Established 1996 Province Salta Province | Area 650 km² | |
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Location Salta Province, Argentina Governing body Administración de Parques Nacionales Address Intendencia Parque Nacional Los Cardones: Plazoleta perpendicular a kilómetro 4510, Barrio Nuevo- localidad CP 4415., RN40, Payogasta, Salta, Argentina Hours Open today · 9:30AM–6PMMonday9:30AM–6PMTuesday9:30AM–6PMWednesday9:30AM–6PMThursday9:30AM–6PMFriday9:30AM–6PMSaturday9:30AM–6PMSunday9:30AM–6PM Management Administración de Parques Nacionales | ||
Los cardones national park
The Los Cardones National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Los Cardones) is a national park of Argentina, located in the center-west of the province of Salta, within the San Carlos and Cachi Departments, in the Argentine Northwest.
Contents
The park has an area of 650 square kilometres, with hills and ravines at the height levels between 2,700 m and 5,000 m. It gets its name from the prevalence of bush formations of cardon grande cactus. It features fossil remains of extinct animals, as well as dinosaur tracks.
The protected area was created in 1996, when the National Parks Administration acquired the land from private owners.
Climate
Most of the park has an arid climate that is characterized by a large thermal amplitude (large difference between day and night temperatures). The park receives an average rainfall of 150 mm (5.9 in); most of it falling between November to March. Snowfall is extremely rare in low-lying areas. Mean temperatures range from 11 °C (51.8 °F) in winter to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in summer.