La Rioja

17th March 2010

La Rioja was our base to explore 2 Unesco World Heritage parks.

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In Parque Nacional Talampaya, we passed between the high red walls of the canyon, the dry river bed the track. The wind and water have sculpted the rock into fascinating shapes. The early inhabitants carved figures and shapes into the rocks which can still be seen.

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Adjoining is the very different Parque Provincial Ischigualasto (Valle de la Luna) with its surreal landscape formed by constant wind. The worlds oldest dinosaur remains were found here.

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The Cathedral at La Rioja

The Cathedral at La Rioja

The first Monastery in Argentina, 1623

The first Monastery in Argentina, 1623

Parque National Talampaya

Parque National Talampaya

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The camel with the two kings

The camel with the two kings

The chimney, formed by water

The chimney, formed by water

These trees indicate water below the sand

These trees indicate water below the sand

Chlorophyl is produced in the trunk and branches of these desert bushes

Chlorophyl is produced in the trunk and branches of these desert bushes

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The original indians ground their seeds in the rock here

The original indians ground their seeds in the rock here

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Valle de la Luna - Valley of the Moon

Valle de la Luna - Valley of the Moon

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Fossils

Fossils

The Sphinx

The Sphinx

Dinosaur´s eggs?

Dinosaurs eggs?

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Worlds oldest dinosaur fossil

Worlds oldest dinosaur fossil

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