Abstract. This paper presents a detailed rock glacier inventory used in determining how the various natural parameters 10 affect a mountain periglacial environment. This study was undertaken in a northernmost sector of the central Argentine Andes, in an area stretching between 31°02´and 31°22´S latitude. This is a high and arid subtropical region where permafrost and cryogenic processes are predominant, featuring as well as a large number of rock glaciers and associated periglacial landforms. Rock glaciers inventory was based on geomorphological characterization with optical remote sensing data and field description information. The study region covers 630 km 2 , with 3,25 % of this area showing 402 rock glaciers 15 and protalus rampart features. In total, 172 rock glaciers have been identified, 48 of which are considered active. In such a sector, the protalus rampart range shows the largest landform occurrences, though fossil and inactive rock glaciers are usually larger and are developed over a larger attitudinal distribution. Based on previous studies, we have considered that the study of active rock glaciers is an effective approach to assess the current state of periglacial environment evolution. the annual potential solar radiation show high values but there is not any significant difference between landform and, therefore, it is scarcely influential. The research is carried out over a high mountain area where poor accessibility hindered the chances for obtaining systematic data on weather and environment. A simple and low coast methodology was used to analyse an area where no studies on rock glacier distribution had been made before. This information gains special importance because Argentina has recently instituted a national law for glacial and periglacial environment protection and 30The Cryosphere Discuss.,