Catamarca Province Plata was created in 1776, Catamarca obtained the title of "Subintendencia" under the Salta intendency. In 1821, the province claimed its autonomy, and Nicolás Avellaneda y Tula (grandfather of Nicolás Avellaneda) was elected as the first governor of the province. The name is believed to come either from Quechua "cata" 'slope' and "marca" 'fortress', or from Aymara "catán" 'small' and "marca" 'town'. Catamarca remained isolated from the rest of Argentina by its mountains until 1888, when the rapidly expanding railways first appeared in the province. Attracting immigrants with its spacious, fertile valleys and dry, agreeable weather, Catamarca was soon favored
Catamarca Popular Movement Catamarca Popular Movement The Catamarca Popular Movement () is a provincial political party from the Argentine Province of Catamarca, founded in 1983 by the Ob/Gyn physician Ignacio Joaquín Avalos (1933-2007). From his extensive knowledge of his province and its inhabitants gathered after many years of medical practice and soccer playing, he developed a need to do something for the people and awareness about the problems of the region, that led him to create this independent political party. He was elected to become a member of the low chamber of the Argentinian National Congress for the period 1985-1989, due to an