San Antonio de los Cobres, Administrative center in Los Andes Department, Salta Province, Argentina.
San Antonio de los Cobres is an administrative center on a high plateau at 3,775 meters in the Andes, surrounded by mineral-rich mountains in northwestern Argentina. The town functions as a regional hub for administration and trade with basic infrastructure for daily needs.
The town started in 1641 as a mining settlement and later became a key railway junction with the Train to the Clouds construction. This railway connection significantly altered the region's economic importance and accessibility.
Residents practice traditional wool weaving and celebrate seasonal harvest festivals that shape daily life and keep local craft techniques alive in the community.
The town sits at high altitude and requires adjustment to thin air, especially for people from lower elevations. Visitors should take it easy at first and drink plenty of water to feel more comfortable.
Residents here have developed a genetic adaptation allowing them to process elevated arsenic levels in the environment. This rare biological trait shows how people can adapt to extreme conditions over generations.
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