República Argentina  (Spanish) Argentine Republic (portal)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: En unión y libertad "In Union and Liberty"
Anthem: Himno Nacional Argentino
Capital (and largest city)		Buenos Aires 34°20′S, 58°30′W
Official languages		Spanish
Ethnic groups		Spanish, Italian, German, Jewish, Arabs, Armenians, Irish, British, French, Native American, African
Demonym		Argentine
Government		Federal presidential republic
-	President	Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
-	Vice President	Julio Cobos
Independence		from Spain
-	May Revolution	25 May 1810
-	Declared	9 July 1816
Area
-	Total	2,766,890 km² (8th) 1,073,514 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1. The Coat of Arms of Argentina was established in its current form in 1944, but has its origins in the seal of the Sovereign General Assembly of 1813 though there A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's The lyrics of the Himno Nacional Argentino (the National anthem of Argentina) were written by Vicente López y Planes, and the music was composed by This article is about the Demographics features of the Population of Argentina, including distribution ethnicity, economic status and other Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory The' Italian people' are a Southern European Ethnic group located primarily in Italy, Switzerland, France and by virtue of a wide-ranging The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large British people, or Britons, are the native inhabitants of Great Britain and their descendants or citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A federal republic is a Federation of States with a republican form of government A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (born February 19 1953) commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner, is an Argentine The office of Vice-President of Argentina did not exist until it was created by the 1853 Constitution. Julio César Cleto Cobos (born Mendoza Argentina, 30 April 1955) is an Argentine politician formerly of the Radical Civic Union Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The May Revolution (in Spanish: Revolución de Mayo) was a series of political and social events in the Nineteenth century city of Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different surface Areas here is a list of areas between 1 million km² and 10 million km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 1
Population
-	2008 estimate	40,677,348 (30th)
-	2001 census	36,260,130
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$523. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 7 billion (2007)[1] (23rd)
-	Per capita	$13,307 (2007)[2][3] (57th)
GDP (nominal)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$245. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita 6 billion[4] (31st)
-	Per capita	$6,548 (66th)
Gini (2006)		49[5]
HDI (2005)		▲ 0. PLEASE NO RANDOM FIGURES THERE ARE NO FIGURES BASED ON NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THIS ARTICLE Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 869 (high) (38th)
Currency		Peso (ARS)
Time zone		ART (UTC-3)
-	Summer (DST)	ART (UTC-2)
Internet TLD		.ar
Calling code		+54
Argentina also has a territorial dispute with the United Kingdom over an additional 1,000,000 km² (386,102 sq mi) of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The peso (originally established as the nuevo peso argentino or peso convertible) is the currency of Argentina. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Even though Argentina is located at the UTC-4 UT Time zone, it uses the UTC-3, and observed Daylight saving time in 2007 Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E History of the claims See also History of the Falkland Islands See also Timeline of the history of the Falkland Islands See also Falkland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Argentina is a South American country, constituted as a federation of twenty-three provinces and an autonomous city. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a A federation ( Latin: foedus, covenant is a union comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal" It is second in size on the South American continent to Brazil and eighth in the world. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. Argentina occupies a continental surface area of 2,766,890 km² (1,068,302 sq mi) between the Andes mountain range in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east and south. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast, and Chile in the west and south. Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the The country claims the British-administered overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Argentina also claims 969,464 km² (374,312 sq mi) of Antarctica, known as Argentine Antarctica, overlapping other claims made by Chile and the United Kingdom (British Antarctic Territory). Argentine bases Esperanza and Marambio are the biggest Argentine bases holding together 70 buildings an average of 110 persons during the winter and over Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the The British Antarctic Territory is a sector of Antarctica claimed by the United Kingdom.

