Map of Catamarca
Catamarca is a first-level division of Argentina. Its largest mapped city is Catamarca, with about 188,812 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Catamarca, and the tables list its 4 mapped cities along with the mountains nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 4
- Largest City
- Catamarca
- Country
- Argentina
- Highest Point Mapped
- 6,880 m
Interactive Map of Catamarca
About Catamarca
Catamarca (Spanish pronunciation: [kataˈmaɾka]) is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province had a population of 429,556 as per the 2022 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 the country of Chile.
The capital is San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, usually shortened to Catamarca. Other important cities include Andalgalá, Tinogasta, and Belén.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Catamarca Province (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Catamarca in Depth
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 Londres de la Nueva Inglaterra, but since it was constantly under attack by indigenous people its population remained small; it was re-founded several times at new sites with new names. The sixth foundation was by Fernando de Mendoza Mate de Luna on July 5, 1683, with the name 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.
Geography
Eighty percent of Catamarca's territory of 102,602 square kilometers (2.7% of the country total), is covered by mountains, which can be grouped into four clearly differentiated systems: the Pampean sierras, in the east and center; the Narváez-Cerro Negro-Famatina system, in the west; the cordilleran-Catamarca area of transition, in the western extreme; the Puna, an elevated portion, in the northwest.
The scarce water resources in Catamarca's arid and semi-arid climate zone determine the human settlement pattern. Agricultural activities are concentrated in pockets and valleys between the mountains. In the east the population is concentrated around a number of water courses, from which water is distributed by canals and irrigation ditches.
Economy
Catamarca's economy is Argentina's smallest, though still developed. Its 2006 economy was estimated at US$1.728 billion, or, US$5,284 per capita, 40% below the national average.
Less diversified than most in Argentina, agriculture has never played an important role in the Catamarca economy (contributing less than 5% to its output). The province's livestock includes around 200,000 head of cattle, 100,000 sheep, and 150,000 goats, with an annual production of 7,000 tonnes of beef, 5 tonnes of mutton/lamb, and 10 tonnes of pork, although outbreaks of foot and mouth disease has kept at times the production from reaching full potential.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Catamarca Province (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Catamarca: Key Facts
| Population | 429,562 (2022) |
|---|---|
| Area | 102,602 km² |
| Capital | San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca |
| Head of government | Raúl Jalil |
| Highest point | Ojos del Salado |
| Established | 1821 |
Facts from Wikidata Q44756 (CC0).
History of Catamarca: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Catamarca, from The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) in 1497 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) | 1497–1539 CE |
| The Spanish Empire | 1540–1810 CE |
| Río de la Plata | 1811–1833 CE |
| Argentine Confederation | 1834–1929 CE |
| Argentine Republic | 1930–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Catamarca
Catamarca on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Largest Cities in Catamarca
4 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catamarca | 188,812 | Catamarca | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Belen | 11,359 | Catamarca | Populated place |
| 3 | Chumbicha | 2,572 | Catamarca | Populated place |
| 4 | Tinogasta | 587 | Catamarca | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Catamarca
1 mountain mapped. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevado Ojos del Salado | 6,880 m | 22,572 ft | South America |
Catamarca: Quick Answers
- Where is Catamarca?
- Catamarca is a first-level division of Argentina, in South America. Its mapped cities centre on 28.2632° S, 66.6533° W.
- What is the largest city in Catamarca?
- Catamarca is the largest city mapped in Catamarca, with a metropolitan population of about 188,812.
- How many cities are in Catamarca?
- YearMaps maps 4 cities and towns in Catamarca, with a combined metropolitan population of about 203,330. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.
- What is the highest mountain in Catamarca?
- The highest summit mapped in Catamarca is Nevado Ojos del Salado at 6,880 m.