Tolar Grande facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tolar Grande
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Municipality and village
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| Country |  Argentina |
| Province |  Salta |
| Department | Los Andes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,322 sq mi (13,785 km2) |
| Elevation | 11,509 ft (3,508 m) |
| Population
(2009)
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| • Total | 148 |
| Postal code |
A4413
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| Website | www.tolargrande.gov.ar/ |
Tolar Grande is a small village and a rural area in Salta Province, located in northwestern Argentina. It is known for its unique location in the high desert and its interesting history linked to railways and mining.
Contents
What is the Climate Like in Tolar Grande?
The climate in Tolar Grande is typical of the puna region, which is a very high and dry area. It's part of the Puna de Atacama, meaning it gets very little rain. Summers have moderate temperatures, but winters are very harsh and cold.
One special thing about the weather here is the huge change in temperature between day and night. The temperature can go up or down by as much as 30 °C (54 °F) in a single day!
How Many People Live in Tolar Grande?
In 2015, about 210 people were estimated to live in Tolar Grande. This number had grown quite a bit. Local leaders worked hard to encourage people to stay or move back to the village. Their goal was to stop people from leaving and help the population grow.
What is the History of Tolar Grande?
Tolar Grande was at its busiest around the 1940s. At that time, it was the end point of a railway line that was planned to connect the city of Salta in Argentina with Antofagasta in Chile.
It's thought that about 5,000 people lived in the village back then. Most of them worked with the railway.
The La Casualidad Mine
During this busy period, the La Casualidad Mine was also very active. This mine transported sulfur from Mina Julia to the Tolar Grande railway station. From there, the sulfur was shipped to its final destination.
Why Did the Population Decrease?
Later, the mine closed down. The railway project was stopped, and eventually, the entire railway line was shut down. These events caused many people to leave the region. Living conditions became difficult for the few residents who chose to stay in Tolar Grande.
Where is Tolar Grande Located?
The village of Tolar Grande is right in the middle of the Puna de Atacama. It is about 357 kilometers (222 miles) away from the city of Salta. It is also close to the Salar de Arizaro, which is a huge salt flat.
The village is served by the Salta–Antofagasta railway. It is also 170 kilometers (106 miles) from Chile and borders the area near Socompa. A popular tourist spot called Ojos de Mar is located nearby.
Tolar Grande covers a large area of 13,785 square kilometers (5,322 square miles). This means it takes up almost half of the entire Los Andes Department.
Images for kids
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The Cono de Arita, a cone-shaped hill, in the Salar de Arizaro
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A view of the town
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See also
In Spanish: Tolar Grande para niños
