Catamarca Province

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 2001 census [INDEC], and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise, from the north): Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja. To the west it borders Chile.

1 History
2 Economy
3 Geography
4 Political division
5 External links

[edit] 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 or moose") resulting in "Small town or moose".

[edit] 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 bovine, and 150,000 goats, with an annual production of 7,000 tonnes of beef, 5 tonnes of sheep meat, and 10 tonnes of pork, although outbreaks of foot and mouth disease has kept at times the production from reaching full potential.^{[citation needed]}

Catamarca is home to one of the largest copper gold mines in the world, Bajo de la Alumbrera which produces approximately 600,000 ounces of gold and 190,000 tonnes of copper annually. The mine directly employs over 1,000 people and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties to the federal and provincial governments.

The agriculture of the province focuses on wood (walnut), vineyards, olive, citrus, cotton and tobacco, to which the government gives tax cuts to facilitate economic growth^{[citation needed]} so far with failing results^{[citation needed]} and no oversight.^{[citation needed]}

Tourism is a surging economy in Catamarca,^{[citation needed]} with more than 3,465 beds in hotels and other types of accommodation. Although high hopes are focused in this industry, lack of infrastructure,^{[citation needed]} service oriented and trained businesses and an overall endemic corruption culture,^{[citation needed]} tourism has yet to become a real option for the local economy. 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. The San Francisco Pass, an endeavor developed during the Castillo (Senior and son's) administration at a tremendous cost to public funds^{[citation needed]} has failed tremendously^{[citation needed]} to bring trade and tourism to impoverish and underdeveloped^{[citation needed]} Tinogasta county^{[citation needed]}. Large numbers of cattle, fattened in the alfalfa fields of Pucara, Tinogasta and Copacabana, were driven into northern Chile across the San Francisco pass and mules were bred for the Bolivian market in 1910's.^{[citation needed]} Cultural attractions include the city of Catamarca, the archaeological park Las Huellas del Inca, prehistoric petroglyphs, local music, handcrafts and wines.

Catamarca is one of the poorest provinces of Argentina with an unemployment rate of 16.2% (May, 2003) according to the local office of statistic and census. Unemployment hits every family regardless of education level;^{[citation needed]} an important percentage of the population between 21-40 years old has never held a job for most of their adults lives^{[citation needed]} and sustenance comes in the form of government handouts and subsidies,^{[citation needed]} creating a culture of welfare.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Geography

Highest point: Nevada Ojos del Salado (Salt Springs Peak) 6908 m? Transport: Major highways include Ruta 33 from Catamarca 98 km south to San Martin, 38 from Catamarca north via San Pedro 228 km to Tucuman, 60 north-west from Cordoba province 577 km from La Guardia north-west (partly through La Rioja) to Chile by the Passa de San Francisco (4722 m), 64 west from Santiago del Estero to join 38 and 157 north from La Guardia 103 km to Frias where it connects with 89 west from Villa San Martin (Santiago del Estero), and north to Tucuman province at San Pedro, connecting with 64 near Las Cañas. There is an airport at Catamarca.

[edit] Political division

The province is divided into sixteen departments (Spanish: departamentos).

Department (Capital)

[edit] External links

Official site (Spanish)
History (Spanish)
Important Historical Dates (Spanish)
CatamarcaWeb Portal (Spanish)
Guide to Catamarca (Spanish)
Hospital Interzonal de Niños Eva Peron (Spanish)

v • d • e Provinces of Argentina

Provinces	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

Autonomous city	Buenos Aires City (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires)