Pampa de Achala
Encyclopedia
Pampa de Achala 31°40′S 64°50′W is the name given to a vast region that lies at the heart of the Sierras de Córdoba located within Sierras Pampeanas
, and located in central-northwest of Argentina
.
It is a rugged area with little vegetation, which is over 1,500 m
and has singularities green
biological
, terrain
e watershed
. The region is protected by provincial law, and that this region basin isheadof the vast majority of streams that run through the Córdoba.
language, and apparently refers to the original inhabitants of the region, the comechingones.
There is no concrete data concerning the origin of the name, merely hypotheses. According to the dictionary of the Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua
, achala means 'fancy dress' or 'striking costume'. Many Quechan terms contain the word achala. A similar word is achalay, meaning 'grooming' or 'decorating.' According to the dictionary of Dr. González de Holguín, the word achala does not exist in that context, but one finds the similar words achallay and achallay ñichini, which mean both 'to cause something' and 'self-admiration.'
The word could have originated from a distortion of the original term, which was later converted into a word more agreeable to the Spanish of the area, and could refer either to the clothing historically worn by inhabitants of the region, allowing them to withstand the severity of the weather, or to the admiration the inhabitants had for this special region.
in Argentina. The northern boundary consists of the mountains of Los Gigantes, and the southern boundary of the northern portion of the Sierra de Comechingones, with the Summits of Achala located in the central area of the region. It is a rugged area, whose small plains and low slopes are responsible for its classification as 'plains'. These slopes and plains allowed for the formation of an intricate underground water network that supplies a great number of springs. Within this region, there are numerous deep ravines with vertical walls between 600m and 800m high, many of which are more than 1,000m wide. The most important and popular ravines are the Quebrada del Condorito and the Quebrada de Yatán.
These streams have nurtured microclimates that allow for the development of ecological niches, with many endemic species (species that do not live anywhere else on the planet), worthy of study and observation. In general access to them is difficult due to the rugged terrain, often inaccessible to any vehicle (including those with all-wheel drive) and thus can only be reached on foot, by mule or by horseback.
.
, the south west of Punilla Department
, San Alberto Department
and San Javier Department
and the west of Calamuchita Department
.
It is difficult to differentiate the water reserve Provincial Pampa de Achala from the Pampa de Achala itself. The water reserve was purposely created to protect the Pampa. Its boundaries are set by geographical features: the northern boundary reaches the provincial route RP 28 (formerly the National Road RN 20), which surrounds the massif of Los Gigantes. The southern boundary is Mount Champaquí
, 2,790 meters high. Its eastern and western limits are set by the high altitude of 1,500 meters. In this region are the highest peaks of the province.
Its size is about 65 km from north to south and 24 km from east to west, which represents an area of approximately 150,000 hectares, of which 40,000 are the Quebrada del Condorito National Park
.
with Taninga (near the town of Salsacate
). After traveling nearly 40 km from Tanti, and climb over 1,700 meters you reach the far north of the region, more precisely at the foot of the massif 'Los Gigantes'. From there you can follow the same route to the town of Taninga. The second option is the provincial route RP 34 (tarmac), located about 30 km south of the former. It crosses the city of Villa Carlos Paz
, crossing the towns of San Antonio de Arredondo, Villa Icho Cruz, Mayu Sumaj, Cuesta Blanca, and deposited us in the Pampa de Achala. This road is also known as Camino de las Altas Cumbres
or route Jorge Raúl Recalde
, in tribute to this rally racer. Continuing along the same route, it accesses the Traslasierra Valley. While these are the two most relevant options, there are regional roads and tourist access to reach specific sectors within the region. As mentioned above, except for these two alternatives, the other, in most cases are suitable only for special vehicles, and yet they can not access certain areas.
Suspension bridges road
was constructed and opened in 1918 linking the Valley Traslasierra with the city of Villa Carlos Paz
in the Punilla Valley
.
which was then subjected to enormous strain as a result of horizontal pressure.
Elevated basement blocks are reverse faults of approximately north-south direction, west verging, which are composed by metamorphic rock
and Igneous
of the Neoproterozoic
in the Palaeozoic. Less affected by successive orogenic cycles: the Pampean orogenies, the Proterozoic
higher-Cambrian
medium (Rapela et al. 1998), Famatinian, the Ordovician
less than half (Aceñolaza and Toselli 1976, Dalla Salda 1987) and achaliana of Devon
medium to Carboniferous
lower (Sims et al. 1998; Stuart-Smith et al. 1999), which would be related to successive stages of convergence and collision of land with the craton
of the River Plate
, along the proto-Andean margin of Gondwana
(sic)
. Here, there was intrusion of large igneous bodies - batholiths - ended granite
, producing the rise of the emerging mountains. In the Tertiary
old structures were activated and generated new ones. Along with the strain developed a significant volcanism in the western region and, finally, late in the same era and the beginning of the Quaternary
, the whole region was a general uprising "to build the current ranges.