Argentina has the highest Human Development Index level and the second highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in purchasing power parity in Latin America^[6] and its total national GDP is the 23rd largest in the world. The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. ^[7][8] The country is currently classified as an Upper-Middle Income Country^[9] or as a secondary emerging market by the World Bank. Gross National Income (GNI comprises the total value produced within a country (i The term emerging markets is used to describe a nation's social or business activity in the process of rapid Industrialization. The World Bank is an internationally supported Bank that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development programs (e ^[10][11] Argentina's nominal GDP makes it the 31st largest economy in the world. ^[12]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Politics 3.1 Government 3.2 Military 4 Provinces 5 Geography 5.1 Main features 5.2 Geographic regions 5.3 Rivers and lakes 5.4 Coastal areas and seas 5.5 Climate 5.6 Enclaves and exclaves 5.7 Flora 5.8 Fauna 6 Economy 6.1 Sectors 6.2 Transportation 6.3 Water supply and sanitation 7 Population 7.1 Contemporary figures 7.2 Cities and metropolitan areas 8 Demographics 8.1 Ethnicity 8.2 Minorities 8.3 Illegal immigrants 8.4 Urbanization 9 Culture 9.1 Literature 9.2 Film and theatre 9.3 Painting and sculpture 9.4 Food and drink 9.5 Sports 9.6 Music 9.7 Religion 9.8 Language 9.9 Education 9.10 Holidays 10 Science and technology 11 Communications and media 11.1 Print 11.2 Radio and television 12 International rankings 13 See also 14 References 14.1 Bibliography 15 External links

Etymology

Main article: Origin and history of the name of Argentina

The name Argentina (from Latin argentum: silver) was first used extensively in the 1612 book Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata) by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, naming the territory Tierra Argentina (Land of Silver). Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen ^[13][14]

History

Main article: History of Argentina

The first signs of human presence in Argentina are located in the Patagonia (Piedra Museo, Santa Cruz), and date from 11,000 BC(Santa María, Huarpes, Diaguitas, Sanavirones, among others). This article is about the History of Argentina. See also History of South America, History of Latin America, History of the Americas, and Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country in Patagonia. The Diaguita, also called Diaguita-Calchaquí, are a group of South American indigenous peoples. In 1480, the Inca Empire under the rule of king Pachacutec launched an offensive and conquered present-day northwestern Argentina, integrating it into a region called Collasuyu. The Inca Empire (or Inka Empire) was the largest empire in Pre-Columbian America. Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (or Pachacutec) was the ninth Sapa Inca (1438-1471/1472 of the Kingdom of Cusco, which he transformed into the empire Qulla Suyu (also Collasuyu) was the southeastern provincial region of the Inca Empire. In the northeastern area, the Guaraní developed a culture based on yuca and sweet potato. Guaraní are a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America, distinguished from the related Tupi by their use of the Guaraní language The cassava, yuca, manioc, or mandioca ( Manihot esculenta) is a woody Shrub of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family native The sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas) is a Dicotyledonous plant which belongs to the family Convolvulaceae The central and southern areas (Pampas and Patagonia) were dominated by nomadic cultures, unified in the seventeenth century by the Mapuches. Laguna de Gomezjpg|thumb|left|240px|Lake Gomez near Junín in the heart of the Pampas grain belt Nomadic people, (from the νομάδες nomádes, "those who let pasture herds" also known as nomads, are communities of people that As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The Mapuche are the indigenous inhabitants of Central and Southern Chile and Southern Argentina.

