RIOJA, LA, an Andean province of Argentina, bounded north by Catamarca, east by Catamarca and Cordoba, south by San Luis and San Juan and west by San Juan and Chile. Area, 33,394 sq. miles. Pop. (1914) 79,754; 103,071. The province is traversed from north to south 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 southward into the closed lacustrine basin of Mendoza. The eastern side of the province is arid. In the extreme north 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. 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., 1914, 12,536), on the eastern flank of the Sierra de Velasco, about 1,770 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 sur round it. The wines of Rioja 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. The most important town in the province is the mining centre of Chilecito, or Villa Argentina (pop., 1914, about 4,000), about 2,95o ft. above sea-level near the Famatina mines.