San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca is the capital and largest city in Catamarca Province in northwestern Argentina, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato. The city name is normally shortened as Catamarca and is also known as Ciudad de Catamarca. The city of 684 km2, located 500 m above sea level, has 159,000 inhabitants, with more than 200,000 counting the suburbia, which represents around 70% of the population of the province.

Overview

The city is located 1130 km from Buenos Aires. The closest provincial capitals are La Rioja (154 km), Tucumán (230 km) and Santiago del Estero (209 km). Many pilgrims 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.

Transportation

San Fernando del Valle is served by Coronel Felipe Varela International Airport (CTC/SANC), with flights to Buenos Aires-AEP.

History and politics

An initial settlement, called Londres, was established here by Spanish colonists 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.

Climate

The warm semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) of Catamarca has an annual average of 20 °C with an average maximum temperature of 34 C in summer with several days typically exceeding 43 C, and an average minimum of 5 C in winter. Temperatures in the high mountains can drop down to −30 C, however in the city they rarely go below freezing. The Valle (valley) receives relatively little rainfall from summer thunderstorms; most of the precipitation is received in the form of snow on the high mountain tops surrounding the city.

Economy

Agriculture 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 is 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.

Sports

The most successful football clubs in Catamarca are San Lorenzo de Alem, Atlético Policial, Sarmiento, and Villa Cubas. Catamarca was a host of the 1982 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship at the Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiú.

Gallery

Notable people