RIOJA, LA, one of the provinces of the Argentine Confederation, comprehends the country between the Gran Salina and the Andes, and extends from north to south from 28' to 31' S. lat. It is bounded S. by the provinces of San Juan and San Louis, E. by Cordova, N.E. and N. by Catamarca, and W. by the republic of Chili. The area is about 5850 square miles. The population is variously estimated at from 18,000 to 25,000.
The country is described generally under A nevem( z Cox r znznariort It consists of • narrow strip of cultivable land along the eastern baao of the Sierra de Velasco, the two valleys of Famatina and Guandacol, and a pastoral tract extending round the southern extremity of the Sierra de Velem). Only the northern districts of the country east of the Sierra Famatina are fit for agriculture. The province is by its position almost cut off from intercourse with tho more civilised parts of the Confederation. The roads leading to La Rioja are mere cir cuitous path., hardly passable by mules, and the country is altogether in the most backward condition. The province is divided into four departments—Anne°, Famatina, Guandacol, sod the Mhos. A rauco lies east of the Sierra de Velasco, and produces wheat, maize, and cotton ; but its principal wealth is its vineyards. From 7000 to 10,000 barrels, of 16 gallons each, of a strong sweet wine, and 100 barrels of brandy, are annually made, nearly the whole of which is exported to Cordova and the neighbouring provinces. The capital, La Rioja, is also that of the whole province. Famatina lies to the west of Aranco, between the Sierra de Velasco and the Sierra Fama tins. It contains rich orchards in its northern districts, and makes
and exports about 6000 barrels of wine annually. This department takes its name from the Sierra Famatina, celebrated for its mineral wealth. The silver-mines of Famatina are very rich, but the remote ness and inclemency of their situation—they being above the line of vegetation, and only accessible by difficult mountain-paths—have hitherto prevented them from being worked except on a small scale. The capital, Chilecito, is a place of no importance. Goitre prevails to a fearful extent in the valley of Famatina. Guandacol lies between the Sierra Famatina and the Andes, and produces very rich crops of wheat It is thinly inhabited, and chiefly by aborigines, who hunt. the vicuna in the adjacent mountains. The wool of the vicuna is the only article of export. Guandacol, the capital, and Vinchina are the only towns. The Liallos consist chiefly of a desert plain, containing a great number of grassy oases, on which there are numerous cattle farms. About 20,000 head of cattle aro annually reared. Like the other provinces of the Argentine Confederation, La Rioja is a federal state, owning a qualified dependence upon the central government The state government is nominally vested in a governor and a muni cipal junta of five members.
La .Rioja, the capital of the state, is situated at the foot of the Sierra de Velasco, in 29' 12' N. lat., 59° 50' W. long. It contains some substantial houses, a few publio buildings, the only school in the province, and about 3000 inhabitants.
RIOM. [Puv-nr.-Damz.]