Catamarca
a W. province of the Argentine Republic, sinking S. E. from the Andes to the salt marshes which separate it from Cordoba. Almost twothirds of its surface is mountain or waterless desert, where the rivers are lost in the sands; but the remainder is very fertile, and yields much wine and corn, besides supporting large herds of cattle. Only copper has been much mined. Area, 36,800 square miles; pop. about 106,000. Catamarca (pop. about 10,000), the capital, lies 82 miles N. E. of Rioja.
CATANIA CATANIA (ancient Catăna), a city on the E. coast of Sicily, the capital of the province of Catania (area, 1,907 square miles; pop. about 850,000), at the foot of Mount Etna. It has been repeatedly visited by tremendous earthquakes, and has been partially laid in ruins by lava from eruptions of Mount Etna; but it has always revived, and has much more the features of a metropolis than Palermo. Most of the edifices have an air of magnificence unknown in other parts of the island. The cathedral, founded by Count Roger in 1094, is a fine building. The manufacture of silk, manufacture of linen, and articles in lava, amber, etc., amber, etc., constitutes the chief industry. The industry. ruins of the amphitheater, which was more extensive than the Colosseum at Rome, are still to be seen, as also the remains of the theater, baths, aqueducts, sepulchral chambers, hippodrome, and several temples. The harbor was choked up by the eru eruption of 1669, so that for the larger vessels there is nothing but a roadstead. In spite of this Catania has a considerable trade, and exports wheat, barley, wine, oil, etc. It is the seat of a bishop and of a university, founded in 1445. Pop. about 220,000.
CATANZARO (ancient Catacium), a city of Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located 8 miles from the Gulf of Squillace. It contains a cathedral, an academy of sciences, a lyceum and three hospitals. Situated on a height, it is cool in summer and a desirable place of residence. There is a considerable trade in wines, wheat, and oils, and the chief manufactures are silk and velvet.
Pop. about 40,000.