The Pampas plains are amongst the richest areas in Argentina. They
have the magic of wide-open spaces with an unlimited horizon, and
they are the land of the gauchos, traditional Argentine country men.
The estancias (ranches) in the Argentine Pampas are remarkable because
of their varied architecture. They were built in widely differing
styles such as colonial Hispanic-American, English Tudor, and classic
French. Many of them have been transformed into tourist accommodations.
Towards the Northwest of these plains are the Sierras of Córdoba.
The highest peak, Mount Champaquí, towers some 2,790 meters
above its surroundings. Its fertile valleys contrast with deserts
and salt pans, a particularly appealing landscape. Towards the North,
scattered chapels and “estancias” begin to appear. These
constructions date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and many of
them are a Jesuit legacy.
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