Salta Nature ...

FAUNA AND FLORA IN SALTA

The Cordillera Mountainrange Region, which comprises the mountainous area, offers little margin for the growth of plants. Vegetation is represented by cacti and leafless plants, and by the scarce grass particular to arid soils. Llamas, vicuñas and guanacos, embody the animal life as well as some smaller fine fur animals like the chinchilla.

In the less inhospitable ravines, groups of goats and sheep, from which the locals get their meat and the wool to weave the clothes covering them, can be seen. Up in the sky, where they usually are, the condors reveal their presence.

The sub-Andean region, meaning the lower valleys, offers on the other side a more heterogeneous panorama of vegetal species. It is perhaps the area showing the most ample variety of trees, bushes and grasses, as well as cultivations in general. The pacarás, walnuts, locust trees, pine trees, mulberries, huckleberries, acacias, paraísos, etc, stand out; among the fruit trees there are peach trees, quinces, pears, grapevines, plum trees; as well as garden plants and others for industrial use.

Fauna is also diverse and variegated, for the benign weather allows the breeding of almost any zoological species, like the pure-bred cattle and horses good for commercialisation. Among the felines, there are jaguars, pumas and cats in general. In addition, there are collared peccaries, so called majanos, capybara, and tapirs, so called corzuelas, agoutis, so called charatas, and cranes and herons in general; as well as ducks, rabbits, ostriches, vizcachas, partridges, wild boars and deer.

The Chaco-Oranense region, or north-eastern plain of the province, has a forest-like configuration holding exuberant woods with gigantic cedars, quinua, oaks, Tipas and lapachos; svelte and curious palm trees grow at the eastern marshy areas; rich black and white locust trees, so called palo blanco, palo amarillo, palo santo, lapacho, cebil, chañar, guayacán, yuchán, tala, tusca, along with diverse cacti.

In some arid plains, leafless species and thorny bushes with scarce leafs, such as the locally known chaguar, the tusca, the quimil, the jarilla, the espinillo or the "sombra de toro" (bull's shadow), can be observed.

The fauna of the region is perhaps the most interesting, for it still contains wildlife species, such as the puma, the tapir or anta, the wildcat, the jaguar, the wild boar or mountain hog and the anteater.

THE PROVINCIAL NATURAL RESERVES
In addition to three National Parks (El Rey, Baritú and Los Cardones), the Salta province has numerous National Reserves in different places. They had been declared Provincial Reserves to preserve the nursery space of nature's genetic resources, to protect the environment surrounding catch basins that form the different rivers, to preserve the cultural, archaeological, geological, paleontological, and environmental patrimonies of Salta, and to guarantee the maintenance of the important biodiversity living on this territory.

Some data about the natural reserves and protected areas in Salta follows:

RESERVA DE FLORA Y FAUNA ACAMBUCO RESERVE
Location: The Departamento de San Martín Department (Northern Salta).
Type: Declared Permanent Forestry Reserve and Perpetual Seed Reserve.
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Surface: 8266 hectares.

THE RESERVA DE FLORA Y FAUNA LOS PALMARES RESERVE
Location: The Departamento de Anta Department (South-eastern Salta).
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Surface: 6000 hectares.

LOTES FISCALES 32 Y 33 ESTATES
Location: The Departamento de Anta Department (South-eastern Salta).
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Surface: 25536 hectares.

THE RESERVA NATURAL DE FAUNA Y FLORA SILVESTRE LOS ANDES RESERVE
Location: The Departamento de Los Andes Department (western Salta).
Category: Multiple uses.
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Surface: 1440000 hectares.

THE RESERVA "FINCA LAS COSTAS" RESERVE
Location: The Departamento Capital Department.
Category: Permanent and intangible.
Holder of the land: The Municipio de la Ciudad de Salta Municipality.
Surface: 10259 hectares.

THE ZONA DE RESERVA DE LA VICUÑA RESERVED ZONE
Location: Departments of Cachí, Molinos, San Carlos, La Poma, Los Andes, Rosario de Lerma, Iruya, Santa Victoria and Cafayate.

THE CERROS 20 DE FEBREROAND SAN BERNARDO MOUNTAINS
Location: The Departamento Capital Department.
Holder of the land: The Municipio de la Ciudad de Salta Municipality.
Surface: 100 hectares.

THE BOSQUES PROTECTORES ALEDAÑOS A LA CIUDAD DE SALTA SURROUNDING PROTECTED WOODS
Location: The Departamento Capital Department.
Holder of the land: The Municipio de Salta Municipality and private owners.
Surface: not established.

DEPARTAMENTOS: LA POMA, SAN CARLOS, LA VIÑA, GUACHIPAS AND CAFAYATE DEPARTMENTS
Category: Multiple use.
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Surface: Not defined.
The Monumento Natural del Abra del Acay Natural Monument, the Monumento Natural Angastaco Natural Monument, and the Reserva Natural Manejada de la Quebrada de Cafayate Gorge Natural Managed Resources Reserve, are included under this common designation.

CAMPO ALEGRE
Location: The Departamento de La Caldera Department.
Holder of the land: Provincial State.
Surface: 100 hectares.