Cafayate is a town located at the central zone of the Valles Calchaquíes in the province of Salta, Argentina. At 1,683 meters above sea level, and with 10,714 inhabitants (2001 census [INDEC]), the town is an important tourist centre for exploring the Calchaquíes valleys, and because of the quality and originality of the wines produced in the area. Argentina consists of 23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 federal district (Capital Federal *). Capital Federal * Buenos Aires Catamarca Chaco Chubut Córdoba Corrientes Entre Ríos Formosa Jujuy La Pampa La Rioja Mendoza Misiones Neuquén Río Negro Salta San Juan San Luis Santa Cruz Santa Fe Santiago... Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ...

The town was founded in 1840 by Manuel Fernando de Aramburu, at the site of a mission. In 1863 the Cafayate Department was created, of which Cafayate is the capital.

Etymology

The Cafayates were a tribe that, together with the Tolombón, inhabited the Valles Calchaquíes prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores Even though most agree that the root of Cafayate is Quechua, the meaning of the term is disputed. Some claim it to mean "Box of Water", others to be a deformation of Capac-Yac ("Great Lake") or Capac-Yaco ("Great Chief" or "Wealthy People"). Another Cacan version understands it as "Grave of Sorrows". Spanish colonization of the Americas began with the arrival in the Americas of Christopher Columbus in 1492. ... Quechua (Runa Simi in Quechua; Runa, human + Simi, speech, literally mouth; i. ...

Tourism

Cafayate is located 1,329 kilometres from Buenos Aires, 227 from Tucumán, 311 of Jujuy and 365 of Catamarca. Buenos Aires (English: Fair Winds, originally Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires, City of the Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds) is the capital of Argentina and its largest city and port, as well as... San Miguel de Tucumán (usually referred to as simply Tucumán) is the largest city in northwestern Argentina, with a population (2001) of 525,853. ... Map of Argentina highlighting the province Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. ... Categories: Argentina geography stubs | Argentine provinces ...

Valles Calchaquíes

Many of the most impressive sights in the Valley of the Río las Conchas (Quebrada de Cafayate) are along the paved, 183-kilometres-long National Route 68 that goes from Salta to Cafayate. National Route 40 goes for 165 kilometres form Cafayate to Cachi del Valle, another of the most visited points in the area. Other points of interest from Cafayate include Molinos, Tolombón and San Isidro ranch. The town of Cafayate is an attraction by itself, with its laid-back rhythm, colonial style, and wine cellars open to the public. Salta is a city in Argentina and the capital of Salta Province. ...

Wines

See also Argentine wines

The wine production is most important in the Valles Calchaquíes, followed by Tafí del Valle. The wines produced in the region benefit from the low-humidity mild weather of the valleys that receive an average of less than 250 mm per year. The most characteristic type of wine cultivated in the area is torrontés. Most wine-cellars around the town host free guided tours. A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ...

External links

• Official site (in Spanish)
• Salta Tourism (in Spanish)
• Tourism (in English)
• Description
• Map of the town, and other info (in Spanish)