| Ambato | |
| Native Name: | Departamento Ambato |
| Settlement Type: | Department |
| Coordinates: | -28.1706°N -65.7914°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Argentina |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | ? |
| Founder: | ? |
| Seat Type: | Seat |
| Seat: | La Puerta |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Melchor Morra, Frente Justicialista |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 1797 |
| Population Total: | 4,525 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | ambateño |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | K4711 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | IFAM |
| Postal2 Code: | CAT014 |
| Area Code Type: | Area Code |
| Area Code: | 03833 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Patron saint |
| Blank Info Sec1: | ? |
Ambato is a department in the province of Catamarca in the northwest of Argentina. It covers an area of 1761 km2 and features a mountainous terrain throughout. Administratively, it is divided into 7 districts: El Rodeo, Las Juntas, La Puerta, Los Varela, El Bolsón, Singuil, and Los Castillos.[1]
According to some authors, its name comes from the Kakán expression An-Huatu, which means "high sorcerer," and is related to the highest hill in the area, the Manchao hill. Other versions suggest that it comes from the Quechua word Hamppatu or Ampatu, which means "Toad Hill".
The department entirely features mountainous relief, typical of the Sierras Pampeanas region. The highest point is the Manchao hill (4500 m above sea level). Within Ambato is the source of the Valle river and most of its basin, formed by various rivers and streams.
Ambato falls within the arid climate region of mountains and basins, but the numerous watercourses create a more humid microclimate, with average annual precipitation of 350 mm, primarily during the summer months. These conditions favor the development of abundant mountain vegetation.
It has a population of 4463 inhabitants (INDEC, 2010), representing a decrease of 1.4% from the 4525 inhabitants (INDEC, 2001) recorded in the previous census.
The seismic activity in the Catamarca region is frequent and of low intensity, with a seismic silence of medium to severe earthquakes every 30 years in random areas. The last occurrences were: