FLORA AND FAUNA

The Cordillera Mountain Range Region, which comprises the mountainous area, doesn't let many plants grow. Vegetation is present only with cacti and leafless plants, and by the scarce grass belonging to arid soils. Llamas, vicuas and guanacos, represent the animal life, as does a small fine fur animal 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 their clothes, can be seen. Up in the sky, where they usually are, the condors reveal their majesty.

The sub-Andean region, meaning the lower valleys, offers a more varied panorama of vegetal species. It is perhaps the area showing the most ample variety of trees, bushes and grasses, as well as a rich agriculture. The pacars, walnuts, locust trees, pine trees, mulberries, huckleberries, acacias, parasos, etc, stand out; among the fruit trees there are peach trees, quinces, pears, grapevines, plum trees; as well as garden plants and even others, meant for industrial use.

Fauna is also diverse and variegated, for the benign weather allows the breeding of almost any species, like the pure-bred cattle and horses intended for the market. Among the felines, there are jaguars, pumas and cats. In addition, there are collared peccaries, so called majanos, capybara, and tapirs, corzuelas, agoutis, 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 forests 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, chaar, guayacn, yuchn, tala, tusca, along with different cacti.

In some arid plains, leafless species and thorny bushes with scarce leafs, such as the 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 together with the domesticated species, 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, Barit and Los Cardones), the Salta province has many National Reserves in various places. They have 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 preservation 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 Martn Department (Northern Salta).
Type: Declared Permanent Forestry Reserve and Perpetual Seed Reserve.
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Area: 8,266 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.
Area: 6,000 has.

LOTES FISCALES 32 Y 33 ESTATES
Location: The Departamento de Anta Department (South-eastern Salta).
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Area: 25,536 has.

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.
Area: 1'440,000 has.

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.
Area: 10,259 has.

THE ZONA DE RESERVA DE LA VICUA RESERVED ZONE
Location: Departments of Cach, 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.
Area: 100 has.

THE BOSQUES PROTECTORES ALEDAOS 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.
Area: not established.

DEPARTAMENTOS: LA POMA, SAN CARLOS, LA VIA, GUACHIPAS AND CAFAYATE DEPARTMENTS
Category: Multiple use.
Holder of the land: The Provincial State.
Area: 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.
Area: 100 has.