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Las Parinas

Recherche avancée

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Argentine (Amérique latine et Caraïbes)

Date de soumission : 15/11/2001
Critères: (viii)(ix)(x)
Catégorie : Mixte
Soumission préparée par :
Delegacion Permanente de la Republica Argentina ante la UNESCO
Coordonnées
25°57' - 27°50' S 66°42' - 69°05' W
Ref.: 1584

Description

I. 1. Natural Heritage

This region belongs to the northern extreme of the Geological Province Cordillera Frontal and to the southern extreme of the Geological Province Puna. Both gather a few kilometers north of San Francisco Pass in the "Sierra de Buenaventura". The Puna shows depressions with upgoing steps to the west, separated by southward ranges which reach the 5,900 m in the East up to 6,400 m in the West

The volcanic morphology is dominant with numerous cones and big lava deposits of different composition and pyrociastic material forming big plains such as the "Piedra Pomez" to the south of the Carachl Pampa Salt Flat.

The Cordillera Frontal has the same volcanic morphology. Here are located the two highest volcanoes of the American Continent, Pissis and Ojos del Salado. Common are also the depressions and the endorreic watersheds and lagoons, being the largest ones Laguna Verde and Aparejo. The central and eastern sector of the Cordillera Central are similar to the Puna in its physiographic shape

Weather is extremely cold and dry, almost daily temperatures go below 00 and annual average rainfalls are lower than the 200 mm. Rigour is emphasized by the daily thermal difference (up to 300 C between maximum and minimum) and frequent strong winds (up to 70 km/h)

Despite its extreme aridity, there are some unimportant permanent courses of water which feed the lakes and lagoons of the region.

The and central Puna is an ecosystem of particular beauty, characterized by a flora and a fauna adapted to these heights and temperatures.

The natural heritage shows a series of mountain landscapes of particular beauty, predominantly arid, and is highlighted by the volcanoes, the high plateaux, the extensive salt flats, scarce flora, and the wild fauna, narrow rivers and wetlands which gather regional species of aquatic birds, endemic and migratory such as the flamingo of the Andes (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and the James flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), "gallareta cornuda" (Fulica Comuta) and "gallareta gigante" (Fulica Gigantea), "ganso andino" (chleophaga metanoptera) and flocks of migratory waders. Wild animals including the "vicufia" (Vicugna Vicugna), the "vizcacha" (lagidium sp), "gato andino" (Oreailurus Jacobita), the "tuco-tuco" (ctenomys sp), the "suri" (Pterocnemia pennata) and the "inambues" (tinamidae) also depend on the wetlands to survive.

The area has low demographic density and small urban conglomerates, being Antofagasta de la Sierra, its most important, with 750 people.

Main activity of local people is the "llama" (lama lama) and the sheep breeding for obtaining fiber, and secondly, meat and milk. Animal handling is extensive and nomadic using the wetlands and the meadows. In the meadows there are agricultural exploitations and in some scarce lands with irrigation.

Crafty textile products of animal origin - llama and sheep - are significant for the regional economies and due its quality and design they are worldwide acknowledged.

67% of the surface are fiscal provincial lands.



I. 2. Cultural Heritage



Only a few places - and maybe this is the only one - can offer a long history such as the Antofagasta de la Sierra area, where the most ancient prehispanic followed by the arrival of the Spaniards and their late descendants, a mixture of the natives with the indigenous inhabitants, up to the conformation of the present rich culture.

Ten thousands years ago, the area was inhabited by small groups of men and women with an economy based in the hunting of animals and the collection of wild plants, and provided they had a territory relatively extended, major access to bigger number of resources was granted, mainly concentrated in ravines and meadows. These settlements had a variable lasting and usually its inhabitants used caves and other natural shelters to protect themselves.

There are some remnants of these settlements; mainly the Quebrada Seca 3, in a ravine at 4,050 m above sea level, and tributary to River Las Pitas. This site, which was inhabited during 6,000 years, shows the dependency on the hunting of the "guanaco" (lama guanicoe) and the "vicuna" (vicugna vicugna) supplemented with other resources including the vegetables.

Other sites next to the previous one, Quebrada Seca 1 and 2, Punta de la Pefia 4, Real Grande 3 and Cacao 1 show many testimonies of stone art represented by geometrical, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms which make evident the relevant spiritual and symbolic life of the hunters-collectors.

One of the most outstanding cultural components of Antofagasta de la Sierra is given by the archaeological details of an intimate evolutionary coexistence between animals and man (particularly Camlidae in that environment (the Puna) and the answers before environmental changes which took place along thousands of years up to the beginning of pastoral activities with Camelidae (around 1,500 BC). This is clearly represented at the site Pefias Chicas 1 where can be seen hunting and breeding scenes together which were their main activities.

They settled by the rivers with access to fertile lands for crops and cattle. For example, in site Casa Chavez Monticulos related to northern Chile by some kind of ceramics found there.

