San Antonio de los Cobres explained

Official Name:San Antonio de los Cobres
Pushpin Map:Argentina
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:Department
Subdivision Name: Argentina
Subdivision Name2: Los Andes
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Guzmán Viveros
Established Title:Established
Established Date:?
Population As Of:2001
Population Total:5,482
Timezone1:ART
Utc Offset1:−3
Coordinates:-24.2178°N -66.32°W
Elevation M:3775
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:A4411
Blank Name:Climate
Blank Info:BWk

San Antonio de los Cobres is a small town of population 5,482 (per the 2001 INDEC census)[1] in northwestern Argentina. It is the capital of the Los Andes Department of the Salta Province.[2]

Geography

The town is known for its high elevation of approximately 3775abbr=offNaNabbr=off above sea level, being one of the highest elevations of any city or town in Argentina.[2] It is located approximately 160km (100miles) from the city of Salta and 2000km (1,000miles) from the capital, Buenos Aires.[2] It is part of the Andes desert and described to be an arid region with few trees and scarce drinking water.

History

In a 2015 podcast from The Naked Scientists, research has shown that people in the San Antonio de los Cobres area have remarkably developed a mutation in their genes to cope with the high levels of arsenic in the area. Having concentrations about ten times higher that those deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO), naturally occurring arsenic has created a very toxic environment in this region contaminating the water supplies. Evolutionary processes resulting from long term exposure have caused a specific mutation within the DNA of this population allowing them to process arsenic more quickly throughout their systems and preventing the formation of poisonous byproducts that would normally form within the body with exposure to the element. This is the first adaptation in humans regarding a toxic chemical to ever be documented.[3]

Economy

San Antonio de las Cobres takes its name from the nearby Sierra de Cobre, or Copper Mountain, which is rich in that mineral. Economic activity in the town is based on mining of the mineral-rich surrounding mountains, and weaving using local llama wool.[4] The town is also a stop along the Tren a las Nubes (Train of the Clouds),[4] on the Salta-Antofagasta rail line.

Climate

San Antonio de los Cobres has a cool arid climate (Köppen BWk) characterised by mild summers, cold, bone-dry winters, and very large diurnal temperature variation due to the extreme altitude. Rainfall is essentially nil except from January to March, when 96mm of an annual total of 104mm falls from thunderstorms.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cuadro 12.4 Provincia de Salta según localidad. Población por grupos de edad. Año 2001 . Table 12.4 Province of Salta according to locality. Population by age groups. Year 2001 . Censo 2001 . . es . February 10, 2009.
  2. Web site: San Antonio de los Cobres . Vivir en Los Cobres . es . February 10, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090221014747/http://www.vivirenloscobres.com.ar/ . February 21, 2009.
  3. Web site: Adapting to Arsenic . Georgia . Mills . 9 March 2015 . The Naked Scientists.
  4. Web site: Salta: San Antonio de los Cobres . Enjoy Travel Argentina . Enjoy Corporation SA . 2009 . February 10, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306142248/http://www.enjoy-argentina.org/salta-destinations-salta-san-antonio-cobres.php . March 6, 2016.