European explorers arrived in 1516. Spain established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580; the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created in 1776. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was the last and most shortlived Viceroyalty created by Spain in 1776 During the early part of this period it was largely a country of Spanish immigrants and their descendants, known as criollos, some of them gathered in Buenos Aires and other cities, others living on the pampas as gauchos. Criollo is a term that dates back to the Spanish colonial Casta system ( Caste system) of Latin America Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Laguna de Gomezjpg|thumb|left|240px|Lake Gomez near Junín in the heart of the Pampas grain belt Gaucho ( gaúcho in Portuguese, "gaucho" in Spanish) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American Pampas Descendants of African slaves (See:Afro-Argentines) were present in significant numbers. The Afro Argentine population in Argentina, a result of the Slave trade during the centuries of Spanish domination under the Viceroyalty of the Indigenous peoples inhabited much of the rest of Argentina. In 1806 and 1807 the British Empire launched two invasions to Buenos Aires, but the criollo population repelled both attempts. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The British invasions of the Río de la Plata (Invasiones Inglesas del Río de la Plata were a series of unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish On May 25, 1810, after confirmation of the rumors about the overthrow of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon, citizens of Buenos Aires created the First Government Junta (May Revolution). Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1810 ( MDCCCX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Early life In his youth he occupied the painful position of an heir apparent who was jealously excluded from all share in government by his parents and the royal favorite Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern The Primera Junta or First Assembly is the name given by history to the first government that appeared in Argentina after the May Revolution. The May Revolution (in Spanish: Revolución de Mayo) was a series of political and social events in the Nineteenth century city of Two nations emerged in what is now Argentina United Provinces of South America (1810) and Liga Federal (1815) Other provinces through the reluctance of some factions and the centralist tendencies of the more radical activists delayed a combined State. The United Provinces of South America (Spanish Provincias Unidas de Sud América) was the original name of a state that would become the United Provinces of the Río de The Liga Federal (1815-1820 or Liga de los Pueblos Libres ( League of the Free Peoples in English was a small confederal state in what is now Argentina In the meantime, Paraguay declared its independence in 1811. Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only

Military campaigns led by General José de San Martín between 1814 and 1817 made independence increasingly a reality. José Francisco de San Martín Matorras, also known as José de San Martín ( 25 February 1778 – 17 August 1850) was an Argentine In 1820 Liga Federal was crushed by forces of the United Provinces of South America and Portugal armies from Brazil and its provinces absorbed into United Provinces of South America. The Liga Federal (1815-1820 or Liga de los Pueblos Libres ( League of the Free Peoples in English was a small confederal state in what is now Argentina The United Provinces of South America (Spanish Provincias Unidas de Sud América) was the original name of a state that would become the United Provinces of the Río de Argentines revere San Martín, who campaigned in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, as the hero of their national independence. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the On July 9, 1816, a Congress gathered in Tucumán (the Congress of Tucumán) and finally issued a formal declaration of independence from Spain. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year San Miguel de Tucumán (usually referred to as simply Tucumán) is the largest City in northern Argentina, with a population of 525853 per the. The Congress of Tucumán was the representative assembly of the United Provinces of the River Plate formed in 1816 initially meeting in Tucumán. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Bolivia declared itself independent in 1825, and Uruguay was created in 1828 as a result of the Argentina-Brazil War. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America

In 1818, General José de San Martín crossed the Andes to free Chile and Peru, thus eliminating the Spanish threat. José Francisco de San Martín Matorras, also known as José de San Martín ( 25 February 1778 – 17 August 1850) was an Argentine The Crossing of the Andes was one of the most important feats in the Argentine and Chilean wars of independence, in which a combined army of Argentine Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Centralist and federalist groups (Spanish: Unitarios and Federales) were in conflict until national unity was established and the constitution promulgated in 1853. Centralization (or centralisation) is the process by which the activities of an organization particularly those regarding decision-making become concentrated within Political federalism is a Political philosophy in which a group of members are bound together (Latin foedus, covenant) with a governing Unitarianists (in Spanish, Unitarios) were the proponents of the liberal concept of a centralised government in Buenos Aires during the civil Federales was the name under which the supporters of Federalism in Argentina were known opposing the Unitarios that claimed a centralised government The constitution of Argentina is one of the primary sources of exisiting law in Argentina. The constitution was strongly defended in moving oratory by the patriot and Franciscan Mamerto Esquiú, for whom one of the country's departments is named. The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic Mamerto de la Ascensión Esquiú Servant of God ( May 11 1826 - March 10 1883) was an Argentine friar From 1865 to 1870, the bloody War of Triple Alliance was fought by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay against Paraguay. The War of the Triple Alliance, also known as the Paraguayan War, and the Great War in Paraguay itself was fought from 1864 to 1870 and caused more deaths than any

