La Mesada (Iruya)

La Mesada is a village in northwestern Argentina. It is part of the Department Iruya in Salta Province, lying northeast of the village Iruya and 4 km west of the village on the river Aguanita Nazareno, at 3000 m altitude in the Sierra El Arpero, a mountain range in the Eastern Andes. La Mesada consists of the two districts of La Grande and La Mesada Mesada Chica.

La Mesada has the status of a civil association called Centro de La Aborigen Mesada Grande ( center of the indigenous inhabitants of La Grande Mesada ). Around 40 families live in La Mesada. The village has a small, sparsely equipped infirmary, a primary school ( escuela N ° 4212 ) and a church community and builds corn and potatoes for their own use.

The path of Iruya to La Mesada leads along the rivers Iruya and Nazareno, which have to be crossed at several points. With riding animals ( 7-8 hours) or all-terrain vehicles, this is possible in the months of July to October. The final piece to the village it is only on foot or riding animals. In the rainy months from November to June swell the rivers to too much, so that only the significant detour on mule tracks of the mountain slopes remains.