martes, 2 de octubre de 2007

LOS ALISOS NATIONAL PARK

The los Alisos National Park Field hoards the most beautiful landscapes of Tucumán's Province, being the most southern protected exponent of our Yungas's exiguous and most valuable Jungle.
Nailed in the high summits of the Aconquija, the austral prolongation of the calchaquíes valleys, the los Alisos National Park encloses natural and cultural richnesses.
This Park also protects, as archaeological patrimony, the remains of inca constructions from great astronomic significance (The Ciudacita, Camino del Inca).
With the creation of this National Park it was given the first step in the protection of Aconquija's sierras.

LOCATION
It is in Chicligasta's Department, in Tucumán's Province and occupies an approximate surface of 10.000 hectares.
It was created in 1995 to protect to a representative sector of the jungle and mountainous forest and of the altoandino biome. http://www.argentinaxplora.com/activida/parques/parc/calisos.htm

ASPECTS OF IT’S NATURE
This National Park is on the oriental hillside of the Nevados of the Aconquija, which summits border Catamarca's Province, between the rivers Las Pavas in the northern part and Jaya in the southern part. It spreads from 847 to 5.200 m. high, being it’s more out-standing height the Cerro de la Bolsa.

CLIMATE
Subtropical highland

SITES OF INTEREST
Inside The area of the Park, to the 4.200 m.s.n.m. locate the pircas of the "Ciudacita", the most important archaeological pre-Columbian deposit of the Argentine Northwest and of great astronomic significance.
There aren’t any accomodations for the visitors. The closest Fuel Station is in Concepción's City 18 km from there.
The ruins of inca civilizations are above the 4000 meters. To go there it is necessary to ride on mule for 8 days. Ruinas del casco de estancia, of English style, are at 1700 meters.

OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE ZONE
You can also visit the Menhire park, the Jesuit Museum, the pre-inca ruins and the Estancias opened for the tourism in Tafí del Valle(100 Km). There are Cavalcades from Tafí del Valle. Quilmes's Ruins are 76 Km from Tafí.

HOW TO GET THERE
From the city of San Miguel take N ° 38 rout towards the south, up to Concepción's city (80 km). From there carry on torwards the village of Alpachiri in the west, 14 km. Then it is necessary to continue towards the west 10 km on a dirt track in very poor conditions, up to The Jaya this is a limit of the National Park. To enter it is necessary to walk several hours along a risky path, because of it, who are not experienced adventurers must abstain.


ap/05_alisos_PN/05_alisos_PN.htm


INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR
Due to the recent creation of this National Park, it does not possess still the services needed for the attention of the visitors. It is recommended for the tourist to require information in the Technical Regional Delegation Northwest (Delegación Técnica Regional Noroeste), in the city of Salta, if you want to visit the Park.

ADDRESS
Los Alisos National Park
24 de septiembre 2.044
Mail Box: 43(4.146)
Concepción Tucumán,
Argentina
Telephone: (038) 65-421734.

LA CIUDACITA


Near The highest level of altitude, the Park preserves an archaeological site of great importance for the study of the Incas facilities and activities in the Argentine Northwest: the Ruins called La Ciudacita or “Pueblo Viejo” (4.300 m on the level of the sea), composed of two sectors of constructions joined by a paved way. One would correspond to the ceremonial enclosure or calasasaya and the other one to the group calledde los corrales, joined by a paved way of a kilometre of length and from two to three meters of width, with flagstones and big stones. The facilities dedicated to the ceremonial one possess a square of approximately three hundred square meters.
http://www.turismoentucuman.com/uploads/editor/images/Localidades/ciudacita_centro.jpg


The ruins were discovered in 1949 by a German geographer, though the natives knew her always as ' El Pueblo viejo'.
Both sets possess diverse types of structures of stone as circular, rectangular, quadrangular enclosures, squares and promontories. They constitute a sample of the inca settlements in it’s south border, the Inca province of the Collasuyu, interpreted as a great installation on which there are united different aspects of the social, political and economic organization of the Empire, where the symbolic, ritual, astronomic and political meaning is present and forms a completely indivisible part.
There are some conjectures on the possibility of a preponderantly military function, tied to the defense of the territories, resources and populations of the mountain and territories of the west, against the incursions of bellicose Indians and not submitted indians of the plains.

In the oriental high territories of the Nevados del Aconquija, up to 4400 meters on the level of the sea, you get to the ruins of Ciudacita and Sanctuaries of Height, which constitute one of the most important challenges for the archaeological investigation on the Argentine northwest.

