Punilla Valley
- 31.033333333333 - 64.5Koordinaten: 31 ° 2 '0 "S, 64 ° 30 ' 0 " W
The Valle de Punilla is a valley in the Eastern Sierras de Córdoba, in central Argentina ( Cordoba province ). It stretches for about 100 kilometers in north-south direction and is one of the main tourist centers of the country ( approximately 2.5 million visitors per year).
The name Punilla announced the coming of the Spaniards in Peru the valley probably because areas and the western plateaus, called Pampas Serranas, reminded her of the in the central Andean plateau of the Puna. Another interpretation is derived from the name of a bush plant that bears the name Punilla, commonly found in the valley.
- 2.1 Departamento Punilla
- 2.2 Cities and towns ( from north to south )
Geography
Location
The valley lies between the two mountain ranges of the Sierra Grande in the west and the Sierra Chica in the east, while the climb to the lower Sierra Chica is much more abrupt than the slowly rising western slope, with its numerous side valleys. The most significant peak is the 1,949 meter high Uritorco in the northern part of the valley, the valley itself increases in height from Los Cocos to 1,300 meters elevation.
Hydrography
In the south of the valley is the San Roque dam, which is drained by the Río Suquía to the east, the source of drinking water of the city of Córdoba. The main tributaries of the lake are the Río San Antonio in the south and the Rio Cosquín and the Río Pintos in the north.
Flora and Fauna
The area is covered by scrub forest of Monte, which was, however, now converted for the most part in the cultural landscape. The local wildlife was also decimated by humans, it remained mainly small animals ( armadillos, rabbits ) and reptiles ( Yarará Snake ).
Climate
The climate is subtropical and moderately dry, the rainfall occurs almost exclusively in the summer months. In winter it is possible to and from a little snow, but solid snow encountered only rarely. The summers are warm and winters mild. Especially in the north long periods of drought are possible, which often lead to forest fires, especially in the extremely dry winter.
Population
The valley is densely populated and has a total of approximately 160,000 permanent residents. The southern half is farmed throughout, here are also the main cities; total counts to the area a metropolitan area of 25 kilometers eastern provincial capital Córdoba to do so.
The population is mostly of European descent, the majority make the city fugitives from the nearby Cordoba, but also internal migrants from Buenos Aires. In La Cumbre and La Falda, there are significant, long-established British and Jewish communities. The indigenous natives, however, are extinct as a distinct people, although there are many mestizos in the region.
Departamento Punilla
The valley forms along with some villages on the plateau to the west, the independent department Punilla. Capital is Cosquín. The extreme north of the valley belongs to the Cruz del Eje department.
Towns and cities ( from north to south )
- Charbonier (2,000 inhabitants), starting point for Rock Formation Los Terrones, the grotto of Ongamira
- San Marcos Sierras (2,000 inhabitants), known center of dropouts and naturists popular destination for backpackers, approximately 20 kilometers west, in a tributary. It is known that honey festival in the summer.
- Capilla del Monte ( 11,000 inhabitants), tourist resort at the foot of Cerro Uritorco with various trekking routes, popular with ufologists and mystics, as the region allegedly radiates positive energy.
- Los Cocos ( 3,500 inhabitants), family friendly resort with many amusement parks and labyrinths, highest village in the valley, nature reserve.
- La Cumbre (8,500 inhabitants), popular holiday resort and the center of the paragliders - sport, popular at Easter because of its statue of Christ and his Way of the Cross
- La Falda (20,000 inhabitants including the suburbs Villa Giardino, Valle Hermoso and Huerta Grande), highly frequented tourist resort with a small reservoir and old English manor houses, Great Cuckoo Clock
- Cosquín ( 35,000 inhabitants including the suburbs of Santa María de Punilla and Bialet Massé ), capital of the department Punilla, known for his folk and rock festival in the summer and its good opportunities for swimming on the River Cosquín. East of the town is the well known as a lookout mountain Cerro Pan de Azucar, to a cable car.
- Villa Carlos Paz ( 55,000 inhabitants, with its numerous suburbs 80,000 ), the largest city of the valley, the center of tourism in the Lago San Roque, with very complete tourist infrastructure and a rich nightlife.
- Cuesta Blanca, Playa de los hippies, famous dropout colony, which was created at the time of the military dictatorship.
National Park Quebrada del Condorito
The National Park Quebrada del Condorito is the only national park in the province of Córdoba. It is located in the extreme southwest part of the valley on a plateau, which belongs to the Sierras Grandes. Is managed alongside the mountain generally especially a ravine nest on their slopes condors. The birds can be observed from multiple viewpoints at the gorge, which in turn are accessible via a walking path and an extra signposted mountain bike path.
The starting point is located on National Route 20 about 40 kilometers southwest of Villa Carlos Paz in La Punilla and is also served by public buses, with parking at the restaurant El Cóndor five kilometers to the west.