The tectonic forces at work in the Andean folding horizontal pressures generated from the west and due to the rigidity of the underlying material caused the existence of faults, almost all north-south and an alignment of the strings accordingly. The result was that seen at present, a mountain range with steep western slopes and eastern slopes with gentle slope, which allowed the formation of natural lakes and streams of high ecological value. These mountain ranges are represented the three types of rocks: Metamorphic, Sedimentary and Igneous
or granite.
All these orogenic movements, gave rise to our Pampa de Achala.
Geochemically include calc-alkaline granites with alkaline s, metaaluminosos to peraluminous, are more abundant and Monzogranites granites, but also appear granodiorites, leucogranites and tonalites. Often contain mafic enclaves, dikes lamprofíricos-pegmatite and aplite. By its chemical composition is located within the field of collisional or intraplate granites (Rapela et al. 1990), and have been interpreted as a product of partial melting of the crust due to changes in the thermal regime during regional uplift (Otamendi et al. 2002).
Since the foundation of the Pampas Sierras was hit by a series of extensional events in the Late Paleozoic (Gondwanan cycle) and Late
, the latter accompanied by a large magmatism
basic effusive, and finally the orogeny Cenozoic
Andico cycle, which produced the present morphology dumps blocks east, with activity until the present. The brittle tectonic Andica is represented by reverse faults among which stand out in the hills of Cordoba those high peaks, the Giants-Copina (NNO) and The Cumbrecita (NNE) (sic)
, composed mostly of coarse-grained metamorphic rocks (gneiss
and migmatites), interrupted by large demonstrations granite (batholiths), common in the Pampa de Achala. Found primarily quartz
, mica
, biotite
and muscovite
. magnetite
, fluorapatite rutile
, chlorite
, kaolinite
and uranium ore
. The latter has generated considerable controversy regarding its acquisition, due to the high degree of pollution
, which involves extraction.
with high thermal aptitude. The maximum temperatures are generally 30°C in the summer, and the temperature does not fall below -20°C during the winter (approximately the end of April to the beginning of September).
As is typical of the climate of mountain regions, the weather conditions can change within minutes.
s which makes it unique, a uniqueness accentuated by the presence of endemic species, the number of which is probably greater than is presently known.
and mayten
, called in the mountain zone "quebracho", the coexistence of which is a unique biogeographical phenomenon. The tabaquillo has relatives which are distributed the length of the Andes
from Venezuela to Argentina, while the mayten originates from the woodlands of south-west Argentina (the cool Andean-Patagonian woodland). The greatest density of these woods is in the bottoms of the ravines, where they acquire a low forest physiognomy with great quantities of fern
s and epiphyte
s. Both the grasslands and the woodlands of the pampas and of the ravines respectively are composed of plants of very diverse origins. Some, approaching from the eastern slopes of the mountainous area, are native to the Austro-Brazilian region. Other species of specifically Andean origin have in the Pampa de Achala their most southerly distribution. On the other hand, numerous species of the south of Argentina find in this region their most northerly habitat.
Not only the rocky walls of the ravines but also the granite outcrops of the Pampa de Achala, at first glance sites deprived of vegetation and of fauna, represent highly diverse habitats, capable of sustaining in their cracks and fissures a flora and fauna of significant scientific interest.
Below the 1,500 metre line, the tough grasslands of the high altitude are replaced by thickets in which the romerillo (Heterothalamus alienus) predominates. The high altitude woodlands make way for the mountainous Chaqueño woodlands, with trees of molle
and coco.
and Bufo achalensis,) and the "Achalan frog" (Odontophrynus achalensis
').
"Rufous-banded miner",
"common miner",
"bar-winged cinclodes",
"white-winged cinclodes",
"Cordilleran canastero" ,
"Puna castanero",
"White-Tailed Shrike Tyrant",
"Cinereous Ground-Tyrant",
"plain-colored seedeater",
"Plumbeous Sierra-Finch" (also known as Yal plomizo) and
"Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch" ' (also called Yal chico),
"long-tailed meadowlark" ' Sturnella loyca obscura), which nests in the ground and in large, oddly-shaped rocks.
The most inaccessible cliff walls are used as nesting sites by the
"Black-chested buzzard eagle" (Geranoetus melanoleucus), the peregrine falcon
(Falco peregrinus) and the Andean Condor
.
The Andean condor is one of the more recognized species in the area; as of 2007, 101 Andean condors remained in the region. The King Vulture
(Sarcoramphus papa) has also been spotted in Pampa de Achala.
(Oncifelis colocolo); the ferret
(Mustela furax); and Geoffroy's cat
(Oncifelis geoffroyi).
