San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
Encyclopedia
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca (sam feɾˈnando ðel ˈβaʎe ðe kataˈmaɾka) is a city in northwestern
Argentina
and capital of Catamarca Province
, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato.
The city of 684 km² (264 sq mi), located 500 m (1,640 ft) above the sea level, has 141,000 inhabitants , with more than 200,000 counting the suburbia, what represents around 70% of the population of the province.
. The closest provincial capitals are La Rioja
(154 km (96 mi)), Tucumán (230 km (143 mi)) and Santiago del Estero
(209 km (130 mi)).
Many pilgrim
s come to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca to visit the Church of the Virgin of the Valley (1694), which contains a statue of Nuestra Señora del Valle (Our Lady of the Valley).
Catamarca is also the touristic centre of the province, with its colonial architecture, and serves as a hub to many touristic points and excursions, hiking, mountain-bike tours, horse riding, and wine tasting.
San Fernando del Valle is served by Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport) (CTC/SANC), with flights to IRJ, TUC and AEP.
in 1558; a permanent settlement was not founded until 1683, by Fernando de Mendoza y Mate de Luna. Catamarca comes from Quechua meaning "fortress on the slope".
The city, which had only 8,000 inhabitants in 1882 and was reached by a railway line
in 1888, grew very slowly, and the region remained poor even in the middle of the 20th century. This situation was exacerbated by nepotism
on the part of the ruling Saadi family, before they lost political power in the 1990s. In spite of this, the province remains still politically unstable, and a large part of its population lives in precarious conditions.
mild climate of the zone has an annual average of 20 °C with an average maximum temperature of 34 °C in summer with several days exceeding 43 °C and an average minimum of 5 °C in winter. Temperature in the high mountains can drop down to 30 °C below zero. The Valle (valley) receives little rainfall annually. Most of the precipitation is received in the form of snow on the high mountain tops surrounding the city.
is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca's chief economic activity; however, low rainfall makes irrigation
necessary.
Fruit and grapes are grown in the oasis areas near the city, and there's a considerable production of wine. Other local production includes preserves and handwoven ponchos.
Cotton and cattle
are important economically, as well as mining at the Farallón Negro, Bajo de la Alumbrera and Capillitas mines where gold
, silver
, copper
and tin
.
Argentine Northwest
The Argentine Northwest is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.-Geography:The region had 5 different biomes:* Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east...
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and capital of Catamarca Province
Catamarca Province
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the , and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are : Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja...
, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato.
The city of 684 km² (264 sq mi), located 500 m (1,640 ft) above the sea level, has 141,000 inhabitants , with more than 200,000 counting the suburbia, what represents around 70% of the population of the province.
Information about the city
The city is located 1130 km (702 mi) from Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. The closest provincial capitals are La Rioja
La Rioja, Argentina
La Rioja is the capital city of the Argentine province of La Rioja, located on the east of the province. The city has a population of almost 150,000 as per the ....
(154 km (96 mi)), Tucumán (230 km (143 mi)) and Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. It has a population of 244,733 inhabitants, making it the twelfth largest city in the country, with a surface area of 2,116 km². It lies on the Dulce River and on National Route 9, at a distance of...
(209 km (130 mi)).
Many pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
s come to San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca to visit the Church of the Virgin of the Valley (1694), which contains a statue of Nuestra Señora del Valle (Our Lady of the Valley).
Catamarca is also the touristic centre of the province, with its colonial architecture, and serves as a hub to many touristic points and excursions, hiking, mountain-bike tours, horse riding, and wine tasting.
San Fernando del Valle is served by Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport) (CTC/SANC), with flights to IRJ, TUC and AEP.
History and politics
An initial settlement, called Londres, was established here by Spanish colonistsSpanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
in 1558; a permanent settlement was not founded until 1683, by Fernando de Mendoza y Mate de Luna. Catamarca comes from Quechua meaning "fortress on the slope".
The city, which had only 8,000 inhabitants in 1882 and was reached by a railway line
Rail transport in Argentina
The Argentine railway network comprised of track at the end of the Second World War and was, in its time, one of the most extensive and prosperous in South America. However, with the increase in highway construction, there followed a sharp decline in railway profitability, leading to the break-up...
in 1888, grew very slowly, and the region remained poor even in the middle of the 20th century. This situation was exacerbated by nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
on the part of the ruling Saadi family, before they lost political power in the 1990s. In spite of this, the province remains still politically unstable, and a large part of its population lives in precarious conditions.
Climate
The arid continentalContinental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
mild climate of the zone has an annual average of 20 °C with an average maximum temperature of 34 °C in summer with several days exceeding 43 °C and an average minimum of 5 °C in winter. Temperature in the high mountains can drop down to 30 °C below zero. The Valle (valley) receives little rainfall annually. Most of the precipitation is received in the form of snow on the high mountain tops surrounding the city.
Economy
AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca's chief economic activity; however, low rainfall makes irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
necessary.
Fruit and grapes are grown in the oasis areas near the city, and there's a considerable production of wine. Other local production includes preserves and handwoven ponchos.
Cotton and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
are important economically, as well as mining at the Farallón Negro, Bajo de la Alumbrera and Capillitas mines where gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
, copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
and tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
.