San Juan Province, Province in western Argentina
San Juan is a province in western Argentina that includes mountains, dry plains, and irrigated valleys. The landscape shifts from bare rock to green fields where vines grow and trees provide shade.
The region separated from Cuyo in 1820 and became its own province, shortly after the wars of independence. A severe earthquake destroyed the capital in 1944 and led to a complete rebuilding.
The name comes from John the Baptist, and locals celebrate this saint every year with large processions. Many people here work in vineyards or small workshops connected to the grape harvest.
Much of the area sits at elevation, so the air can be dry and the sun very strong. Water should always be carried, especially when heading into the mountains or parks.
Ischigualasto preserves fossilized trees and skeletal remains of animals that lived more than 200 million years ago. The red and gray rocks show layers that look like an open book of Earth's past.
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