Population: 1,079,422 (2001).

Main Cities: Salta City, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Tartagal, General Güemes and Cafayate.

Description:

The province of Salta, situated in the northwestern region of Argentina, is bounded by the province of Jujuy and the Republic of Bolivia, on the north; the Republic of Paraguay and the provinces of Formosa and Chaco, on the east; the provinces of Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca, on the south; and the province of Jujuy and the Republic of Chile, on the west.

It has an area of 155,488 square kilometers (4.1% of the country total). From the natural and economic points of view different environments can be recognized. The north-center, in the sub-Andean sierras, shows poor economic integration; the Ramal area, with significant industrial crops and oil reserves; the woods of the Salta-Chaco region, which is a thinly populated area; Metán, once devoted to extensive cattle raising, has now joined in the agricultural activity due to the incorporation of irrigation; the Puna area, with mining as the predominant activity; and lastly, the most dynamic area, comprising the fertile central valleys, where agriculture is developed.

Due to Salta’s geographic location, climate is regarded as tropical, average temperatures ranging, in the capital, from 21.5°C/71°F in summer, to 10°C/50°F in winter. Rainfall is more frequent near the mountainous regions, due to the advection of humid air causing more precipitation in summer, and dry winters.

Political Organization and Demographic Structure:

This province, whose capital has the same name, is divided into 23 departments, with separate political and administrative powers.

Annual average growth rate is 25.7‰, while density amounts to 5.6 inhabitants per square kilometer. Urban population comes up to 79%. (1991).

Economic Structure:

In 1992, the primary sector contributed 18% to the value added of the total supply of goods and services. The secondary sector generated 36%, while the remaining 46% of the global economic activity corresponded to the supply of financial, transport and communications, commerce, tourism, and government services.

The structure of Salta’s economy is based on a group of fairly difersified primary activities, including industrial crops (such as tobacco), legumes (different varieties of dry beans), vegetables and citrus fruits (especially grapefruit and orange).

They are supplemented by Pampean productions (soya, animal husbandry), and the production of hydrocarbons and certain minerals. The industrial sector includes the processing of regional raw materials (tobacco, vegetables and fruits).

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