Geography


The province of Salta, located in the north of Argentina, amazes the traveler with its geographical and cultural heterogeneity and a strong tradition.  Its territory has an area of 155,488 square kilometers (4.1% of the national total) and covers all types of landscapes: from the aridity of the Puna desert in the west to the lush green of the jungle in the east, through valleys and steep ravines in the center of the province.  

It is bordered by three countries: Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay; with all of them it is connected by land routes that can be traveled by any vehicle.  

At 1616 Km. from the City of Buenos Aires (capital of the Argentine Republic), it borders with six Argentine provinces: Jujuy, Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca; due to its location, air and land connectivity, the diversity and quality of its services, it is considered the center of the Region.  

Due to its geographical position, it is the communications hub between northern Chile, northwestern Argentina and the border areas of Bolivia and Paraguay.  

Its coordinates are:  

North: 22 ° 00' south latitude.
South: 26 ° 23' south latitude
East: 62 ° 21' west longitude
West: 68 ° 33' west longitude.  

 Its capital is the City of Salta, where the seat of government is located. 

The territory of the province of Salta is divided into 23 departments and the largest is Rivadavia, which has 25,740 km. and the smallest is Cerrillos with 525 km.

Weather


SALTA WEATHER

In the tourist areas of the Valleys and Puna, there is a wide temperature range between day and night, varying the temperature between 10 to 15 ºC, so it is advisable to bring a light coat for summer nights and a good coat for winter. It is also necessary to have a hat or cap and sunglasses for protection.

Its climate is defined as Subtropical Serrano with dry season. In the tropical zone it has a warm climate, although with quite marked variations in its different regions, depending on the variety of its relief.

The orientation of its mountain ranges influences the distribution of rainfall: In the eastern region the semi-arid climate with dry season predominates, with an annual average rainfall of around 500 mm and average temperatures in the order of 20° C, having registered temperatures higher than 35°C in summer and -5°C in winter, a marked thermal amplitude typical of continental territories.

The altiplano, Puna, is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations and low rainfall, which mostly does not exceed 200 mm per year, and average annual temperatures of around 10° C, corresponding to the arid Andean climate.

In stark contrast to the previous zones, the valleys, ravines and sierras have a milder climate, which is where the main agricultural activities and the bulk of the population are concentrated. Here the average annual rainfall reaches 1000 mm. The average summer temperatures exceed 20° C, and in winter, the average temperature is less than 14° C.

Clothing
In the tourist areas of the Valleys and Puna, there is a wide temperature range between day and night, varying the temperature between 10 to 15 ºC, so it is advisable to wear a light coat for summer nights and a good coat for winter. It is also necessary to have a hat or cap and sunglasses for protection.