Jujuy

Province in the far northwest of Argentina, adjoining Chile in the west and Bolivia in the north; area 53,219 sq km/20,548 sq mi; population (1996) 512,329; capital Jujuy. In the western region of Jujuy lie the peaks of the Andes, while the rest of the province is situated in the altiplano (high plateau), which has an average altitude of over 2,000 m/6,500 ft. This area of the province is interspersed with mountain ranges and valleys. Rainfall is sparse, but crops are grown in the valleys and cattle and sheep are farmed in the hills. Sugar cane is an important cash crop. Iron ore is the main mineral found here, but zinc, lead, tin, gold, and silver are also extracted on a small scale. During the colonial era, Jujuy was an important mining area.