SALTA, the most northern of the provinces of the Argentine Con federation, South America, extends between 22° and 26 30' S. bit, 61° and 68' W. long. It is bounded S. by the province of Tucuman, E. by the Gran Chaco, N. and W. by the republic of Bolivia. Tho area is about 56,000 square miles; the population is about 60,000.
The surface, hydrography, &c. of the country are described under ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION.
It has a great diversity of surface and almost every variety of soil and climate. On the west it includes tho eastern sides of the Andes with the lower offsets of that system. On the north, where it borders on the republic of Bolivia, it includes a portion of the desert table land of Yavi and the range called Abra de Cortaderas. It compre hends likewise a portion of the Gran Chaco; the Despoblado, whose climate resembles that of Siberia ; the.valley of the Guachipas, which in climate and productions represents Europe; and the Plain of Salta and the valley of the Rio de Jujuy, which in both climate and pro ductions resembles the West Indies.
The principal rivera are the Vermejo and the Salado—described under ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION. The Vermejo forms the eastern boundary of Salta; it is formed by the junction of the Tarija, and the Jujuy (a stream which belongs wholly to this province), and is navigable for large boats from their confluence about 35 miles below Oran. The head-etreams of the Salado rise on the eastern slopes of the Andes in the south-western part of this province. In its upper course the main stream is called the Sileta, and subsequently El Pasage, but it is known as the Salado for some distance before it passes out of Salta. The Salado drains tho southern and western half of the province. During the summer season the water is low and the river is easily fordable, but when the rains set in it becomes so much swelled that all the ordinary traffic) between Salta and the lower provinces of the Confederation is suspended. The road connecting Salta with Buenos Ayres is noticed under ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION (vol. 1, col. 473), and the inconveniences which this as well as the other provinces of the interior, suffers from the limited means of transit, and the advantages to be derived from the establish ment of steam communication on the Partin& are indicated.
As already mentioned, the country possesses a remarkable variety of soil, and a climate ranging from extreme heat to the most Intense cold, permitting the cultivation of almost every kind of natural pro duction. But tho country is too thinly peopled, the difficulties of transit are too great, and the inhabitants have too little energy and industry to allow the resources of the country to be other than most imperfectly developed, if even the country itself were in a less dis turbed state. The inhabitants are now chiefly settled in tho larger towns, and in the valleys of the lesser affluents of the Vermejo and Salado. The cereals grown are wheat and maize, which are raised in considerable quantities in the valleys of the south, for the supply of the other parts of the province. The vine is extensively cultivated in the same district, and a good deal of common wine made and exported to the neighbouring provinces. The cocoa plant is =Id
eated in the department of Oran. In the valleys of the Jujuy and its tributaries tobacco and the sugar-cane are grown in sufficient quantities to supply the whole of Salta, and to furnish exports to the rest of the upper provinces, and also to Chili. Cotton and indigo are also cultivated to some extent ; and the cochineal insect furnishes a source of profit. Along the valley of the Vcrmejo there are very extensive forests of valuable timber-trees, as well as the palm, the carob, and other trees which furnish the natives with fruit and a subetitute for bread, the math plant, ke.. The cochineal cactus and the aloe are found in every direction. One of the chief sources of wealth to the province has always been the rearing of mules, which are bought in the southern provinces in a very lean state, acquire strength in the rich pastures of Salta, and are sent to Pern and Bolivia in large numbers. Before the revolution from 50,000 to 60,000 mules were annually exported from Salta to Peru alone, but the trade with Peru has greatly declined. In the colderparts of the province alpacas, victifiss, chinchillas, and guanacos are Indigenous. The mountains contain gold, silver, copper, and other metals. The mines have not proved very successful ; but the inhabitants of the valleys obtain considerable quantities of gold after the rains from the rivers, and in the alluvial soil which has been left by the receding waters. In the desolate country known as the Desplobado are extensive saline plains, from which the inhabitants of the adjacent district', obtain large quantities of salt, which they carry for sale to the towns of Salta and Jujuy.
Like the other provinces of the Argentine Confederation, Salta is a federal state, owning however little more than nominal dependence upon the central government. The executive power is vested in a governor elected by the junta or provincial wseembly.
Salta, the capital of the province, is situated on the left bank of the Sileta, in the valley of Chicuana, in 24' 51' S. let., 61' 48' W. long. ; population about 8000. The streets are regular, but narrow. In the central square are the government-house, the cathedral, and other public buildings. /ahoy is built in an extensive basin, surrounded by high mountains, on the banks of the Rio de Jujuy ; population abont 3000. It has some traffic, as the oarriage-road leading to Bolivia terminates here, and the goods must be transported farther north on mules. At Jujuy begins one of the most extraordinary mountain-passes in the world. A narrow valley extends from the town to the summit of the range called Abrade Cortatieras, a distance of 90 miles by the road. The highest summit of this road appears to have an elevation of between 11,000 and 12,000 feet. Oran is a small town, founded in 1793, on the Rio de Tarija, about 30 miles above its junction with the Rio de Jujuy. As the centre of a very fertile district, Oran is a place of considerable trade.