Argentine Northwest

[[Image:Salta-VallesCalchaquies-P3140151.JPG|thumb|325px|Valles Calchaquíes, [[Salta Province]].]] The '''Argentine Northwest''' (''Noroeste Argentino'') is a region of [[Argentina]] composed by the provinces of [[Catamarca Province|Catamarca]], [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]], [[Salta Province|Salta]], [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]] and [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]]. ==Geography== [[Image:Tafidelvalle tucuman20.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Tafí Valley, [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]].]] [[Image:Cerro de los siete colores.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cerro de los Siete Colores, [[Jujuy Province]].]] The region had 5 different biomes: * Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east * Fertile valleys * The canyons * The high mountains of the Andes * The [[Altiplano]] or Puna Outside the [[Yungas]] jungle on the east, near the [[Gran Chaco]] region, the only fertile lands are those near the basins of the rivers . Ancient rivers created a series of red-soil canyons such as the [[Quebrada de Humahuaca]] and the [[Valles Calchaquíes]]. The high peaks of the Andes reach heights of over 6,000 meters, and the 3,500-meter high plateau of ''La Puna'' or [[Altiplano]] extends further north to Bolivia. ==Weather== The eastern winds drop their humidity at the sub-Andean Sierras and eastern slopes of the Andes. These areas have a sub-tropical warm weather with abundant rains that, as in the [[Yungas]] jungle. The dried-up winds continue their path to the west, leaving the Puna and the western side of the arid [[Andes]] steppe with wide temperature differences, something that characterizes most of the region. Precipitation in most of the Argentine northwest follows a summer [[monsoon]] pattern, enjoying most of the roughly {{convert|700|mm}} of annual rainfall in the southern hemisphere summer months of December through March. ==Economy== The fertile valleys concentrate most of the population of the area, and the economic activities. Of these, the cultivation of [[sugarcane]], [[tobacco]], and [[citrus]] are the most important, together with [[cattle]] and [[goat]] raising. There are also important [[vineyards]] at the [[Valles Calchaquíes]] on the [[Cafayate]] region. Main industries are sugarcane or food associated, except for the '' Altos Hornos Zapala'' [[steel]] [[Blast furnace|furnace]]. Mining includes [[lead]], [[silver]], [[zinc]] and [[salt]], and [[hydrocarbons]] extraction. {{Regions of Argentina}} ==Tourism== The Argentine Northwest is visited not only by Argentines but by people from all over the world, specially [[Europe]]ans. The most common destination are [[Quebrada de Humahuaca]] and the [[Cerro de los Siete Colores]], [[Cafayate]] and the [[Valles Calchaquíes]], [[Tafí del Valle]], and the capital cities of the provinces: [[San Miguel de Tucumán]], [[San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca]], [[Salta]] and [[San Salvador de Jujuy]]. The [[National parks of Argentina|national parks]] of the region are: [[Baritú National Park]], [[Calilegua National Park]], [[El Rey National Park]], [[Los Cardones National Park]] and [[Campo de los Alisos National Park]]. ===Cultural tourism=== Besides the geography of the area, its culture is of great interest. It is strongly influenced by [[Quechua people|Quechua]] and [[Aymara people|Aymara]] cultures, and the region widely differentiates to the more [[Europe]]an [[Buenos Aires]]. This influence can be seen in the [[music of Argentina|music]], clothing and customs of the people. ==External links== *[http://www.moon.com/planner/argentina/regions/andes.html The Andean northwest] *[http://www.argentinaturistica.com/rnoroestecultura.htm Argentine Northwest] (Spanish) *[http://www.ruta0.com/mapasaltajujuynoa.ASP Map with routes] *[http://www.monografias.com/trabajos/noroeste/noroeste.shtml Monografias.com:Argentine Northwest] (Spanish) *[http://www.argentinaxplora.com/activida/legado/sonder/sonder.htm Argentine Northwest art] (Spanish) {{coord missing|Argentina}}