Monte Desert not only common, but tall cacti even appear in the more hospitable areas of the desert. The fauna of the area is also very similar to that of the Patagonian Desert, only in greater diversity and number due to the Monte's more hospitable conditions. Small mammals like mice abound and larger animals like the guanaco and burrowing owl can be found as well. Monte Desert The Monte Desert is a South American ecoregion, lying entirely within Argentina and covering approximately the submontane areas of Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza Provinces, plus the western half of La
North Patagonian Massif contains the Miocene (Colloncuran) Collón Cura Formation, the Miocene La Pava Formation, and the Miocene Chimehuín Formation in the northern part of the eastern belt. North Patagonian Massif The North Patagonian Massif or Somún Cura Massif (Spanish: "Macizo Norpatagónico", "Macizo Nordpatagónico" or "Macizo de Somún Cura") is a massif in northern Patagonia located in the Argentine provinces of Río Negro and Chubut. The massif is a plateau surrounded by sedimentary basins. The North Patagonian Massif covers an area of approximately . The massif rises above the surrounding topography reaching a maximum of above sea level. Compared to neighboring areas, the