Catamarca

Catamarca, a province of the Argentine Confederation in South America, the capital of which is San Fernando de Catamarca. It is separated by the Andes from Chili on the west, but on other sides is bounded by the provinces of Salta, Tucuman, Cordova, and Rioja, having an area of 35,780 square miles. The soil is fertile and produces cereals, cotton, and Chili pepper, besides affording pasturage to many cattle; but the mines of gold, silver, tin, nickel, and copper - especially the latter - are the chief source of wealth. The capital is somewhat south of the middle of the province, and is a tolerably well-built town, dating from 1685, when it took the place of Chacra, the old capital, now in ruins. It has chirches, convents and schools, and is a centre for the distribution of imported goods, the exports being dried figs, wine, brandy, and cotton.