Foreign investment and immigration from Europe led to the adoption of modern agricultural techniques. Investment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in Business management, Finance and Economics, related to saving The original inhabitants of Argentina were descendants of Asian peoples that crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America and then over thousands In the 1870s, the "Conquest of the Desert" subdued the remaining indigenous tribes throughout the southern Pampas and Patagonia, leaving 1,300 indigenous dead. The Conquest of the Desert (Conquista del desierto was a military campaign directed mainly by General Julio Argentino Roca in the 1870s which established Argentine dominance Laguna de Gomezjpg|thumb|left|240px|Lake Gomez near Junín in the heart of the Pampas grain belt Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina ^[15][16]

From 1880 to 1916, Argentina enjoyed increasing prosperity and prominence while emerging as one of the 10 richest countries in the world, benefiting from an agricultural export-led economy. The population of the country swelled sevenfold. Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics through non-democratic means until 1916, when their traditional rivals, the Radicals, won control of the first free-elected government. Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined The Radical Civic Union (in Spanish Unión Cívica Radical, UCR) is a Political party in Argentina. The military forced Hipólito Yrigoyen from power in 1930, leading to another decade of Conservative rule. Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem ( July 12 1852 &ndash July 3 1933) was twice President of Argentina (from The country was neutral during World War II. For other uses of Neutral and Neutrality see Neutral A neutral country takes no side in a War between other parties World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Political change led to the presidency of Juan Perón in 1946, who worked to empower the working class and greatly expanded the number of unionized workers. Juan Domingo Perón (October 8 1895 &ndash July 1 1974 was an Argentine Colonel and Politician, elected three times as President of Argentina The economy turned to more protectionist policies and the developing of industry. The self-proclamated Revolución Libertadora of 1955 deposed him. The Revolución Libertadora ( Spanish, Liberating Revolution) was a military uprising that ended the second presidential term of

From the 1950s to 1970s, soft military and weak civilian administrations traded power. During those years the economy grew strongly and poverty declined (to less than 7% in 1975). At the same time political violence continued to escalate, fighting against the military government, demanding the return of Perón from his Spanish exile. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion In 1973, Perón returned to the presidency, but he died within a year of assuming power. His third wife Isabel, the Vice President, succeeded him in office, but the military coup of March 24, 1976 removed her from office. María Estela Martínez Cartas de Perón (born February 4, 1931) better known as Isabel Martínez de Perón or Isabel Perón, is a former Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The armed forces took power through a junta in charge of the self-appointed National Reorganization Process until 1983. For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces A military dictatorship is a Form of government wherein the political power resides with the Military; it is similar but not identical to a Stratocracy, The National Reorganization Process (in Spanish, Proceso de Reorganización Nacional, often simply El Proceso) was the name used by its leaders The military government repressed opposition and leftist groups using harsh illegal measures (the "Dirty War"); thousands of dissidents "disappeared", while the SIDE cooperated with DINA and other South American intelligence agencies, and with the CIA in Operation Condor. This article refers to the Argentine Dirty War for the British film of the same name see Dirty War (film. A forced disappearance occurs when an organization forces a person to vanish from Public view either by Murder or by simple Sequestration. History The Secretariat of Intelligence was created in 1946 when Juan Perón 's first presidency established it by Executive Decree 337/46 under the denomination of Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional ( English: National Intelligence Directorate) or DINA was the Chilean Secret police in the government An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to the Information gathering (known in the context as " intelligence " near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all For other uses of Operation Condor please see Operation Condor (disambiguation Operation Condor (Operación Cóndor Operação Condor was a campaign Many of the military leaders that took part in the Dirty War were trained in the U.S.-financed School of the Americas, among them Argentine dictators Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation ( WHISC or WHINSEC) formerly the School of the Americas ( SOA; Spanish: Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli ( July 15, 1926 - January 12, 2003) was an Argentine general and President of Argentina Roberto Eduardo Viola Prevedini ( October 13 1924 &ndash September 30 1994) was a military officer who briefly served as president The military dictatorship (1976-1983) greatly increased the extent of the country's foreign debt. From that point the economy of the country began to be controlled more and more by the conditions imposed on it by both its creditors and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) with priority given to servicing the repayment of the foreign debt. These and other economic problems, charges of corruption, public revulsion in the face of human rights abuses and, finally, the country's 1982 defeat by the British in the Falklands War discredited the Argentine military regime. Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled The Falklands War (Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the A military dictatorship is a Form of government wherein the political power resides with the Military; it is similar but not identical to a Stratocracy,

