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Salta

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Salta is a large and busy city in northern Argentina. It serves as the capital of the Salta province. The city is the most important center for culture and business in the Valle de Lerma area. More than half of the people in the province live in this surrounding region. In 2022, the city had a population of 627,704 people. This makes it the seventh largest city in all of Argentina.

The weather in Salta is very pleasant throughout the year. It has a subtropical highland climate. The city sits high up at 1,200 metres above sea level. This high position means there are four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and bring frequent thunderstorms. These heavy rains make the nearby mountains and hills look green and lush. Winters are very dry with very little rain. It can get quite cold at night with frost.

Salta has a very long and interesting history. A Spanish man named Hernando de Lerma founded the city on April 16, 1582. He wanted the city to be a stop between Peru and Buenos Aires. Later, a military leader named General Martín Miguel de Güemes defended the area. Between 1816 and 1821, he helped protect the city from Spanish forces. In the late 1800s, many immigrants arrived from Italy, Spain, and Britain. People from Syria and Lebanon also moved there. This made the city's culture very diverse.

There are many wonderful things to see in the city centre. You can visit the Ninth of July Square to see old buildings. The Cathedral Shrine and the Cabildo are located around this square. There is also a museum of archaeology that holds Inca artifacts. This museum even has the mummies of three Inca children. For a great view, you can go up San Bernardo Hill. You can reach the top by car, a stairway, or a cable car.

Life in Salta is full of sports and festivals. Many people there are very enthusiastic about football. Local clubs like Juventud Antoniana and Central Norte have many faithful fans. The city also hosts many international events. For example, it hosted the 1990 Basketball World Cup. People also enjoy the April Culture Festival. This festival lasts for the whole month of April. It features music, dance, and handmade crafts.

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