Small rodents and hare are also abundantly present in the area. Guanacos have recently been reintroduced to the region, as they were disappearing slowly towards the early twentieth century.
, (Urophonius achalensis), is of particular interest. Of the numerous species of arthropod
, the fire ant
stands out on account of the size of its nests and pathways.
(') feeds on the local tree frog Hyla pulchella ( or "bramble-patch frogs") .
An endemic species is also to be found, the eye-catching green lizard of Achala, Prystidactilus achalensis
.
The sole venomous snake is a species of hognose snake, Lystrophis dorbignyi . (')
, arroyo trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Astyanax fasciatus
, and . Indiscriminate fishing has caused the loss of numerous species throughout the region (and indeed the entire province). The rivers and arroyos
are perpetually being re-stocked with salmon, with the intention of maintaining the ecology. Regrettably the goal can never be reached, as secret fishing is constant and difficult to control, and has caused the loss of very many species. As at September 2009, all fishing in all locations throughout the province is forbidden during the hours of darkness.
In the area of pampa de oláen, researchers have found evidence of an earlier culture, ayampití, which existed in the region approximately 6,000 years earlier.
, Padre Liqueno, among others) that serve as convergence points for inhabitants of the area. Some schools have to offset their academic terms due to inclement weather in the winter (consisting of temperatures regularly approaching -20°C, accompanied by strong winds and snow), causing classes to be suspended until spring. The region also contains some very basic health centers.
The principal activity of the region is the breeding and raising of goats, cattle, and sheep. These animals are used to sustain the inhabitants of the region through the sale of leather, and raw or woven wool. Some inhabitants also produce pottery to sell to tourists.
and Atucha
.
This transforms the area into the most important watershed of central Argentina.
Sierras pampeanas
The Sierras pampeanas or Pampas Sierras is a geographical region of Argentina.The Sierras pampeanas are a chain of mountains that rise sharply from the surrounding pampa region of Northwest Argentina...
, and located in central-northwest of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
It is a rugged area with little vegetation, which is over 1,500 m
M
M is the thirteenth letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.-History:The letter M is derived from the Phoenician Mem, via the Greek Mu . Semitic Mem probably originally pictured water...
and has singularities green
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
e watershed
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
. The region is protected by provincial law, and that this region basin isheadof the vast majority of streams that run through the Córdoba.
Origin of the name
The name for the area comes from the QuechuaQuechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
language, and apparently refers to the original inhabitants of the region, the comechingones.
There is no concrete data concerning the origin of the name, merely hypotheses. According to the dictionary of the Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua
Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua
The Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua AMLQ in Cusco is a private institution, founded in 1990, concerned with the 'purity' of the Quechua language....
, achala means 'fancy dress' or 'striking costume'. Many Quechan terms contain the word achala. A similar word is achalay, meaning 'grooming' or 'decorating.' According to the dictionary of Dr. González de Holguín, the word achala does not exist in that context, but one finds the similar words achallay and achallay ñichini, which mean both 'to cause something' and 'self-admiration.'
The word could have originated from a distortion of the original term, which was later converted into a word more agreeable to the Spanish of the area, and could refer either to the clothing historically worn by inhabitants of the region, allowing them to withstand the severity of the weather, or to the admiration the inhabitants had for this special region.
General description
Pampa de Achala is located in the province of CordobaCórdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
in Argentina. The northern boundary consists of the mountains of Los Gigantes, and the southern boundary of the northern portion of the Sierra de Comechingones, with the Summits of Achala located in the central area of the region. It is a rugged area, whose small plains and low slopes are responsible for its classification as 'plains'. These slopes and plains allowed for the formation of an intricate underground water network that supplies a great number of springs. Within this region, there are numerous deep ravines with vertical walls between 600m and 800m high, many of which are more than 1,000m wide. The most important and popular ravines are the Quebrada del Condorito and the Quebrada de Yatán.
These streams have nurtured microclimates that allow for the development of ecological niches, with many endemic species (species that do not live anywhere else on the planet), worthy of study and observation. In general access to them is difficult due to the rugged terrain, often inaccessible to any vehicle (including those with all-wheel drive) and thus can only be reached on foot, by mule or by horseback.
.
Cartography
There are many maps published and available on the Internet that detail the region. The region appears to be a large mass of rock from north to south, crossed by a single road: National Road RN 20.Position, limits, and extension
The region covers southern Cruz del Eje DepartmentCruz del Eje Department
Cruz del Eje Department is a department of Córdoba Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 52,172 inhabitants in an area of 6,653 km², and its capital city is Cruz del Eje, which is located around 861 km from Capital Federal.-Settlements:* Alto de Los Quebrachos*...
, the south west of Punilla Department
Punilla Department
The Punilla Department is an administrative division of the province of Córdoba, Argentina. Its has over 155,000 inhabitants, with a population density of almost 60 inhabitants/km².-Settlements:*Bialet Massé*Cabalango*Capilla del Monte*Casa Grande...
, San Alberto Department
San Alberto Department
San Alberto Department is an administrative division of the province of Córdoba, Argentina. It is composed by many municipalities and communes...
and San Javier Department
San Javier Department
San Javier Department may refer to:* San Javier Department, Córdoba* San Javier Department, Misiones* San Javier Department, Santa Fe...
and the west of Calamuchita Department
Calamuchita Department
The Calamuchita Department is a subdivision of the .The department is located in the center-west of the province and includes important tourist destinations, especially along the Calamuchita Valley. The center of this region is the small city of Santa Rosa de Calamuchita...
.
It is difficult to differentiate the water reserve Provincial Pampa de Achala from the Pampa de Achala itself. The water reserve was purposely created to protect the Pampa. Its boundaries are set by geographical features: the northern boundary reaches the provincial route RP 28 (formerly the National Road RN 20), which surrounds the massif of Los Gigantes. The southern boundary is Mount Champaquí
Mount Champaquí
The Champaquí, is a mountain located in the western province of Argentina, Córdoba. It is the highest peak in the province, with a height of 2790 m....
, 2,790 meters high. Its eastern and western limits are set by the high altitude of 1,500 meters. In this region are the highest peaks of the province.
Its size is about 65 km from north to south and 24 km from east to west, which represents an area of approximately 150,000 hectares, of which 40,000 are the Quebrada del Condorito National Park
Quebrada del Condorito National Park
Quebrada del Condorito National Park is a national park in Argentina, in Córdoba Province. It was established in 1996.-External links:...
.
Paths
To access this region, two provincial roads: Provincial Route No. 28 (gravel), linking the towns of TantiTanti
- Origin :The word tanti is derived from the Hindi word tant, which means a loom. They were traditionally weavers, and are one of the many communities found in South Asia, traditionally associated with this craft. According to their trafitions, they were created by the Hindu god Shiva from his tears...
with Taninga (near the town of Salsacate
Salsacate
Salsacate is a town in Córdoba Province in Argentina, it is the head town of Pocho Department...
). After traveling nearly 40 km from Tanti, and climb over 1,700 meters you reach the far north of the region, more precisely at the foot of the massif 'Los Gigantes'. From there you can follow the same route to the town of Taninga. The second option is the provincial route RP 34 (tarmac), located about 30 km south of the former. It crosses the city of Villa Carlos Paz
Villa Carlos Paz
Villa Carlos Paz is a city in the center-north of the province of Córdoba, Argentina, in the south of the Punilla Valley, lying on the western slope of the Sierras Chicas. It has a population of about 56,000 as per the...
, crossing the towns of San Antonio de Arredondo, Villa Icho Cruz, Mayu Sumaj, Cuesta Blanca, and deposited us in the Pampa de Achala. This road is also known as Camino de las Altas Cumbres
Camino de las Altas Cumbres
In the last years of the 1950s, it became clear that there was a need to modernize the old Suspension bridges road in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. Increasing traffic and trade between the provinces of Cordoba Mendoza and San Juan needed new roads to expedite travelling times and decrease costs...
or route Jorge Raúl Recalde
Jorge Recalde
Jorge Raúl Recalde was an Argentine rally driver born in Mina Clavero.Recalde had a great knowledge of the roads of the Sierras de Córdoba, and began racing in 1970 in the "Turismo Mejorado" class...
, in tribute to this rally racer. Continuing along the same route, it accesses the Traslasierra Valley. While these are the two most relevant options, there are regional roads and tourist access to reach specific sectors within the region. As mentioned above, except for these two alternatives, the other, in most cases are suitable only for special vehicles, and yet they can not access certain areas.
Suspension bridges road
Suspension bridges road
The Hang Suspension Bridges Road is the ancient route linking the Valley Traslasierra with the city of Villa Carlos Paz in the Córdoba Province, Argentina...
was constructed and opened in 1918 linking the Valley Traslasierra with the city of Villa Carlos Paz
Villa Carlos Paz
Villa Carlos Paz is a city in the center-north of the province of Córdoba, Argentina, in the south of the Punilla Valley, lying on the western slope of the Sierras Chicas. It has a population of about 56,000 as per the...
in the Punilla Valley
Punilla Valley
The Punilla Valley is a broad fluvial valley in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. It is located in the center-northwest of the province, bordered by the Sierras Chicas in the east and the Sierras Grandes and the Achala Pamp in the west, oriented from north to south...
.
