LA

RIOJA  , an Andine province of Argentina, bounded N. by Catamarca, E. by . Catamarca and Cordoba, S. by San Luis and San Juan and W. by San Juan and Chile . Area, 34,546 sq. m . Pop . (1895) 69,502; (1902, estimate) 82,099 . The province is traversed from N. to S. by eastern ranges of the Andes and is separated from Chile by the Cordillera itself . The western part of the province is drained by the Bermejo, which flows south-ward into the closed lacustrine basin of Mendoza . The eastern side of the province is arid, but in the extreme N. some small streams flow northward into Catamarca . The scanty waters of these streams are used for irrigation purposes . The principal industry of the province is that of mining, its mineral resources including gold, silver, copper, nickel, tin, cobalt, coal, alum and salt . Its best known mines are those of the Sierra de Famatina, 16,400 ft. above sea-level, where an aerial wire line is used for transportation to Chilecito in the valley below . The development of mining industries is seriously hindered by lack of water .

For the same

reason, agriculture is in a very backward condition . The climate is hot and dry, and there is no cultivation of the soil except in the valleys of the Cordillera and a few other places where irrigation is possible . Under these conditions; there are grown wheat (a limited extent), grapes, oranges, olives and tobacco . Alfalfa is grown to a considerable extent and is used for feeding the herds of cattle'driven across country to Chile . The capital of the province is La Rioja (pop., 1904, about 6000), on thee eastern flank of the Sierra de Velasco, about 1770 ft. above sea-level and near the gorge of Sanagasta, through which a small stream, also called Rioja, flows northward and affords water for the gardens, vineyards and orchards that surround it . The wines of Rioja are highly esteemed and are an important source of income for the district . The town is connected' by rail with Cordoba and Catamarca . It was founded In 1591 by Velasco and in 1894 was destroyed by an earthquake from which it has only partially recovered . The most important town in the province is the mining centre of Chilecito, or Villa Argentina (pop., 1904, about 4000), about 2950 ft. above sea-level near the Famatina mines .