A thousand years ago, deep changes occurred in the Puna societies, mainly referred to a gradual, social and political development with evident signs in urban organization and in the farming sectors with irrigation; one of the best examples is the site Bajo del Coypar which was a village with a highly developed irrigation system, located just opposite to the site Casa Chavez Monticulos. The type of ceramics found in this place was classified as "Belen". Three hundred years later, this place being one of the most arid deserts in the world becomes a sophisticated system with a highly developed irrigation system covering around 800 hectares of cultivated fields, water channels, reservoirs, etc.

For the same time, at the foot of Volcano Antofagasta, the site La Alumbrera was settled besides the lagoon of the same name, a few hectares with black stone buildings (rooms, deposits, graves, paths, stairs, etc.) surrounded by a wall. Other significant places are Punta de la Pefia 2 and Campo Cortaderas.

In the XV Century, the lnka conquest played a significant role in the Antofagasta area. Mineral beds were a relevant attraction, both economic and political as well, for the lnka settlements. Remains related to important mineral beds are located mainly in the lnkahuasi mines (gold) and Cantera lnka (onyx). Later on, this southern part of the Puna became an inter- and intraregional communications hub during the lnka domination.

Briefly, these cultural testimonies in Antofagasta bring us the development of 10,000 years of human presence represented by the changes articulated in an environment considered, at least for us, "hostile".

Presently, these experiences let us add new economic alternatives based on the handling and sustainable exploitation of Camelidos. At the same time, the

appraisal of the whole system of natural and cultural richness of the area represents an element capable to foster the social and economic development of the communities of the region.



II.Preservation Values



II.1. Volcanism



The area is a complete representative sample of the volcanic landscape, with numerous volcanoes such as Pissis (6,882 m) and Ojos del Salado (6,864 m), the highest two in America



The site is in itself "a real museum of voicanism-at-open-air. Forms are in perfect fit due to the and weather and some lava flows, "fresh like the first day". The basalt plateaux show extraordinary examples of prismatic basaits, many of them, winding. Numerous cones show well preserved craters. All kinds of volcanism and lava, from the most basaltic to the most acid are present". (Dobremez, Dec. 2000)



Though all volcanoes are inactive, of the 44 volcanoes potentially active in the Central Andes, most of them are in this area. Some show fumaroles like the Galan which has the most extensive crater in the world with 40 kms long and its central chimney, 6000 m high



II. 2 Fauna



Lagoons and river basins are the habitat of viable populations of many endangered and endemic species:



·Aquatic birds such as "Flamenco de los Andes" (Phoenicoparrus andinus), "Flamenco de James" (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) with a reduced number of members have their habitat restricted during the summer to these wetlands. They were classified as "vulnerable" by the UICN, and appear in Appendix I of CMS and Appendix 11 of CITES. Due to its migratory feature, they depend on the wetlands which vary seasonally . Survival of these species depend on the protection of most of the Andean wetlands where they live.



·Other species like Fulica Comuta, Fulica Gigantea, Recurvirostra Andina, Podiceps Occipitalis and Lophonetta Specularoides are endemic and nesting in the area. Lagoon La Alumbrera is highlighted by the richness of the species and the exclusive environments, with emerging aquatic vegetation.



·There are "vicuhas" in the river basins, the smallest of the American Camelidae which provides a capital input for local craftsmanship: the finest wool in the world. After being endangered during a period, the number has grown up to more than 30,000 in this place. Also there are "suris" and the "condor" (Vultur Gryphus)

·These are also natural habitats used by the following endangered species: chinchilla (chinchilla), gato andino (Oreailurus Jacobita), zorro Colorado (Dusicyon Culpaeus) and puma (Puma Concolor)

·In one lagoon, the Laguna Grande, around 12,000 James Flamingos gather during the summer, a number which accounts for almost the 20% of the whole specie



II. 3. Eco-system of High Andean Steppe and different kinds of wetlands

The region contains more than twelve endorreic lagoons of different sizes, including their relative catchment areas. Lagoons are surrounded by typically high Andean environments which are not present in any other protected area. The landscape with its volcanic environment, the diversity of the lagoons and the typical fauna, shows exclusive features.



II. 4. Regional Scale



The area of the lagoons of Catamarca constitutes a territorial patch suitable to connect as "stepping stones" the regional, seasonal habitats for migratory birds.



II. 5. Cultural Values



Archaeological sites that bear witness of the sequential settlements in the area during ten thousands years and the survival of cultural patrons in living traditions and syncretism due to contact and dissemination from other cultural centers.



III. Preservation Purposes



To protect:

·A highly representantive and extensive example of the Andean volcanic landscape comprising the highest peaks of the American Continent

·The Puna steppe which is not represented in any other protected area

·Endemic species with a high preservation value: phoenicoparrus andinus, phoenicoparrus jamesi, fulica comuta, fulica gigantea, chleophaga metanoptera,pterocnemia pennata, vicugna vicugna, puma concolor, chinchilla, oreailurus jacobita, vuftur griphus, dusicyon culpaeus et al.

·High Andean wetlands, unavoidable habitats for the preservation of the migratory, endemic species

·Archaeological and present cultural values