Geology
The geological evolution of the 'Pampa de Achala cannot be isolated from the evolution of Sierras de Córdoba and Sierras de San Luis. The geological history of these, dating back 15 million years, with the formation of a sedimentary basinSedimentary basin
The term sedimentary basin is used to refer to any geographical feature exhibiting subsidence and consequent infilling by sedimentation. As the sediments are buried, they are subjected to increasing pressure and begin the process of lithification...
which was then subjected to enormous strain as a result of horizontal pressure.
Elevated basement blocks are reverse faults of approximately north-south direction, west verging, which are composed by metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
and Igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
of the Neoproterozoic
Neoproterozoic
The Neoproterozoic Era is the unit of geologic time from 1,000 to 542.0 ± 1.0 million years ago. The terminal Era of the formal Proterozoic Eon , it is further subdivided into the Tonian, Cryogenian, and Ediacaran Periods...
in the Palaeozoic. Less affected by successive orogenic cycles: the Pampean orogenies, the Proterozoic
Proterozoic
The Proterozoic is a geological eon representing a period before the first abundant complex life on Earth. The name Proterozoic comes from the Greek "earlier life"...
higher-Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
medium (Rapela et al. 1998), Famatinian, the Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
less than half (Aceñolaza and Toselli 1976, Dalla Salda 1987) and achaliana of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
medium to Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
lower (Sims et al. 1998; Stuart-Smith et al. 1999), which would be related to successive stages of convergence and collision of land with the craton
Craton
A craton is an old and stable part of the continental lithosphere. Having often survived cycles of merging and rifting of continents, cratons are generally found in the interiors of tectonic plates. They are characteristically composed of ancient crystalline basement rock, which may be covered by...
of the River Plate
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, along the proto-Andean margin of Gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
(sic)
. Here, there was intrusion of large igneous bodies - batholiths - ended granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, producing the rise of the emerging mountains. In the Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
old structures were activated and generated new ones. Along with the strain developed a significant volcanism in the western region and, finally, late in the same era and the beginning of the Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
, the whole region was a general uprising "to build the current ranges.
The tectonic forces at work in the Andean folding horizontal pressures generated from the west and due to the rigidity of the underlying material caused the existence of faults, almost all north-south and an alignment of the strings accordingly. The result was that seen at present, a mountain range with steep western slopes and eastern slopes with gentle slope, which allowed the formation of natural lakes and streams of high ecological value. These mountain ranges are represented the three types of rocks: Metamorphic, Sedimentary and Igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
or granite.
All these orogenic movements, gave rise to our Pampa de Achala.
Geochemically include calc-alkaline granites with alkaline s, metaaluminosos to peraluminous, are more abundant and Monzogranites granites, but also appear granodiorites, leucogranites and tonalites. Often contain mafic enclaves, dikes lamprofíricos-pegmatite and aplite. By its chemical composition is located within the field of collisional or intraplate granites (Rapela et al. 1990), and have been interpreted as a product of partial melting of the crust due to changes in the thermal regime during regional uplift (Otamendi et al. 2002).
Since the foundation of the Pampas Sierras was hit by a series of extensional events in the Late Paleozoic (Gondwanan cycle) and Late
Late
Late may refer to:* A deceased person or thing* Late , a 2000 album by The 77s* Late!, a pseudonym used by Dave Grohl on his Pocketwatch album* Late , an underground rapper from Wolverhampton* "Late" , a song by Blue Angel...
, the latter accompanied by a large magmatism
Magmatism
The formation of igneous rocks from magma is known as Magmatism.Magmatism is a process responsible for mountain formation. The process of magmatism produces an additional mass and volume to the Earth’s surface. For example the formation of volcanoes or island arcs at convergent plate boundaries...
basic effusive, and finally the orogeny Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
Andico cycle, which produced the present morphology dumps blocks east, with activity until the present. The brittle tectonic Andica is represented by reverse faults among which stand out in the hills of Cordoba those high peaks, the Giants-Copina (NNO) and The Cumbrecita (NNE) (sic)
Orography
The most common here are metamorphic rocks formed from plutonic-metamorphic basement of the Precambrian agePrecambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
, composed mostly of coarse-grained metamorphic rocks (gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
and migmatites), interrupted by large demonstrations granite (batholiths), common in the Pampa de Achala. Found primarily quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
, mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
, biotite
Biotite
Biotite is a common phyllosilicate mineral within the mica group, with the approximate chemical formula . More generally, it refers to the dark mica series, primarily a solid-solution series between the iron-endmember annite, and the magnesium-endmember phlogopite; more aluminous endmembers...
and muscovite
Muscovite
Muscovite is a phyllosilicate mineral of aluminium and potassium with formula KAl22, or 236. It has a highly-perfect basal cleavage yielding remarkably-thin laminæ which are often highly elastic...
. magnetite
Magnetite
Magnetite is a ferrimagnetic mineral with chemical formula Fe3O4, one of several iron oxides and a member of the spinel group. The chemical IUPAC name is iron oxide and the common chemical name is ferrous-ferric oxide. The formula for magnetite may also be written as FeO·Fe2O3, which is one part...
