San Carlos, Salta facts for kids
San Carlos is a historic village in the Salta Province of Argentina. It's the main village of the San Carlos Department. You can find San Carlos in the Calchaquí Valleys, right on National Route 40. It's about 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Cafayate.
In 1975, the Argentine government declared parts of San Carlos a National Historic Place. This means it's a special area protected for its history.
Quick facts for kids
San Carlos
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Municipality and village
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| Country |  Argentina |
| Province | Salta |
| Department | San Carlos |
| Climate | BWk |
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name San Carlos comes from Saint Charles Borromeo. He was a very important Catholic saint.
How Many People Live Here?
In 2001, about 1,887 people lived in San Carlos. This was a big jump from 1,492 residents in 1991. The population grew by over 26% in ten years!
A Look Back in Time
San Carlos has a long and interesting history. It was once the site of several Spanish settlements. These settlements were built and then destroyed. This happened because the local Calchaquí people fought hard to defend their land. They were part of the Diaguita group.
After 1637, Jesuits built a mission here. It was also destroyed during a war in 1660. Even though the mission was rebuilt, the Calchaquí Valleys became almost empty. Many people were moved far away. But the village of San Carlos slowly grew around the mission.
During Argentina's fight for independence, San Carlos was a key village. It was a center for those who supported the Spanish king. In 1813, the village was even attacked. This was to stop it from falling into the hands of the independence fighters.
Later, the people of San Carlos supported independence. In 1817, they helped Colonel Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid. They gave him mules and horses for his journey.
San Carlos was so important that it almost became the capital of Salta Province. It lost to the city of Salta by just one vote!
Today, local artisans in San Carlos make and sell many things. They work with fabric, leather, and ceramics. They also make local wine.
The Church of San Carlos Borromeo
The Church of San Carlos Borromeo is a very old and special building. It's the biggest church in the Calchaquí Valleys. It even has a dome and a transept, which is rare for churches in the area.
Building the current church started in 1801. It was finally finished and opened in 1854. This church shows how important San Carlos was in the past.
In the 1930s, a strong earthquake damaged the church. The original roof had to be replaced. But parts of the church, like the dome, still have their old structure. The altars inside are decorated with beautiful art. The front of the church has unique columns and arches.
Fun Things to Do
San Carlos is a great place to visit. It's part of the National Route 40 tourist trail.
- Festivals and Fairs: You can enjoy many festivals and craft fairs. Some popular ones include the Fiesta del Barro Calchaquí (Clay Festival) and the Festival of Arts and Fairs of the Valleys.
- Carnival: In February, you can experience the lively valley carnival. People sing traditional songs, throw flour, and use lots of basil.
- Patron Saint's Day: On November 4th, the village celebrates its patron saint, San Carlos de Borromeo. Residents carry his image through the streets.
Places to Explore
- Celia's Cascade: This is an artificial waterfall about 3 kilometers (2 miles) north of the village. It's surrounded by tall poplar trees.
- San Lucas: About 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) west, this small village is known for its many fig and walnut trees.
- Peñas Blancas: Located 5 kilometers (3 miles) from San Carlos, this spot was once an ancient indigenous cemetery.
- Río Calchaquí: If you love fishing, this river is perfect! You can catch many fish here. National Route 40 follows its path.
There's also an inn and a municipal campsite in San Carlos. These are great places to stay if you want to visit.
Earthquakes in the Area
The Salta region often has small earthquakes. Stronger earthquakes happen less often, about every 40 years. For example, there was a 6.1 magnitude earthquake five years ago. Another strong one, 7.0 magnitude, happened 70 years before that.
Climate
| Climate data for San Carlos, Salta | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 38.2 (100.8) |
36.8 (98.2) |
35.5 (95.9) |
33.1 (91.6) |
34.6 (94.3) |
32.1 (89.8) |
33.1 (91.6) |
34.5 (94.1) |
36.0 (96.8) |
38.3 (100.9) |
38.8 (101.8) |
37.6 (99.7) |
38.8 (101.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.9 (85.8) |
29.6 (85.3) |
28.9 (84.0) |
26.2 (79.2) |
23.3 (73.9) |
20.6 (69.1) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.5 (74.3) |
25.2 (77.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.6 (87.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.1 (71.8) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.5 (68.9) |
16.7 (62.1) |
12.6 (54.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.1 (59.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.0 (69.8) |
22.2 (72.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.6 (60.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
8.7 (47.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.1 (32.2) |
0.5 (32.9) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
9.7 (49.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
6.3 (43.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48.3 (1.90) |
13.6 (0.54) |
8.4 (0.33) |
2.6 (0.10) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (0.04) |
0.4 (0.02) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.4 (0.02) |
1.7 (0.07) |
5.8 (0.23) |
26.8 (1.06) |
109.2 (4.30) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 63 | 65 | 65 | 62 | 59 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 55 | 57 | 60 | 60 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 244.9 | 226.0 | 241.8 | 240.0 | 244.9 | 228.0 | 241.8 | 254.2 | 255.0 | 257.3 | 261.0 | 251.1 | 2,946 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 8.1 | 8.1 |
| Source: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria | |||||||||||||
See also
- Church of San Carlos
In Spanish: San Carlos (Salta) para niños
