La Rioja, Argentina

La Rioja
—  City  —
Nickname(s): Tierra de caudillos
La Rioja
Location of La Rioja in Argentina
Coordinates:
Country Argentina
Province La Rioja
Department Capital
Government
 • Mayor Ricardo C. Quintela (Justicialist Party)
Elevation 515 m (1,690 ft)
Population (2001 census [INDEC])
 • Total 143,684
Time zone ART (UTC−3)
CPA base F5300
Dialing code +54 3822

La Rioja is the capital city of the Argentine province of La Rioja, located on the east of the province. The city has a population of almost 150,000 according to the 2001 census [INDEC].

La Rioja is located on the foot of the Velasco Sierras, 1,167 km (725 mi) from Buenos Aires, and 430 km (267 mi) from Córdoba. It is one of the most arid and least populated provinces of Argentina. The Capitán Vicente Almandos Almonacid Airport (IATA: IRJ, ICAO: SANL) at coordinates is 7 kilometres away from La Rioja, and serves regular flights to Buenos Aires and Catamarca.

Former president Isabel Martínez de Perón was born in La Rioja. Another former president, Carlos Menem, was born nearby.

Contents

Climate

La Rioja has a semi-arid climate (BSh, according to the Köppen climate classification), with average temperatures of 5 °C to 20 °C in winter and 21 °C to 35 °C in summer, but with maximum temperatures of more than 40 °C. The average annual precipitation is 356.2 mm (14 in).

Climate data for La Rioja Aero., Argentina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 35
(95)		 33
(91)		 30
(86)		 27
(81)		 23
(73)		 19
(66)		 20
(68)		 23
(73)		 26
(79)		 31
(88)		 33
(91)		 35
(95)		 27.9
(82.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27
(81)		 26
(79)		 23
(73)		 20
(68)		 16
(61)		 11
(52)		 11
(52)		 14
(57)		 18
(64)		 23
(73)		 25
(77)		 27
(81)		 20.1
(68.1)
Average low °C (°F) 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 18
(64)		 14
(57)		 10
(50)		 5
(41)		 4
(39)		 7
(45)		 10
(50)		 15
(59)		 18
(64)		 20
(68)		 13.5
(56.3)
Precipitation mm (inches) 80
(3.15)		 72
(2.83)		 54
(2.13)		 18
(0.71)		 7
(0.28)		 3
(0.12)		 3
(0.12)		 5
(0.2)		 7
(0.28)		 13
(0.51)		 43
(1.69)		 57
(2.24)		 362
(14.25)
% humidity 60 65 69 69 69 68 64 53 49 48 51 55 60
Sunshine hours 245 224 205 198 202 180 205 239 228 264 252 249 2,691
Source: The Weather Network [1]
La Rioja
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
80
 
35
21
 
 
72
 
33
20
 
 
54
 
30
18
 
 
18
 
27
14
 
 
7
 
23
10
 
 
3
 
19
5
 
 
3
 
20
4
 
 
5
 
23
7
 
 
7
 
26
10
 
 
13
 
31
15
 
 
43
 
33
18
 
 
57
 
35
20
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: The Weather Network

History

Juan Ramírez de Velasco founded the city with the name Todos los Santos de la Nueva Rioja on 20 May 1591, while he was the Governor of the Territories of Tucumán, and in homage to the region of La Rioja in Spain.

Around the time of the Easter celebrations of 1591 approximately 9,000, of the estimated 11,000 indigenous people living in the surrounding area, attacked the stronghold of La Padercitas in La Rioja as a protest to the poor treatment they received from the Spanish settlers. During this time the Spanish settlers looked to San Francisco Solano to re-establish the peace.

La Rioja was always the principal settlement of the province. The only time it was surpassed in population was in the mid-19th century when Chilecito, a small settlement near the Chilean boarder based around the Hacienda Santa Rita, became the largest town in the province. It wasn't until the early 20th century that La Rioja regained the status of being the largest city.

The city was the only settlement of some importance in the territory of the present province, and when an earthquake severely damaged the city in 1894, it had only 8,000 inhabitants. It was not until the 1970s that the population of the city, and of the province, started growing considerably.

Economy

The economy of the entire province is historically tied to cattle farming and agriculture, as well as wine production. But the beginning of the 1970s brought to the city an industrialisation thrust that makes La Rioja today an important centre in Argentina's pharmacological industry.

The majority of La Rioja's working class find employment in construction, however, La Rioja's economy is also fueled by tourism hosting trips to scenic locations such as Chilecito and Talampaya National Park. The summer harvest, or "La Cosecha," is also a large employer. During la cosecha, many Riojanos find work in nearby green olive plantations, vineyards, and cotton fields, as well as the factories that bottle and distribute these products. La Rioja is also home to The Argentine National University of La Rioja, the university has brought students and professors to the city for work and study since its establishment in the 1970s.

Religion

References

  1. ^ "Climate Statistics for La Rioja Aero., Argentina". December 30, 2004. http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/c03535. Retrieved December 31, 2011. 

External links