Democracy was restored in 1983. Raúl Alfonsín's government took steps to account for the "disappeared", established civilian control of the armed forces, and consolidated democratic institutions. Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín Foulkes (born 13 March 1927 in Chascomús) is an Argentine politician who was the President of Argentina The members of the three military juntas were prosecuted and sentenced to life terms. Failure to resolve endemic economic problems and an inability to maintain public confidence led to Alfonsín's early departure six months before his term was to be completed.

The 1990s began with hyperinflation. Certain figures in this article use Scientific notation for readability President Carlos Menem imposed a peso-dollar fixed exchange rate in 1991 to stop hyperinflation and adopted far-reaching market-based policies, dismantling protectionist barriers and business regulations, and implementing a privatization program. Carlos Saúl Menem Akil (born July 2, 1930) was President of Argentina from July 8, 1989 to December 10, 1999 The peso (originally established as the nuevo peso argentino or peso convertible) is the currency of Argentina. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The Argentine Currency Board pegged the Argentine peso to the U Certain figures in this article use Scientific notation for readability A market economy is a realized Social system based on the Division of labour in which the prices of Goods and Services are determined in a For the protectionist Australian political party from the 1880s to 1909 see Protectionist Party Deregulation, a term which gained widespread currency in the period 1970-2000 can be seen as a process by which governments remove reduce or simplify Restrictions on Business Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business These reforms contributed to significant increases in investment and growth with stable prices through most of the 1990s. However, the peso was tied to the dollar at an artificially high rate that could only be maintained by flooding the market with dollars. As a result the foreign debt increased enormously and state companies and services were privatized. The total opening up of the market to foreign goods, which up until then were produced locally, resulted in the collapse of local industry. So while part of the population was saving in dollars, traveling overseas, and purchasing imported and luxury goods cheaply, the rest of the population was experiencing an increase in both poverty and unemployment. The IMF and the world economists praised the liberalization of the Argentine market, and the country was presented as a “model student”. Toward the end of the 1990s, large fiscal deficits and overvaluation of the pegged peso caused a gradual slide into economic crisis. In 1998 a period of profound economic recession began. This was a direct result of the economic measures which dominated the decade of the 90s and which produced a false sense of stability and well being. By the end of his term in 1999, these accumulating problems and perceived corruption had made Menem unpopular.

The Menem and de la Rúa administrations faced diminished competitiveness in exports, massive imports which damaged national industry and reduced employment, chronic fiscal and trade deficits, and the contagion of several economic crises. Fernando de la Rúa (born September 15 1937) is an Argentine politician Unemployment reached as high as 25% of the economically active population, and another 15% had only part-time work. The Asian financial crisis in 1998 precipitated an outflow of capital that mushroomed into a recession, and culminated in economic crisis in November 2001. The Asian Financial Crisis was a period of Financial crisis that gripped much of Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown ( Capital outflow is an Economic term describing capital flowing out of (or leaving a particular economy A recession is a contraction phase of the Business cycle. The U The governing coalition was forced to undertake a series of measures including the freezing of bank accounts. This was done to halt the flow of capital out of the country and to stem the growing debt crisis. However, a climate of popular discontent was unleashed as a result. On 20 December 2001 Argentina was thrown into its worst institutional and economic crisis for several decades. Events 69 - Vespasian, formerly a general under Nero, enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. There were violent street protests, which brought about clashes with the police and resulted in several fatalities. The increasingly chaotic climate, amidst bloody riots, finally resulted in the resignation of President de la Rúa. The December 2001 riots were a period of civil unrest and rioting in Argentina, which took place during December 2001, with the most violent incidents The economic crisis accentuated the people's lack of trust in their politicians. During this time street protests were accompanied by the cry “they all should go. ” The "they" referred to the politicians, especially those involved in many reported acts of corruption. They were also accused of dealing fraudulently with public goods and money, without any judicial sanctions in place to curb the corruption.

