THE “SALTEÑIZACIÓN” OF THE ANDES TERRITORY. APPROACH TO THE POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF ARGENTINIAN NORTHWEST DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Abstract

During the first half of the XX century, the Puna de Atacama had for some sectors of northwestern Argentina, a geostrategic role for the development of inter-Andean livestock trade, well as a high value by its mining potential. Since the early years of jurisdiction of the Territorio de Los Andes, the landed elite of Salta turned it into the "backyard" of the province. This article will present one of the highlights about the way in which the Puna de Atacama was incorporated to the territory of Argentina from 1900: its annexation, in practice, to the economic and political geography of the province of Salta. The gravitation of Salta is shown analyzing several facts, such as the location of the capital of the Territorio, the management of the institutional apparatus by leaders of Salta and infrastructure investment decisions, situations which strengthened the primacy of Salta on Los Andes.