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43-561: It originates in the Sierras de Córdoba near Cerro Champaquí and Calamuchita Valley, in an area of annual precipitation of between 600 and 1,000 millimetres (24 and 39 in). Leaving the valley, it reaches the plains where four dams have been constructed, called Cerro Pelado Dam , Arroyo Corto Dam , Embalse Río Tercero — with 54.3 square kilometres (21.0 sq mi) built in 1936 — and Piedras Moras, which serve as flow regulators and produce hydroelectricity . The reservoirs created by

86-571: A crucial role as a keystone species by regulating phytoplankton and bacterioplankton levels. The Artemia species also serves as an intermediate host for helminth parasites that affect migratory water birds like flamingos, grebes, gulls, shorebirds, and ducks. Vertebrates in saline lakes include certain fish and bird species, though they are sensitive to fluctuations in salinity. Many saline lakes are also alkaline, which imposes physiological challenges for fish, especially in managing nitrogenous waste excretion. Fish species vary by lake; for instance,

129-712: A deformation of the Spanish mucho or muchito , finally meaning "area of many trees". The name Tercero became more common since the 18th century, being the third of five rivers counting from Córdoba city. Of them, the Tercero and the Cuarto (fourth) are the only ones to reach, indirectly, the Paraná River, being therefore tributaries to the Río de la Plata Basin . The river has the following bridges from Piedras Moras dum to

172-580: A higher concentration of salt than sea water ; such lakes can also be termed hypersaline lake , and may also be pink lakes on account of their color. An alkalic salt lake that has a high content of carbonate is sometimes termed a soda lake . Salt lakes are classified according to salinity levels. The formation of these lakes is influenced by processes such as evaporation and deposition. Salt lakes face serious conservation challenges due to climate change, pollution and water diversion. The primary method of classification for salt lakes involves assessing

215-590: A southern extension of the Sierras Grandes. A dry plateau lies to the west, between the Sierras and the Andes. There are numerous springs and streams along the range. Most drain into salt lakes , including Mar Chiquita to the northeast and Salinas Grandes and Salinas de Ambargasta on the plateau to the west. The Quinto River drains the southern portion of the Sierras. The Tercero River originates on

258-710: Is a hyposaline lake. Mesosaline lakes have a salinity level ranging from 3 to 35 g/L. An example of a mesosaline lake is Redberry Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada . Hypersaline lakes possess salinities greater than 35 g/L, often reaching levels that can exceed 200 g/L. The extreme salinity levels create harsh conditions that limit the diversity of life, primarily supporting specialized organisms such as halophilic bacteria and certain species of brine shrimp . These lakes can have high concentrations of sodium salts and minerals, such as lithium, making such lakes vulnerable to mining interests. Hypersaline lakes can be found in

301-617: Is about 715 mm (28.1 in) but is highly variable. On the eastern side of the Sierra, rainfall can be as high as 1,200 mm (47 in) per year, but it quickly drops off on the western side to less than 400 millimetres (16 inches). Maximum temperatures at low elevations are high, ranging from 33 °C (91 °F) in summer to 16 °C (61 °F) in winter, but at elevations above 2000 meters, it has an monsoon-influenced continental climate ( Köppen Dwb ), average temperatures are about 10–14 °C (50–57 °F) cooler and exposure

344-563: Is in San Luis Province . The Sierras de Córdoba are part of the Sierras Pampeanas , a group of mountain ranges which extend north and south on the eastern side of the Andes. The Sierras de Córdoba are covered in dry forests, grasslands, woodlands, and shrublands, and are home to rare and endemic species of plants and animals. Parts of the Sierras have long been used for extensive cattle grazing, which has transformed

387-501: Is not limited to the Aral Sea; salt lakes around the world are shrinking due to excessive water diversion, dam construction, pollution, urbanization, and rising temperatures associated with climate change. The resulting declines cause severe disruptions to local ecosystems and biodiversity, degrades the environment, threatens economic stability, and displaces communities dependent on these lakes for resources and livelihood. In Utah, if

430-432: Is otherwise known for its craft beers because of the large German Argentine community established there. Salt lake (geography) A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts (typically sodium chloride ) and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per liter). In some cases, salt lakes have