, fluorapatite rutile
Rutile
Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2.Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Two rarer polymorphs of TiO2 are known:...
, chlorite
Chlorite
The chlorite ion is ClO2−. A chlorite is a compound that contains this group,with chlorine in oxidation state +3. Chlorites are also known as salts of chlorous acid.-Oxidation states:...
, kaolinite
Kaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
and uranium ore
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
. The latter has generated considerable controversy regarding its acquisition, due to the high degree of pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, which involves extraction.
Weather
The climate of the region is temperateTemperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
with high thermal aptitude. The maximum temperatures are generally 30°C in the summer, and the temperature does not fall below -20°C during the winter (approximately the end of April to the beginning of September).
As is typical of the climate of mountain regions, the weather conditions can change within minutes.
Hydrography
The average precipitation for the area is 800 mm. In summer precipitation is in the form of rain, and generally in the winter it is found in the form of snow. Fog is common all year due to the humid winds from the east; the cold winds from the south are also not uncommon. An intricate network of streams, ponds, lakes and springs give this region the characteristic function as a 'sponge' that absorbs and retains the moisture throughout the year, channeling it into the water sources which supplied much of the population of the province. It is a natural basin for precipitation, and for this reason, the provincial government declared the region as the provincial water reserve of Pampa de Achala. The area contains the headwaters of four major rivers of the province: Suquía (or First River), Xanaes (or Second River) and Ctalamochita (or Third River) flowing towards the eastern margin of the Sierras. Towards the western side of the region we find the headwaters of the Rio Mina Clavero river.Biome
This particular eco-region, as defined by the convergence of the biogeographical provinces of Chaqueña del Espinal, Pampeana and Mountain, has been influenced by many types of flora and fauna. It is regarded as an "island" due to its specific biogeographical characteristics and it is thus distinguished from other areas within the environment of Chaco by its altitude and the species that inhabit it.General
Several phytogeographical provinces converge here: Chaqueña, Andean, Patagonian and Magellanic. The confluence of these very diverse currents confers on the area a synthesis of microclimateMicroclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
s which makes it unique, a uniqueness accentuated by the presence of endemic species, the number of which is probably greater than is presently known.
Species
In the ravines and on the mountain slopes are copses or small woods of tabaquilloPolylepis australis
Polylepis australis, also known locally as Tabaquillo or Queñoa is a tree endemic of central Argentina, member of the family Rosaceae. The genus Polylepis originated in the eastern South America, Andean forests . The plant has small, pinnate leaves, 7–10 cm long, normally composed of five or...
and mayten
Maytenus boaria
Maytenus boaria is an evergreen tree of the family Celastraceae, native from South America, up to 20 m , 80 cm diameter , straight trunk. It occurs naturally approximately from 30 to 50ºS: Chile and Argentina.-Description:...
, called in the mountain zone "quebracho", the coexistence of which is a unique biogeographical phenomenon. The tabaquillo has relatives which are distributed the length of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
from Venezuela to Argentina, while the mayten originates from the woodlands of south-west Argentina (the cool Andean-Patagonian woodland). The greatest density of these woods is in the bottoms of the ravines, where they acquire a low forest physiognomy with great quantities of fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s and epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s. Both the grasslands and the woodlands of the pampas and of the ravines respectively are composed of plants of very diverse origins. Some, approaching from the eastern slopes of the mountainous area, are native to the Austro-Brazilian region. Other species of specifically Andean origin have in the Pampa de Achala their most southerly distribution. On the other hand, numerous species of the south of Argentina find in this region their most northerly habitat.
Below the 1,500 metre line, the tough grasslands of the high altitude are replaced by thickets in which the romerillo (Heterothalamus alienus) predominates. The high altitude woodlands make way for the mountainous Chaqueño woodlands, with trees of molle
Schinus
Schinus is a genus of flowering trees and tall shrubs in the sumac family, Anacardiaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as pepper trees. The Peruvian Pepper Tree is the source of the spice known as pink peppercorns but can become serious invasive species outside their natural habitats...
and coco.
General
The characteristics of this area primarily correspond to the Andean-Patagonian region, with the typical species of the plain encountered at an altitude that limits their distribution. The geographical isolation of the area has been favourable for the region, allowing for the survival of unique fauna. Biologists and birdwatchers from around the world travel to Pampa de Achala to observe the endemic species of the region.Amphibians
Amphibians native to the region include Achala toads (Rhinella achalensisRhinella
Rhinella is a subgenus of Bufo containing 71 species of true toads native to Neotropical Central and South America. Originally, all Rhinella species were included in the genus Bufo, then they were split into Chaunus and Rhamphophryne...
and Bufo achalensis,) and the "Achalan frog" (Odontophrynus achalensis
Odontophrynus achalensis
The Escuercito is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is endemic to Argentina.Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, rivers, and rocky areas.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
').
