Salta (Province)

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Introduction

The North of Chile, North West of Argentina and South West of Bolivia are characterized by a phenomenon of great beauty, the magic salt flats. The salt flats are formed when a ground covered by a pool of water has a higher evaporation rate than precipitation. The salt flats could easily be a lake if they were situated in a different climate. Even though the plains of salt look like a very hard ground, there is plenty of water underneath. Some salt flats can be over 120 metres deep. A diversity of minerals can be found in such plains. Mainly Halite, which is the mineral form of sodium chloride, NaCl, commonly known as rock salt.

During the wet season in the southern hemisphere, rain comes and the salt flats are transformed into big lakes of amazing turquoise colours with really high mountains in the horizon.

Geography

In the North West of Argentina

Cities

Salta (Capital)

Sights and Activities

Train to the Clouds
Nineteen tunnels, twenty-nine bridges, nine sheds, heights of over 4200metres above sea level are reasons enough for this train to be famous all over the world. And the incredible mind of its project developer Richard Fontaine Maury. The name “Train to the Clouds” was originated by two Argentine cameramen that rode in the 60s from Salta to Socompa. They asked the mechanist if he could make the locomotive through lateral steam once they were in the high pass known as viaduct La Polvorilla. They filmed the steam while it came off from the sides and since there was very low temperature at the place, the steam clouds took longer to dissipate and caused the effect of riding above the clouds while watching them. Later on the shot taken by these two cameraman was on a movie titled “Tren a las Nubes” Train to the Clouds.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport (SLA), in Spanish Aeropuerto Internacional de Salta Martín Miguel de Güemes, is an airport about 6 km southwest of the city centre of Salta. In 2007 this airport almost had 400,000 passengers making it the busiest airport in the northern part of the country. This airport is the main hub for the Andes and served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, LAN Argentina, Andes Líneas Aéreas and Aerosur.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

For all those who are driving or are about to rent a 4wd vehicule. The pass of Abra del Acay in route 40 is open, it connects Cachi with San Antonio de los Cobres, though in very poor conditions at the time. I advice anyone that wants to do it to have a 4wd else don´t even think of it pls! The road is spectacular and allows you once you have reached the pass at almost 5000 mts over sea level to have an amazing view of the Puna (Argentine altiplano) as well as the far distant satflats.

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep