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| San Antonio de los Cobres | ||
| province | Salta | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 5.482 (2001) | |
| height | 3,775 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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San Antonio de los Cobres is a small town in the northwest Argentina and lies in Andean region of the province of Salta at an altitude of 3,775 m on the Puna- plateau. The city, which was formerly rich in an important mine, was the capital of the National Territory of Los Andes was, is now impoverished after its closure.
The city is the service center of the sparsely populated northwestern part of the province of Salta and therefore a must for travelers visiting the Quebrada del Toro and the Puna region of the province, the famous train also stops Tren a las Nubes here. Otherwise tourism is of little importance.
background
San Antonio is located on the Puna plateau in a valley above the Quebrada del Toro, a delightful rock valley with colorful landscape formations similar to that of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This fact alone makes it interesting for travelers, because if you are traveling by car or bus, you will find accommodation and food here. San Antonio de los Cobres has only a few sights, but the traditional adobe architecture provides a similar flair as in the more famous places of the Puna and Quebradas. The brown one Cerro del Cobre gives the city its own character.
The city gained its importance in 1901 when the previously insignificant village became the capital of the national territory Los Andes was appointed. This territory was mainly composed of previously disputed areas that had been ceded by Bolivia and Chile in various wars. In 1943, however, the territory was given up again after the population had barely increased during that time. As a result, San Antonio stagnated economically and had increasing social problems, many of the residents emigrated to the east of the province of Salta.
Today San Antonio de los Cobres is very impoverished, according to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, more than 60 percent of households belong to the category with the worst indicators for the quality of housing (CALMAT). Mining has almost stalled and emigration continues to be strong. From tourism to the Tren a las Nubes could hardly benefit San Antonio de los Cobres.
San Antonio is one of the highest places in Argentina. Especially travelers who come from Salta without stopping can therefore get altitude sickness, especially asthmatics should take a break halfway up the mountain.
getting there
By plane
By train
On the railway line C-14who have favourited San Antonio with Salta and Calama (Chile) connects, today only the tourist train runs Tren a las Nubes. The one that previously ran weekly tren mixto, a combined freight and passenger train with significantly lower prices, has not yet been put into operation again (as of 2010).
In the street
On the street is San Antonio across that Ruta Nacional 51 accessible from Salta. There are buses 2-3 times a week.
By boat
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Polvorilla Viaduct, about 15 km west in a valley. Highest railway bridge in Argentina at 4,200 m height, 222 m long.
- San Antonio de Padua Church. Neocolonial, simple building from the beginning of the 20th century.
activities
shop
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
- Hotel Belgrano, Belgrano s / n. Tel.: 54 (0387) 4909025.
- Hostería de las Nubes. Tel.: 54 4909059. Best and most expensive hotel in town.
- Hostería Inti Huasi, Zavaleta y Avellaneda. Tel.: 54 4909035.
health
Practical advice
trips
- Tastil. Ruined city of a pre-Columbian civilization. The archaeological site is located on the RN 51 between Campo Quijano and San Antonio de los Cobres and is the largest of its kind in Argentina. In the nearby small village Santa Rosa de Tastil there are no accommodation or food options.
- Abra del Acay. America's highest motorable road pass is located south of San Antonio de los Cobres at an altitude of 4,990 m. The easiest way to get to the pass is from San Antonio.
