La Rioja Province, Argentina
( Details)
( Details)
- Total - Percentage of Argentina
89,680 km ² 3.24
- Total 2001 - Density
289 983 inhabitants 3.2 inhabitants / km ²
La Rioja is a province in the west of Argentina. The provincial capital is the same town of La Rioja. The name comes from the Spanish province of La Rioja. The province is surrounded in the north of the province of Catamarca, in the east of the province of Córdoba (Argentina ), in the south of the province of San Luis and the west by the province of San Juan. In addition, La Rioja is bordered to the west by Chile.
The former president of Argentina Carlos Menem comes from this province, he was here from 1973 to 1976 and from 1983 to 1989 provincial governor. Currently, Luis Beder Herrera governor of the province.
Geography
The entire western part of the province belongs to the Andes. The central part is dominated by several mountain ranges of the Sierras Pampeanas, which run in a north-south direction. To the east you will find wide plains belonging to the dry Pampa. The climate in the province is very dry, in the south there are some plains, salt pans, otherwise it is marked by Monte. Particularly worth seeing is the National Park Talampaya in which there are several bizarre rock formations.
Population
La Rioja is with the exception of the vicinity of the provincial capital, peopled only thin, but she has one of the highest growth rates in Argentina. Known the province is that here many descendants of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon to live, the best-known Argentine Syrian descent is certainly the aforementioned Carlos Menem. Major cities are next to the provincial capital of La Rioja ( 120,000 inhabitants) Chilecito ( 30,000 inhabitants), Chamical, Chepes and Aimogasta (all around 15,000 inhabitants).
Administrative divisions
The province of La Rioja is divided into 18 departments. The Constitution of the Province, was adopted in 1855 and modified in 1866. A new Constitution was drafted in 1986 and modified in 1998 and 2002. In contrast to the majority of the provinces of Argentina departments and municipios form a territorial and administrative unit.