting sample of the Monte
biome and harbours wonderful scenery and cultural resources .
A provincial park was created here in 1975 to protect the paleontological
and archaeological remains there present.
Given the importance of these resources and the potential for visitation
it was thought convenient to promote it to the status of national
park; in 1997 it was included in the system of the National Parks
Administration. In 2000 UNESCO declared it and neighbouring Ischigualasto
in San Juan province a World Heritage Site.
NATURAL ASPECTS
Talampaya is in the low sierras of western La Rioja and contains important
geological formations such as the canyon with vertical red sandstone
walls some 150m high, formed by the Talampaya river. There are also
areas virtually devoid of vegetation where these "huayquerias" as
they are called, support nothing but sparse and small fleshy-leaved
plants. The whims of erosive forces have sculpted strange formations
in the sandstone such as in the locality called "Ciudad Perdida".
The dominant vegetation is thin, scrubby bush; a species somewhat
like broom, virtually leafless and with green stems for photosynthesis,
creosote bushes with their resinous, shiny foliage; brea, a green-barked
small tree which flowers abundantly in spring, a brilliant yellow
spectacle, and a "chilca" endemic to the provinces of La Rioja, San
Juan and San Luis, found growing on the slopes. Cactuses also abound
in the area, such as "puquis" and candelabra species. In the temporary
water-courses grow pockets of woods with majestic specimens of Prosopis,
and some Lithraea molleoides, the molle de beber.
Grey foxes, the black-legged seriema and the patagonian mockingbird
are seen at the entrance point. The high walls of the canyon are the
perching place for several raptors such as the andean condor, the
black-chested buzzard-eagle and the peregrine falcon, and the habitat
for the mountain viscacha.
Amongst the vertebrates one must mention species endemic to Argentina
such as the sandy gallito, the white throated cacholote and the creamy-breasted
canastero, the fairy armadillo of underground habits, all typical
of the Monte, itself an endemic biome. There are also endemic plants.
Talampaya and Ischigualasto are both known for their abundant fossil
beds, this being the place where the whole Triassic record is to be
found, just as dinosaurs appeared.
One of the important finds was Lagosuchus talampayensis, 250 million
years old. from the beginning of that period, one of the very first
of the dinosaurs. Another important find is the remains of early turtles
such as Paloecheris talampayensis, from 210 million years ago.
CULTURAL ASPECTS
There is an important archaeological record in Talampaya with evidence
dating its occupation between the years 120 and 1180 AD where the
caves and shelters were habitations, burial sites and storage deposits.
In open sites on the rocks and cliffs, a great number of figures and
zoomorph engravings as well as various geometrical motifs are found.
They express a union between nature and culture and are one of the
most relevant rock art sites in the country.
Visitors can wonder at these remains at two sites: the Puerta de Talampaya
at the entrance to the canyon, and Los Pizarrones (the blackboards)
further up the canyon.
HOW TO GET THERE
Route 26 joins the localities of Villa Union and Baldecitos, this
last on the border with San Juan province, and traverses the park.
A 14 km entrance road leads to the visitor reception area for information
and orientation.
OF INTEREST TO THE VISITOR
Because of its recent creation this park has but limited facilities.
At the jumping-off point where information is to be had there is a
bar and bathrooms. It is from here that tours start up the canyon
to see the sights and sites. At the end of the tour one reaches the
narrow upper end of the canyon, the Cajones. Some 60 km away from
this area is the Ciudad Perdida where the strange erosive features
lend magic to the imposing landscape. For this tour one must obtain
permission from the ranger.
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www.presidencia.gov.ar
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.bcra.gov.ar
www.bibnal.edu.ar
www.literatura.org
www.mrecic.gov.ar
www.geographia.com
www.sectur.gov.ar
www.buenosairesherald.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk
http://lanic.utexas.edu
http://travel.state.gov
www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk
www.latin-focus.com
www.argentinas-hotels.com
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