473-536: Is very high. However, because the winters are so dry, very little snow falls even at the highest elevations and there is no evidence of glacial or periglacial features from the Pleistocene . The cooler climate in the mountains has encouraged development of many summer resorts for the wealthy of Córdoba, notably Alta Gracia and Jesús María . The Sierras de Córdoba lie between the Espinal ecoregion to

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516-459: The Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus ), Andean tinamou ( Nothoprocta pentlandii ), olive-crowned crescentchest ( Melanopareia maximiliani ), cliff flycatcher ( Hirundinea ferruginea ), Chaco sparrow ( Rhynchospiza strigiceps ), and black-and-rufous warbling finch ( Poospiza nigrorufa ). Overgrazing, over-hunting, human-caused fires, and firewood harvesting have altered the flora and fauna of

559-660: The Carcarañá River : 32°54′54″S 62°19′29″W  /  32.91500°S 62.32472°W  / -32.91500; -62.32472 Sierras de C%C3%B3rdoba The Sierras de Córdoba is a mountain range in central Argentina , located between the Pampas to the east and south and the Chaco to the north and east. Most of the range is located in Córdoba Province , except for the southwestern margin which

602-720: The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, where salinity can reach ≈440‰. Salt lakes form through complex chemical, geological, and biological processes, influenced by environmental conditions like high evaporation rates and restricted water outflow. As water carrying dissolved minerals ( sodium , potassium , and magnesium ) enters these basins, it gradually evaporates, concentrating these minerals until they precipitate as salt deposits. Then, specific ions interact under controlled temperatures, which leads to solid-solution formation and salt crystal deposition within

645-619: The Ordovician , there was extremely intense volcanism over the region, almost all of which is now completely eroded. The Sierras de Córdoba where the effects of the ancient Pampean orogeny can be observed, owes it modern uplift and relief to the Andean orogeny in the Tertiary . At lower elevations, the Sierra de Córdoba has a warm temperate to subtropical climate ( Köppen Cwa ), with hot, wet summers with frequent thunderstorms and mild, dry winters. Average annual rainfall at Córdoba

688-493: The Pampa de Achala Provincial Water Reserve (245.89 km ), which covers a plateau in the central Sierra above 1500 meters elevation. The water reserve includes the peaks Champaquí (2,790 m) in the south and Los Gigantes (2,374 m) in the north. Other protected areas include La Calera Nature Reserve (113.77 km ) immediately west of Córdoba, and La Quebrada Nature Water Reserve (42 km ) northwest of Córdoba. Most of

731-676: The Saladillo River (also called the Cuarto River ) to form the Carcarañá River , a tributary of the Paraná River . Among the most important cities on the path of the Tercero are Río Tercero , Villa María , Villa Nueva , Bell Ville and Leones . The word Ctalamochita (from which the term Calamuchita derives) seems to be a mixture of the Native American term ctala or tala , meaning "important tree", and

774-474: The Great Salt Lake is not conserved, the state could face potential economic and public health crises, with consequences for air quality, local agriculture, and wildlife. According to “Utah’s Great Salt Lake Strike Team”, in order increase the lake's level within the next 30 years, see average inflows must increase by 472,00 acre-feet per year, which is about a 33% increase in the amount that has reached

817-489: The Salton Sea is home to species such as carp, striped mullet, humpback sucker, and rainbow trout. Stratification in salt lakes occurs as a result of the unique chemical and environmental processes that cause water to separate into layers based on density . In these lakes, high rates of evaporation often concentrate salts, leading to denser, saltier water sinking to the lake's bottom, while fresher water remains nearer

860-481: The Sierras Grandes. The northern part, known as the Sierras del Norte, is considerably lower and less rugged. The Sierras Chicas extend along the east, rising above the eastern plains and the city of Córdoba . The Sierras Grandes lie west of the Sierras Chicas, and include the highest peaks. The Cumbres de Gaspar lie west of the Sierras Chicas and north of the Sierras Grandes. The Sierras de Comechingones are

903-511: The Sierras annually. The most important tourist destinations are Villa Carlos Paz , Cosquín , La Falda , Alta Gracia , and Villa General Belgrano amongst others. Two areas were large producers of wine in the past: Colonia Caroya in the north, and Villa Dolores in the west. These areas traditionally focused on cheaper, sweet wines for domestic consumption. In recent years, sophisticated wine-making has begun taking place, both in these 'traditional' locations, as well as in exciting terroirs in