It’s strange location and the greateness of it’s constructions, completely isolated of the ones found in the Salta valley of Yocavil, near Cafayate, are real mysteries. The debate of the archeologists concerns it’s antiquity and it’s origin. There exist some attitudes that hold that La Ciudacita would have belonged to the Incas and, in consequence, it would have approximately five hundred years, if it is considered that the Inca culture came to the calchaquíes valleys fifty years before the Spanish discoverers. Other experts think that it’s mentors would have been descendants from the aymará, of the Tihuanaco empire and, which go back for more than two thousand years.
http://www.turismoentucuman.com/resize2.asp?path=uploads/tabla_fotos/244-20064142359-ciudacita5.jpg&width=530&height=400
One of it’s sides is perfectly adjusted to the border of the mountain, like a great balcony, against an unsurpassable sight of Tucumán’s pains. The researchers think the purpose of this space was astronomic, with the aim to observe the nature.

ADDRESS
Los Alisos National Park
24 de Septiembre 2.044
Mail Box: 43 (4.146)
Concepción, Tucumán
Argentina
Telephone: (038 65-421734).


THE LAGUNA DEL TESORO

The laguna del Tesoro is one of the best kept destinations in Tucumán. It is inside the Provincial Cochuna Park, surrounded by the highest peaks of the Nevados del Aconquija mountains. This Lagoon is 1.880 meters high and the best time to visit her is in spring (September - November) and autumn (March - May) in which the low temperatures and the summer rains are sometimes avoided.

To get to the Lagoon is not an easy task; in spite of the attempt of exploiting the zone, the roads are not in the best conditions. Nonetheless, the lovers of trekking, of camps and especially of ecotourism, are attracted by this Argentine North jewel.

After crossing sinuous roads and after crossing the Soñador creek and the abrupt slopes, you will come near Slope of the desesperado, after crossing 15 kilometres by foot or by horse you arrive to this magnificent mirror of water. The color of the water is a greenish quoit and is nourished of small slopes from the north draining off for it’s extreme south.
Laguna del Tesoro - Photograph taken by: Consejo Federal de Inversiones (CFI)
The history of the Lagoon goes back to the time of the Spanish conquest. A version of the myth tells that the former aborigens of the region (probably of the Inca culture) that were residing in the Nevados del Aconquija, were chased and submitted by the Spanish, so they threw their treasures (gold, silver, jars and other valuable belongings) inside the Lagoon.

The legend tells that the one who should try to steal the treasure from the bottom of the lagoon will be attacked by a mythological bull with gold horns. Another one of the most known versions say that in times of the Inca empire the news of the capture of Atahualpa were made known, the last Inca and the heir of the whole empire was captured and the were demanding all their wealth to save the life of the Inca emperor for ransom.

The inhabitants of Andalgalá's zone, and more precisely the ones established in Pucará, reduced the gold and made a magnificent chain of several meters of length. Every link of the thickness of a man’s fist. With this precious load, they went out course to the imperial center, throug el camino del Inca, which was crossing the jungle. The journey came up to a lagoon, where Atahualpa's execution was anounced. There, they decided to throw into the lagoon, their mos valuable wealth. From that moment on it was named the"Laguna del Tesoro".

These traditional stories combined with the spectacular landscapes where the nature prevails in a virgin zone, are worth knowing.

The common ways of access to the lagoon are by foot or by horse, and also by crossing the bridge of the Cochuna river.

The lagoon is surrounded with high mountains of profuse vegetation and notable color, which is reflected in the mirror of the water. In the winter the meadows and sorroundings are shown covered with snow.
http://www.sectur.gov.ar/IMGS2/RUTAS/nororeste/parque-prov-el-cochuna.jpg
Cochuna's Park is furrowed by a vast fluvial net, where there are plenty trouts; the lagoon also has it’s attraction for the fishermen. Splendid specimens can be obtained of pejerreyes (an argentinian fish).
Interesting Destinations in Tucumán :

1) Ciudacita; Parque Nac. Los Alisos; Laguna del Tesoro
2) Ruinas de Lules; Famaillá
3) Historic District S. M. de Tucumán(Sgo., Gral. Paz, Avellaneda, Salta)
4) Casa Obispo Colombres; Parque 9 de Julio; Paseo de los Artesanos
Las Yungas
5) San Javier; Loma Bola; Villa Nougués
6) Yeba Buena; Horco Molle
7) Raco; Siambón; Cadillal
8) Complejo Arquitectonico: Casino, San Martin T., Legislature.
Calchaqui Valleys
9) Ampimpa/Infiernillo; Amaicha del Valle; Mollar
10) Tafi del Valle
11) Quilmes
12) Colalao del Valle/ El Pichao
Choromoro Circuit
13) San Pedro de C.; Trancas; Hualinchay
14) Simoca; Escaba; Ibatín

*Location
*Direcctions
*Accommodations
*Attractions
*Where to eat (gastronomy)
*Interesting sites
*Historical backrounds
*Pics
*Maps