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Salta is the capital city of the Argentine province of Salta, located at the centre of that province.

The city has an area of 1,722 km² not counting the suburbs (or Gran Salta), and a population of 472,971 (2001 census [INDEC]).

Contents 1 Information 2 History 3 Sports 4 External links

Information

The city is located on the Valle de Lerma at coordinates 24°47′24″N, 65°24′36″W, 1152 meters above sea level. The weather is warm and dry (756 mm per year), with an annual average temperatures of 16.4°C, 20.4 in summer, and 10.8 in winter. January and February are the months with greatest rainfall.

Nicknamed in Spanish as Salta la Linda ("Salta the Beauty"), it is visited by a great many tourists because of its colonial architecture, the 18th century Cabildo, the Cathedral, and the Plaza 9 de Julio city park. It has also a number of museums, including the Museo de Alta Montaña, which houses the bodies of 3 Inca children found frozen at the summit of Mount Llullaillaco. Salta is also the starting point of the "Train to the Clouds" (Tren a las nubes), and a must stop to red-soiled Cafayate, as well as to other nearby tourist destinations.

The Martín Miguel de Güemes Airport (IATA: SLA, ICAO: SASA), which is located at coordinates 24°51′00″S, 65°29′00″W, 6 kilometres southeast of the city, has regular flights to Buenos Aires, Tucumán, Jujuy, Córdoba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).

History

Salta was founded on April 16, 1582 by the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma, who intended the settlement to be an outpost between Lima (Peru) and Buenos Aires.

During the war of independence from Spain, the city became a commercial and military strategic point between Peru and the Argentine cities. Between 1816 and 1821, the city was led by local military leader General Martín Miguel de Güemes, who under the command of General José de San Martín, defended the city and surrounding area from Spanish forces coming from further north.

Salta emerged from the War of Independence politically in disarray and financialy bankrupt, a condition that lingered throughout much of the 19th century. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of a Italian, Spanish and Arab immigrants, particularly Syrians and Lebanese, revived trade and agriculture all over the area while further enhancing the city's multicultural flavor.

Sports

Salta residents, just like most Argentinians, are very enthusiastic about football; the most important local clubs are: Juventud Antoniana, Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta and Central Norte. All three of them are followed by many faithful fans, though only Juventud Antoniana currently plays at second division, while the other two play in lower divisions. Other popular sports are baseball (a game in which Salta players excell nationally), basketball, rugby and mountaineering.

External links

• Satellite picture by Google Maps
• City history (Spanish)
• Salta Tourist Office: Salta Capital (Spanish)

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