Famatina Department Explained

Coordinates:-28.9247°N -67.5197°W
Subdivision Type:Department
Subdivision Name:Department
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:La Rioja
Subdivision Type2:Country
Subdivision Name2:Argentina
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:6371
Population Total:4587
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto

Famatina is an Argentinian Department in La Rioja Province.

Geography

The department borders Catamarca Province to the north, San Blas de los Sauces Department, Castro Barros Department and Sanagasta Department to the east, Chilecito Department to the south, Vinchina Department to the west and General Lamadrid Department to the southwest.

Population

According to estimates for June 2007, the population was 6819 inhabitants.[1]

Department Localities

Flora & fauna

Endemic Famatina animals are:[2] birds Upucerthia validirostris rufescens, Upucerthia ruficauda famatinae, Cinclodes fuscus riojanus, Asthenes modesta serrana, lizard Liolaemus famatinae (near extinction), Phymaturus mallimacci (near extinction); mammals Abrocoma famatina (near extinction) and Lagidium viscacia famatinae.[3] [4]

There are populations of threatened species of the Andes region (Taruca Hippocamelus antisensis (a deer species), Vultur gryphus and Rhea pennata.[4]

Endemic plants include Baccharis famatinensis.[2]

Serranías del Famatina Provincial Wildlife Reserve

The Reserve was decreed in 2002 by provincial law 7292. However, that reserve was never implemented.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Dirección General de Estadística de la Provincia de La Rioja http://www.larioja.gov.ar/estadistica/Principal/dpe.htm
  2. Ejemplar de Taruka, habitante de la región. Autor: Fernando Falke
  3. Web site: Lagidium viscacia . Dunnum, J. . Vargas, J. . Bernal, N. . Zeballos, H. . Lessa, E. . Ojeda, R. . Bidau, C. . 2008 . 17 November 2010 .
  4. Web site: Aves Argentinas . Asociación Ornitológica del Plata. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419224311/http://www.avesargentinas.org.ar/12/noticia.php?id=494#_ftn1 . 2012-04-19 . 2012-02-03.