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Geography and climate
Located in the Argentine Northwest area, its landscape is arid to semi-arid, and
the dry climate receives annually 200 mm of precipitations, has short winters
and very hot summers.
From the Andes at the west, with peaks of up to 6,795 meters (Monte Pissis), the
relief's height descents towards the sierras of the neighbouring dry Pampas
zone.
The Talampaya National Park is a dry red-soil cannon of the ancient extinguished
Talampaya river, which contains many walls and rock formations that make it an
interesting tourist destination.
Economy
La Rioja's agriculture (as well as cities) lays on the shore of the few
permanents rivers and oasis that allow irrigation, with only 190 square
kilometres of cultivated land. Vineyards, nuts and olive plantations are the
most common, followed by cotton.
The province's main activity is the grape, and its associated wine production,
specially around the Chilecito area, with a production of 8 million litres per
year.
Cattle (250,000 heads) and goats (150,000 heads) are secondary activities,
particularly for skin and leather. Clay represents the main mining activity, and
uranium is also extracted near El Colorado.
Tourism is an expanding activity. Besides the Talampaya National Park, tourists
visiting La Rioja usually go also to the Chilecito town, Cerro de La Cruz,
Termas de Santa Teresita hot baths and the village of Villa Sanagasta.
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