Abra Pampa

Abra Pampa is a town and municipality in Jujuy Province in Argentina, and is the capital of the Department of Cochinoca. The city is the economic center and communication of the Puna, it is the second town in importance in the region, after La Quiaca which is 73 km to the north by the Ruta Nacional 9, paved road, which also connects with the provincial capital, 224 km away.

Toponymy

The name Abra Pampa is a mix of the archaic Spanish word common among sailors - 'abra' (short opening), which in the region has the meaning of ravine, and 'pampa' is a Quechua word meaning 'plain', ie, 'ravine' (and) 'plain', in fact, this city is located on a plateau near several canyons, especially areas that lie to the east and that connect with the Chaco Pampean regions of Argentina.

History

The city was founded on August 31, 1883 in the department of Cochinoca 22 km east of the ancient village of Cochinoca. In 1915 it moved to the old village of Puna in its political functions as departmental capital. During this time, the core business was mining. The new village was called "La Siberia Argentina" because of the extreme cold and rigor of its climate. The name was unpopular, and was renamed the way it had always been known, as Abra Pampa.