In the extreme west of the province is the Puna region, mostly located in the Antofagasta de la Sierra Department.: The region has a desert climate with very low precipitation; most of it is concentrated during summer.: This is due to the mountains that block moist air from Pacific Ocean. Mean annual precipitation decreases from north to south and from east to west; some areas receive an annual rainfall of .: Owing to its high altitude, the climate is characterized by low temperatures.: The thermal amplitude is large, reaching up to due to the combination of low humidity and high solar radiation.: