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The region had 5 different biomes:
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Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east
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Fertile valleys | The Canyons | The Altiplano and Puna | The high mountains of the Andes
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Outside the Yungas jungle on the east, near the Gran Chaco region, the only fertile lands are those |
near the basins of the rivers . Ancient rivers created a series of red-soil canyons such as the |
Quebrada de Humahuaca and the Valles Calchaquíes. The high peaks of the Andes reach heights of |
over 6,000 meters, and the 3,500-meter high plateau of La Puna or Altiplano extends further north to Bolivia. |
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Weather |
The eastern winds drop their humidity at the sub-Andean Sierras and eastern slopes of the Andes. These areas |
have a sub-tropical warm weather with abundant rains that, as in the Yungas jungle. |
The dried-up winds continue their path to the west, leaving the Puna and the western side of the arid Andes |
steppe with wide temperature differences, something that characterizes most of the region. |
Precipitation in most of the Argentine northwest follows a summer monsoon pattern, enjoying most of the |
roughly 700mm (27") of annual rainfall in the souther hemisphere summer months of December through March |
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Culture |
Besides the geography of the area, its culture is of great interest. It is strongly influenced by Quechua, Aymara and |
Diaguitas cultures, and the region widely differentiates to the more European Buenos
Aires. |
| This influence can be seen in the music, clothing and customs of the people. |