Catamarca Province
Encyclopedia : C : CA : CAT : Catamarca Province
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| Capital | San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca |
| Area | km² |
| Population | 334,568 (2001) |
| Population density#Human population density>Density | 3,26/km² |
| Governor | Eduardo Brizuela del Moral |
| Demonym | Catamarqueño |
| AR-K | |
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The capital is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, usually shortened to Catamarca. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the
History
Before the arrival of the Spanish conquest, most of today's Catamarca was inhabited by the Diaguitas indigenous people, including the fierce Calchaquí tribe. In 1558 Juan Pérez de Zurita founded San Juan de la Ribera de Londres, but since it was constantly under attack of the indigenous people it was not very populated, it was re-founded, changed its locating, and renamed several times. For its 6th foundation, on July 5 1683, Fernando de Mendoza Mate de Luna founded the city of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.When the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created in 1776, Catamarca obtained the title of Subintendencia under the Salta intendency. In 1821 the province claims its autonomy, and Nicolás Avellaneda y Tula (grandfather of Nicolás Avellaneda) is elected as the first governor of the province.
There are two versions of the origin of the name. The quichua version form words "cata" ("slope") and "marca" ("fortress") forming "Fortress on the slope", and the aymara version from words "Catán" ("small") and "marca" ("town") resulting in "Small town".
Economy
Mining and cattle are the main activities of the province. The province's livestock includes around 200,000 bovine heads of cattle, 100,000 ovine, and 150,000 goats, with an annual production of 7,000 tonnes of beef, 5 tonnes of sheep meat, and 10 tonnes of pork.Mining production includes (approximate annual figures) 500 kg of gold, 5 tonnes of silver, 20,000 tonnes of gypsum, and 750,000 tonnes of limestone.
The agriculture of the province focuses on wood (walnut), vineyards, olive, citrics, cotton and tobacco.
Tourism is a surging economy in Catamarca, with more than 3.465 beds in hotels and other types of accommodation. Mountains and geological formation are the main attraction, with sights such as Antofagasta de la Sierra, Balcones del Valle, the Snow-Covered Summits of Aconquija, and the Pass of San Francisco. Cultural attractions include the city of Catamarca, the archaeological park Las Huellas del Inca, prehistoric petroglyphs, local music, handcrafts and wines.
Political division
The province is divided into sixteen departments (Spanish: departamentos).Department (Capital)
- Ambato (La Puerta)
- Ancasti (Ancasti)
- Andalgalá (Andalgalá)
- Antofagasta de la Sierra (Antofagasta de la Sierra)
- Belén Department (Belén)
- Capayán (Chumbicha)
- Capital (San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca)
- El Alto Department (El Alto)
- Fray Mamerto Esquiú (San José, Catamarca)
- La Paz Department, Catamarca (San Antonio)
- Paclín (La Merced)
- Pomán (Pomán)
- Santa María (Santa María)
- Santa Rosa (Bañado de Ovanta)
- Tinogasta (Tinogasta)
- Valle Viejo (San Isidro)
External links
- [Official site] (Spanish)
- [History] (Spanish)
- [CatamarcaWeb Portal]
- [Guide to Catamarca] (Spanish)
- [Hospital Interzonal de Niños Eva Peron] (Spanish)
| Provinces of Argentina |
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|---|---|
| Federal Capital | Buenos Aires | Catamarca | Chaco | Chubut | Córdoba | Corrientes | Entre Ríos | Formosa | Jujuy | La Pampa | La Rioja | Mendoza | Misiones | Neuquén | Río Negro | Salta | San Juan | San Luis | Santa Cruz | Santa Fe | Santiago del Estero | Tierra del Fuego | Tucumán | |
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