Catamarca

Catamarca, a western province of the Argentine Republic, sinking SE. from the Andes to the Salt Marshes which separate it from Cordoba. Almost two-thirds of its surface is mountain or waterless desert, where the rivers are lost in the sands; but the remainder is very fertile, and yields much wine and corn, besides supporting large herds of cattle. Only copper has been much mined. Area, 42,018 sq. m.; pop. (1890) 130,000.—Catamarca, the capital, lies 82 miles NE. of Rioja. Pop. 3000.