Is located in the province of Jujuy. It comprises an area of 76.306 hectares,
on the west slope of Calilegua Mountain range, with a very steep mountain
relief. The economical activities of the first inhabitants of this area,
the San Francisco aboriginal group, were hunting and collecting fruit.
During the spanish occupation, the main activities were mining and cattle
raising. Sugar industry started at the begining of this century, turning
the transition jungles in the flatlands into crop field.
In 1979, the Ledesma sugar company donated land for the creation of Calilegua
National Park.
The purpose of this Park is to protect a representative sample of the
Mountain Jungle or Yunga, and to preserve an important river basin which
supplies water to the agricultural areas and populations nearby.
GENERAL INFORMATION: The Park has a great difference in height due to is location
on the mountain slope. This causes a great difference in rainfalls: around
800 mm. at the lowest areas, up to 1800 mm. in the high mountain jungles.
The winters are dry and mild, with an average temperature of 17º
C. It often snows on the hilltops between june and september. The summers
are hot, with maximum temperatures above 40º c. The rain season is
fron November to April.
This jungle goes from the mountain base, at 450 m. above sea level, to
the mountain tops, above 3600 m.high. This difference in height produces
great variety in the types of vegetation, which grow in noticeably different
communities, although the transition from one to the other is gradual.
Calilegua offers an only environment of tropical rain forest with the
largest biodiversity in Argentina.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Drive slowly. Remember this is an enjoyment area. Keep the volume of your radio down. Build fires only at the fire sites, away from the trees.
Use dry wood. Extinguish yuor fire completely with water
before leaving. Ovey the signs, and do not sleep in the open, do it inside tents
and at the camping areas.
