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Fields of La Aguada, Las Quijadas National Park, province of San Luis
A special geological formation in the centre-north of the Jaws Mountain Range (Sierra de las Quijadas, in Spanish)
Sedimentary marine and continental basins were formed during the Mesozoic around the world. It is then, 120 million years ago, during the Inferior Cretaceous times, that the Jaws Mountain Range (Sierra de las Quijadas, in Spanish) was formed.
There, in the centre-north of the Jaws Mountain Range, there is a special geological formation, in what is known as the Potrero de la Aguada (or Fields of La Aguada).
It consists of a huge natural amphitheatre completely surrounded by steep sandstone walls and red agglomerates, in which the wind and pluvial and fluvial waters erosion have dug a depression of important dimensions, which is surrounded by tall cliffs.
The fluvial waters that have eroded these lands can be imagined as a system of ephemeral, wandering rivers of which the abandoned riverbeds were invaded by sand banks during droughts.
In relation to the formation of these cliffs, at first, four layers were settled on the basin. With the folding that took place due to the tectonic activity, the basins were curved, rising above sea level, exposed to the sun, water and wind. Later, the erosion left the hard rocks discovered, which in prior times constituted mire.
Among the flora that is generated in these conditions the “chica” can be found, a small endemic tree of the Cuyo region, which has a slow growth and a very hard wood.
Bush species also predominate, as well as diverse cactus and bromeliaceae.
The environment has also some contributions from the Chaco region, e.g. white quebracho tree, carob tree, etc.
Guanacos, rabbits, Patagonian hares, and pumas, are inhabitants of this area; as well as a few endangered species, e.g. the common turtle, the Peregrine Falcon, the crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), the pink fairy armadillo and the yellow cardinal.
About this article...
Author of the article: Grondona Olmi, Verónica
Sources employed:
- www.parquesnacionales.gov.ar on June 8, 2010
- Elda Di Paola y David Rivarola. Sierra de las Quijadas. Boletin de Divulgación Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Buenos Aires. 1991. 1.
- "El País que no Miramos" ("The Country we have not Seen"), a series of documentaries for television produced by Ivan Grondona. Archivo General de la Nación ("Argentina's National Archive"), Video 49, programme 10.
Translated by: Veronica Grondona
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