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| Puna Plateau | |
|---|---|
| Name | Puna Plateau |
| Native name | Altiplano Puna |
| Country | Argentina |
| Country1 | Chile |
| Region | Salta Province |
| Region1 | Jujuy Province |
| Region2 | Catamarca Province |
| Region3 | Antofagasta Region |
| Highest | Cerro del Fraile |
| Elevation m | 4500 |
| Area km2 | 180000 |
Puna Plateau The Puna Plateau is a high-elevation Andes plateau in the central South America interior that spans parts of Argentina and Chile. It forms a segment of the broader Altiplano-Puna complex and is bounded by prominent mountain ranges and volcanic belts such as the Cordillera Oriental (Bolivia), the Cordillera Occidental (Chile and Argentina), and the Central Volcanic Zone. The plateau is noted for its high plateaus, salt pans, and extensive volcanic fields, and has been the focus of geological, ecological, and anthropological research by institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
The plateau lies between the Eastern Cordillera and the Western Cordillera of the Andes, extending roughly across Jujuy Province, Salta Province, Catamarca Province, La Rioja Province, San Juan Province (northwestern margins), and into the Antofagasta Region of Chile and the Potosí Department periphery of Bolivia. Major geographic features include the salt flats of Salar de Pocitos, Salar de Antofalla, and the Salar de Arizaro near the city of San Antonio de los Cobres. The plateau hosts transit routes such as the Ruta Nacional 51 (Argentina) and passes near the Tren a las Nubes tourist railway; nearby urban centers include Salta (city), San Salvador de Jujuy, and Antofagasta (city).
The geology is dominated by Cenozoic volcanic rocks, ignimbrites, and Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic basement exposed in ranges like the Sierra de Aconquija and the Cordillera de la Ramada. The area coincides with the southern segment of the Central Volcanic Zone and hosts caldera complexes such as the Caldera del La Pacana and Salar de Hombre Muerto volcanic systems. Tectonically, the plateau results from the ongoing subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate, with crustal shortening and thickening similar to processes recorded at the Altiplano. Active volcanic centers include Llullaillaco, Licancabur, Cerro Galán, and Socompa, while mineral deposits link to provinces like Puna metal belt and mines such as Antofagasta PLC interests and local operations in the Catamarca Province mining districts. Geophysical studies by groups such as the United States Geological Survey have mapped crustal thickness, and geochronology using techniques developed at the Geological Survey of Argentina reveals extensive ignimbrite eruptions in the Miocene and Pliocene.
The plateau has a high-altitude cold desert climate influenced by the South Pacific High and the Bolivian Winter; precipitation is seasonal with summer convective storms linked to the South American Monsoon System. Diurnal temperature range is large, with strong solar radiation similar to conditions at Atacama Desert margins. Hydrologically, endorheic basins form closed salt pans including Salar del Hombre Muerto and ephemeral lakes such as Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde near Salar de Uyuni-related systems. Glacial and periglacial features occur on peaks like Nevado Ojos del Salado, and aquifers tapped by projects like the Salar de Hombre Muerto lithium project interact with surface saline wetlands that support birdlife studied by organizations like BirdLife International.
The plateau supports high-Andean ecosystems including puna grassland and salt flat habitats, with plant genera such as Stipa, Festuca, and cushion plants observed in transects by researchers from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). Fauna includes iconic species like the Vicuña, Guanaco, Andean fox, and avifauna such as the Andean flamingo, James's flamingo, Puna ibis, and migratory populations protected in sites akin to Ramsar wetlands. Microbial mats and extremophile communities occur in saline lagoons studied by teams from Universidad Nacional del Altiplano. The plateau's biodiversity is influenced by elevational gradients similar to those documented in the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot and conservation assessments by the IUCN.
Archaeological evidence links the region to pre-Columbian societies including the Tiwanaku, Diaguita, and Inca Empire frontiers; archaeological sites such as trails, funerary towers, and shrines have been recorded near passes used in the Qhapaq Ñan network. Colonial-era records by the Spanish Empire document mining and pastoral activities; modern indigenous groups include communities affiliated with Aymara and Quechua identities and regional organizations like the Asamblea del Pueblo Atacameño. Ethnohistoric studies by scholars at the University of Oxford and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile examine adaptations to high-altitude agriculture, pastoralism, and salt extraction practices.
Economic activities center on extensive pastoralism (llama and sheep herding), mining for metals and lithium brines with companies such as multinational mining corporations operating in nearby basins, and small-scale agriculture in irrigated valleys like those irrigated by rivers draining to the Bermejo River headwaters. Tourism targets natural attractions and archaeological sites, with services provided from cities like Salta (city) and San Pedro de Atacama; infrastructure investments include roads by national agencies and energy projects evaluated by the Inter-American Development Bank. Traditional salt harvesting and artisan crafts contribute to local livelihoods.
The plateau faces pressures from water extraction for mining, lithium brine development, and grazing impacts on fragile puna grasslands; conflicts involve stakeholders such as indigenous communities, national governments, NGOs like Conservación Patagónica, and industry. Conservation initiatives reference frameworks from the Convention on Biological Diversity and protected areas modeled after Los Flamencos National Reserve and other high-Andean reserves. Climate change projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate shifting precipitation and glacial retreat affecting water security and wetland persistence, prompting monitoring by institutions including UNESCO and regional research centers.
Category:Geography of Argentina Category:Plateaus of South America Category:Andes