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LOS CARDONES NATIONAL PARK
Province of Salta

This national park is in the uplands of Salta Province. It was created in 1996. It covers an area of some 65,000 ha of dry uplands and valleys from 2,700 to 5000 metres above sea level. There is a predominantly scrubby vegetation where the cardoon cactuses stand above the rest. The biomes represented in the park are Monte, Puna and High Andean.

ITS NATURAL ASPECTS
The giant candelabra cactuses of the Andean region grow as high as the 3400 meter contour are the emblematic species of the park. Another typical species is an acacia, small tree with the typical yellow pompom flowers.
The altitudinal gradient provides varied habitat for a greater variety of fauna than one would expect in such an arid area. More than 100 species of birds have been recorded for the park, the ornate tinamou, the puna tinamou and the puna hawk being some of them.

HOW TO GET THERE
The park is SW of the city of Salta and traversed by route 33 which goes to Cachi.

OF INTEREST TO THE VISITOR
As many parks of recent creation there are no facilities yet for the visitor. Take water and some protection from the sun.

Thanks to APN - Administración de Parques Nacionales