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946-510: The chemical composition of the water within the lakes, specifically its salinity, pH , and the dominant ions present. Subsaline lakes have a salinity lower than that of seawater but higher than freshwater , typically ranging from 0.5 to 3 grams per liter (g/L). Hyposaline lakes exhibit salinities from 0.5 to 3 g/L, which allows for the presence of freshwater species along with some salt-tolerant aquatic organisms. Lake Alchichica in Mexico

989-515: The dams are also used for tourism and recreation, including water sports and fishing. It has a water flow of 27.17 cubic metres per second (959 cu ft/s), and flows 307 kilometres (191 mi) before reaching the Carcarañá River . The river navigable for small- to medium-sized boats as it flows through the plains. It flows eastward into the Humid Pampas , which has an average rainfall of 730 millimetres (29 in) per year. It joins

1032-470: The earliest part of the Holocene, the whole mountain range was completely treeless due to extremely low rainfall. This may explain why few endemics are found outside the zone above the timberline — where species that have inhabited the area for thousands of years take a kind of refuge from a warmer, wetter climate. Quebrada del Condorito National Park covers an area of 245.89 km . It lies within

1075-448: The east and the Chaco ecoregion to the west. Rainfall is generally higher on the eastern slopes, and the western slopes are in the drier rain shadow of the mountains. The flora and fauna of the Sierras is related to that of the Chaco region , except for high elevations, where Andean species predominate. Lowland dry forest extends up to 750 meters elevation, with Espinal vegetation, including species of Prosopis and Acacia , on

1118-697: The eastern and southern extent of its range. Other species of the Polylepis woodlands include the tree Maytenus boaria and the shrubs Escallonia cordobensis , Berberis hieronimii , Satureja spp., and the dwarf shrub Gaultheria poeppigii . High exposure causes the limits of tree growth to be much lower than in the Andes, generally about 2000 meters elevation. High-elevation plant communities include grasslands dominated by Deyeuxia hieronymi, Poa stuckertii, Alchemilla pinnata , and Festuca circinata ; shrublands dominated by Berberis hieronymi , and Polylepis australis woodlands in sheltered areas. Many of

1161-479: The eastern side of the mountains, around Villa General Belgrano and La Cumbrecita . The area has a cooler climate, with some (light) snowfall in the winter, and a number of boutique wineries have experimented with different grape types and techniques, sometimes with exceptional results (Familia Navarro Torre recently was awarded a gold medal in the Vinandino competition with a Cabernet-Malbec from 2009). The region

1204-577: The eastern slope of the central Sierras, and drains eastwards through the Espinal to empty into the Paraná River . The Sierras de Córdoba are much older than the Andes, having been formed in the Paleozoic and extensively eroded. The mountains, when first built, formed the boundary between Gondwana and the then-expanding Pacific Ocean . They consist chiefly of metamorphic rocks such as quartzite , which were formed when large quantities of marine sediment were subject to enormous heat and pressure. In

1247-461: The eastern slopes, and lowland Chaco vegetation, including Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco , on the western slopes. Foothill dry forest, known as Chaco Serrano, extends from 500 to 1300 meters elevation. Lithraea molleoides and Zanthoxylum coco are the predominant trees on the eastern slopes, with Schinopsis haenkeana dominant on the dry western slopes. Romerillal shrubland is found between 1300 and 1700 meters elevation, characterized by

1290-479: The lack of vertical mixing. Extremophiles , including specific bacteria and archaea , inhabit the hypersaline and oxygen-deficient zones at lower depths. Bacteria and archaea, for example, rely on alternative metabolic processes that do not depend on oxygen. These microorganisms play a critical role in nutrient cycling within salt lakes, as they break down organic material and release by-products that support other microbial communities. Due to limited biodiversity,

1333-400: The lake bed. This cycle of evaporation and deposition is the main process to the unique saline environment that characterizes a salt lake. Environmental factors further shape the composition and formation of salt lakes. Seasonal variations in temperature and evaporation drive mineral saturation and promote salt crystallization . In dry regions, water loss during warmer seasons concentrates

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1376-428: The lake in recent years. Water conservation is viewed as being the most cost-effective and practical strategy to save salt lakes like the Great Salt Lake. Implementing strong water management policies, improving community awareness, and ensuring the return of water flow to these lakes are additional ways that may restore ecological balance. Other proposed methods of maintaining lake levels include cloud seeding and

1419-475: The lake's chemistry, supporting only specialized microbial life adapted to extreme environments with high salinity and low oxygen levels. The restricted vertical mixing limits nutrient cycling , creating a favorable ecosystem for halophiles (salt-loving organisms) that rely on these saline conditions for stability and balance. The extreme conditions within stratified salt lakes have a profound effect on aquatic life , as oxygen levels are severely limited due to

1462-548: The lake's salts. This creates a dynamic environment where seasonal shifts affect the salt lake's mineral layers, contributing to its evolving structure and composition. Groundwater rich in dissolved ions often serve as primary mineral sources that, combined with processes like evaporation and deposition, contribute to salt lake development. Salt lakes host a diverse range of animals, despite high levels of salinity acting as significant environmental constraints. Increased salinity worsens oxygen levels and thermal conditions, raising

1505-411: The mountains' ecology. Other economic activities include tourism and winegrowing . The Sierras de Cordoba extend about 430 km from south to north, from 29º S to 33º 30’ S. They consist of four sub-ranges, the Sierras del Norte, Sierras Chicas, Sierras Grandes, and Cumbres de Gaspar. The range has a largely rounded contour. The highest peak in the Sierras de Córdoba is Mount Champaquí (2880 m) in

1548-551: The mountains, creating soil erosion in large areas and reducing the extent of forests and woodlands. It is believed that the vegetation of the Sierra de Córdoba has varied greatly over the Quaternary , with some periods in the Holocene between 8000 and 500 years before today when forests extended to the now-dry western side of the mountain range and the adjacent Sierra de San Luis. At other times, such as glacial periods and

1591-416: The mountains. The Córdoba cinclodes ( Cinclodes comechingonus ) breeds only in the mountains, where it inhabits forest patches of tabaquillo ( Polylepis australis ) close to water between 1,600 and 2,800 meters elevation. Olrog's cinclodes ( Cinclodes olrogi ) is found in areas of open grass-covered rock formations near streams and lakes between 1,500 and 2,400 meters elevation. Other native birds include

1634-536: The population of the region lives in Córdoba city , which contains about half the provincial population — with most of the rest in the Pampas region well east of the range. The lack of arable land means that few people live in the mountains themselves, where the major industries are grazing and tourism . The Sierras de Córdoba is one of the most important holiday centers of Argentina. Three million tourists visit

1677-417: The restrictive environment limits biodiversity , allowing only specially adapted life forms to survive, which creates unique, highly specialized ecosystems that are distinct from freshwater or less saline habitats. Salt lakes declined worldwide in recent years. The Aral Sea , once of the largest saline lakes with a surface area of 67,499 km in 1960, diminished to approximately 6,990 km in 2016. This trend

1720-424: The shrub Heterothalamus alienus . Grasslands of Festuca hieronymi and species of Stipa and Piptochaetium are found between 1500 and 1850 meters elevation. Forests and woodlands of tabaquillo ( Polylepis australis ) are found in sheltered ravines and stream valleys and canyon bottoms with access to year-round moisture. Polylepis australis is typical of the eastern Andes, and the Sierras de Córdoba are

1763-490: The species in this alpine zone are very rare, and include species endemic to the Sierras. Herds of guanaco ( Lama guanicoe ) once ranged across the Sierras and the Chaco lowlands, but by the beginning of the 20th century they had been extirpated by hunters. More than 100 bird species are found in the mountains, but ranching and hunting have reduced most native mammal populations severely. Two species of birds are endemic to

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1806-462: The surface. These seasonal changes influence the lake's structure, making stratification more pronounced during warmer months due to increasing evaporation, which drives separation between saline and fresher layers in the lake, leading a phenomenon known as meromixis (meromictic state), primarily prevents oxygen from penetrating the deeper layers and create the hypoxic (low oxygen) or anoxic (no oxygen) zones. This separation eventually influenced

1849-433: The water's density and viscosity , which demands greater energy for animal movement. Despite these challenges, salt lakes support biota adapted to such conditions with specialized physiological and biochemical mechanisms. Common salt lake invertebrates include various parasites, with around 85 parasite species found in saline waters, including crustaceans and monogeneans . Among them, the filter-feeding brine shrimp plays

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