Birds
Eleven subspecies and species of birds of the Passeriform order of Andean-Patagonian lineage are exclusive to this area, including:"Rufous-banded miner",
"common miner",
"bar-winged cinclodes",
"white-winged cinclodes",
"Cordilleran canastero" ,
"Puna castanero",
"White-Tailed Shrike Tyrant",
"Cinereous Ground-Tyrant",
"plain-colored seedeater",
"Plumbeous Sierra-Finch" (also known as Yal plomizo) and
"Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch" ' (also called Yal chico),
"long-tailed meadowlark" ' Sturnella loyca obscura), which nests in the ground and in large, oddly-shaped rocks.
The most inaccessible cliff walls are used as nesting sites by the
"Black-chested buzzard eagle" (Geranoetus melanoleucus), the peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
(Falco peregrinus) and the Andean Condor
Andean Condor
The Andean Condor is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur...
.
The Andean condor is one of the more recognized species in the area; as of 2007, 101 Andean condors remained in the region. The King Vulture
King Vulture
The King Vulture is a large bird found in Central and South America. It is a member of the New World vulture family Cathartidae. This vulture lives predominantly in tropical lowland forests stretching from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, though some believe that William Bartram's Painted...
(Sarcoramphus papa) has also been spotted in Pampa de Achala.
Mammals
Among the mammals native to the region is the Culpeo or Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus)-in the region, is called red fox-, which is in danger of extinction. They share this region with 30 other species of mammals, including the puma (Felis concolor), classified as vulnerable; the colocoloColocolo
Colocolo may refer to:*Colocolo , a Mapuche tribal chief.*Colo Colo creature of the Mapuche mythology.*Colocolo , a South American cat native to Chile.*Colo-Colo, a Chilean football team....
(Oncifelis colocolo); the ferret
Ferret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
(Mustela furax); and Geoffroy's cat
Geoffroy's Cat
Geoffroy's Cat is a wild cat in the southern and central regions of South America. It is about the size of a domestic cat. While the species is relatively common in many areas, it is considered to be "Near Threatened" by IUCN because of concern over land-use changes in the regions where it lives...
(Oncifelis geoffroyi).
Small rodents and hare are also abundantly present in the area. Guanacos have recently been reintroduced to the region, as they were disappearing slowly towards the early twentieth century.
Insects
The local scorpionScorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
, (Urophonius achalensis), is of particular interest. Of the numerous species of arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
, the fire ant
Fire ant
Fire ants are a variety of stinging ants with over 285 species worldwide. They have several common names, including ginger ants, tropical fire ants and red ants.- Appearance :...
stands out on account of the size of its nests and pathways.
Reptiles
Along the arroyos are well-watered areas (fertile plains, marshes) and reedbeds where the native coral snake Liophis anomalusLiophis
Liophis is a genus of New World colubrid snakes. They have a wide range of nondescript and local names, among these "water snakes", "mapepires", "corals" or "racers"....
(') feeds on the local tree frog Hyla pulchella ( or "bramble-patch frogs") .
An endemic species is also to be found, the eye-catching green lizard of Achala, Prystidactilus achalensis
Pristidactylus
Pristidactylus is a genus of lizards from Chile and Argentina. It contains the following species:*Pristidactylus achalensis Gallardo, 1964*Pristidactylus alvaroi Donoso-Barros, 1975*Pristidactylus araucanus Gallardo, 1964...
.
The sole venomous snake is a species of hognose snake, Lystrophis dorbignyi . (')
Fish
The commonest species of fish in the water courses of the Pampa de Achala are the rainbow troutRainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, arroyo trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Astyanax fasciatus
Astyanax (fish)
Astyanax is a genus of freshwater fish in the characid family of the order Characiformes. Some of these fish, like many of their relatives, are kept as aquarium pets and known collectively as tetras...
, and . Indiscriminate fishing has caused the loss of numerous species throughout the region (and indeed the entire province). The rivers and arroyos
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
are perpetually being re-stocked with salmon, with the intention of maintaining the ecology. Regrettably the goal can never be reached, as secret fishing is constant and difficult to control, and has caused the loss of very many species. As at September 2009, all fishing in all locations throughout the province is forbidden during the hours of darkness.
Original Inhabitants
The original inhabitants of the region were the Comechingones, the indiginous inhabitants of the plains and mountains beginning approximately 500 years ago, and who are responsible for most of the names given to the major elements of the region of the Cordoba mountains. They arrived in the region by fleeing the persecution of Spanish colonizers.In the area of pampa de oláen, researchers have found evidence of an earlier culture, ayampití, which existed in the region approximately 6,000 years earlier.
