La Rioja Province, Northwestern province in Argentina.
La Rioja Province is a first-level administrative division in northwestern Argentina, bordered by the Andes to the west and the plains to the east. The region spreads over mountainous terrain, irrigated valleys, and dry lowlands shaped by rivers flowing from the high peaks.
The region was originally home to indigenous groups including the Diaguita and Capayán before Spanish colonization brought it under the Viceroyalty of Peru. After independence, the territory joined the Argentine Republic in 1853 and became a province with its own government.
The Talampaya National Park contains petroglyphs and geological formations documenting 10,000 years of human presence and dinosaur remains in northwestern Argentina.
The province is accessible by road from other parts of Argentina, with travel times varying considerably depending on your starting point. The climate is dry with strong temperature swings between day and night, so layered clothing is recommended for comfort throughout the day.
Talampaya National Park preserves rock art and geological layers that document both ancient human settlement and prehistoric fossils in the same area. These sites sit within a landscape of red sandstone cliffs shaped by erosion into unusual forms over millions of years.
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