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GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
Malargue is the largest district in Mendoza Province. The total
surface is very similar to that of the whole of Tucumán Province
with 41,500 square kilometres. Being as it is very close to the
Andes, the average altitude is about 1,400 metres above sea level.
DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF MALARGUE
It is not easy to talk about Malargue if one does not take into
account two very central components of nature, which are water and
high point formations. These two components have modelled and
influenced very significantly not only the landscape and its
richness but also the lives of those who chose this land to live
here and enjoy it.
But, the most striking feature for those visiting is the modelling
of the territory, especially the majestic Central Cordillera, the
many valleys and canyons, the unbeatable volcanic fields in La
Payunia and the central flat lands ending in the Llancanelo Lake
amongst many other geo-formations.
The Central Cordillera (the only chain of mountains separating the
district from the Republic of Chile) is actually the geological
history of Mendoza and of Argentina. It is a very young chain since
it started to be formed around 65 million years ago and it has an
average height of 3,500 metres.
It shelters many glacier and river valleys with huge water wealth
which is tremendously important for the province, such as the basins
of the Salado, Grande and Malargue Rivers.
This massive chain includes many young volcanoes which work as great
glacier and snow reservoirs. Amongst these volcanoes, we can mention
the volcanic family including: the “Planchón”, “Peteroa”, “Azufre”,
“Descabezado Grande,” “Azul” and “Quizapu” Volcanoes.
Volcanic records confirm the presence of eruptions since the year
1500; however, there is evidence of intense activity much before
that year.
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As an example of this and acting as a witness of that
activity, we can mention the presence of ashes all around
the district due to an eruption of the Quizapu in 1932 which
covered with ashes a large surface of the Mendoza Province
as well important chunks of other provinces. |
The climatic conditions are dominated by air masses coming over from
the Pacific Ocean generating snow fall in winter which feed the
above mentioned river systems. During summer, and depending on the
intensity of the air masses, it receives humid winds from the
Atlantic Ocean which bring torrential rains and swell the streams
and rivers coming down from the mountains and the lower hills.
The climate, the kind of relief and the soils, all have an influence
on the vegetation growth adapted to altitude conditions, low
temperatures and the dryness of the air.
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