Population
The population of the region is extremely low. Access to the region is difficult, with many roads being steep, and many areas accessible only by walking or riding a mule or horse. Obtaining water is not easy, as it seeps down to the bedrock very quickly. Electricity is provided exclusively through solar power. Despite the difficulties of living in Pampa de Achela, schools exist in the region (including Ceferino NamuncuráCeferino Namuncurá
Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá was a saintly religious student and the object of a Roman Catholic cultus of veneration in northern Patagonia and throughout Argentina.- Early life :...
, Padre Liqueno, among others) that serve as convergence points for inhabitants of the area. Some schools have to offset their academic terms due to inclement weather in the winter (consisting of temperatures regularly approaching -20°C, accompanied by strong winds and snow), causing classes to be suspended until spring. The region also contains some very basic health centers.
The principal activity of the region is the breeding and raising of goats, cattle, and sheep. These animals are used to sustain the inhabitants of the region through the sale of leather, and raw or woven wool. Some inhabitants also produce pottery to sell to tourists.
Economic Geography
Tourism and Ecology
Some areas (particularly Los Gigantes) have high mountain ranges are used by climbers, both amateur and professional, as well as Scout groups. During the summer, the water ways that have small sandy beaches at their banks attracts some tourists. Another popular attraction is "the path of the high peaks." While the current route is relatively new (the project dates from the late 1950s), the original existed before the twentieth century and is known as a path of suspension bridges. The route was constructed along the path of a public trail, which was used by hikers and horseback riders. Its construction is due to the tireless work of the priest José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, more famously known as the Cura Gaucho. Today, this road is used as one of the stages of the world rally championship, and as a tourist attraction. With the declaration of natural reserves (and national park area of the Quebrada del Condorito), it is expected that the impact of the tourism on the ecology of the region will be measured and controlled to better protect the local ecology.Mining
Mining in the area is limited, as it has been proven that mining is devastatingly detrimental to the area's ecology. There are a few mines in the area that were established prior to the creation of the reserve, and they operate under strict environmental controls. The most notable of the mines in the area is the uranium mine of the Los Gigantes, property of ADARSA, which extracts and processes material for the nuclear power plants of EmbalseEmbalse
Embalse is the Spanish word for "reservoir". It is found in many place names. If otherwise unqualified, it might refer to:* Embalse, Córdoba, a town in Argentina.* Embalse nuclear power plant, located near the above....
and Atucha
Atucha I nuclear power plant
Atucha I is one of two operational nuclear power plants of Argentina. It is located in the town of Lima, Zárate, Buenos Aires, about from Buenos Aires, on the right-hand shore of the Paraná de las Palmas River....
.
Legislation
The region was declared a Provincial Water Reserve in 1999 due to the area receiving the most precipitation in the province (in the form of both rain and snow), providing most of the water resources for Cordoba and surrounding provinces.This transforms the area into the most important watershed of central Argentina.
Referenced Sources
- GEUNA, Silvana E., ESCOSTEGUY, Leonardo D., MIRO, Roberto et al. La susceptibilidad magnética del batolito de Achala (Devónico, Sierra Grande de Córdoba) y sus diferencias con otros granitos achalianos. Revista Asociación Geológica Argentina, jul./sep. 2008, vol.63, no.3, p. 380-394. ISSN 0004-4822.
- Refugio de Animales Autóctonos por decreto 1174/64 dentro de Decreto Ley de Caza 4046/58, art. 25.
- Veda Permanente de Caza. Resoluciones Anuales en marco de Decreto Ley de Caza 4046/58.
- Ley de Creación del Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito 24.749/96.
- Decreto de creación de la Reserva Hídrica Provincial de Achala N 361 del 31 de marzo de 1999.
- Reserva Hídrica provincial de Achala – Secretaría de ambiente – Gobierno de la provincia de Córdoba.
- Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito - Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba
See also
- Sierras de Córdoba
- Sierras Grandes
- Sierras PampeanasSierras pampeanasThe Sierras pampeanas or Pampas Sierras is a geographical region of Argentina.The Sierras pampeanas are a chain of mountains that rise sharply from the surrounding pampa region of Northwest Argentina...
- Quebrada del Condorito
- Quebrada del Yatán
External links
- Fundación Cóndor
- Página con información general sobre Córdoba
- Fundación para la protección del Ambiente
- Reserva Hídrica Provincial de Pampa de Achala
- Pampa de Achala, una experiencia personal
- Mina Clavero
- Córdoba virtual
- Barrameda
- Areas Protegidas de Córdoba
- Quebrada del condorito
- Welcome to Argentina (Página privada de Parques Nacionales Argentinos)
- Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba (Parque Nacional Quebrada del Condorito)
- Aves de la región pampeana
- Aves silvestres
- Aves del Chaco y Corrientes
- Región Traslasierra