In two weeks, several presidents followed in quick succession, culminating in Eduardo Duhalde's being appointed interim President of Argentina by the Legislative Assembly on 2 January 2002. Eduardo Alberto Duhalde (born 5 October 1941 is a former president of Argentina. The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a Legislature, or to one of its chambers. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Argentina defaulted on its international debt obligations. In Finance, default occurs when a debtor has not met its legal obligations according to the debt contract e The peso's near eleven year-old linkage to the United States dollar was abandoned, resulting in major depreciation of the peso and a spike in inflation. Currency depreciation is the loss of value of a country's currency with respect to one or more foreign reference currencies typically in a Floating exchange rate system In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time

With a more competitive and flexible exchange rate, the country implemented new policies based on re-industrialization, import substitution, increased exports, and consistent fiscal and trade surpluses. In Finance, the exchange rates (also known as the foreign-exchange rate, forex rate or FX rate) between two currencies specifies how Import Substitution Industrialization (also called ISI) is a Trade and economic Policy based on the premise that a Country should By the end of 2002 the economy began to stabilize, mainly thanks to the soybean and other cereals' boom and floating of exchange rates. In 2003, Néstor Kirchner was elected president. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić (born February 25, 1950) was the President of Argentina from May 25, 2003 until December During Kirchner's presidency, Argentina restructured its defaulted debt with a steep discount (about 66 percent) on most bonds, paid off debts with the International Monetary Fund, renegotiated contracts with utilities, and nationalized some previously privatized enterprises. Argentina went through an economic crisis beginning in the mid-1990s with full Recession between 1999 and 2002 though it is debatable whether this crisis has ended The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic Currently, Argentina is enjoying a period of economic growth. Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over time In 2007 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, was elected president, becoming the first woman to be elected president of Argentina. Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (born February 19 1953) commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner, is an Argentine Also in 2007, Center-left Fabiana Ríos (ARI) became the first woman to be elected governor of Tierra del Fuego and first elected female governor in Argentina's history. María Fabiana Ríos (born 31 March 1964 in Rosario, Santa Fe) is an Argentine politician of the party ARI ( Afirmación Support for an Egalitarian Republic ( Spanish: Afirmación para una República Igualitaria, ARI) also known as Alternative for a Republic of Equals

Politics

Main article: Politics of Argentina

Government

Argentina's political framework is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of The Argentine Nation is both head of state and head of government, complemented by a pluriform multi-party system. This article is about the political institutions and political parties of Argentina. La Casa Rosada ( Spanish for "the Pink House" officially known as the Casa de Gobierno ("Government House" or Palacio Presidencial A federation ( Latin: foedus, covenant is a union comprising a number of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central ("federal" A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition The current president (2007) is Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, with Julio Cobos as vice president. Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (born February 19 1953) commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner, is an Argentine Julio César Cleto Cobos (born Mendoza Argentina, 30 April 1955) is an Argentine politician formerly of the Radical Civic Union

The Argentine Constitution of 1853 mandates a separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the national and provincial level. The Argentine Constitution of 1853 was the first constitution of Argentina, approved with the support of the governments of the provinces &mdashthough Separation of powers, a term ascribed to French Enlightenment Political philosopher Baron de Montesquieu, is a model for the Governance In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

Executive power resides in the President and his or her cabinet. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state The President of The Argentine Nation and Vice President are directly elected to four-year terms, limited to two consecutive terms, and the cabinet ministers are appointed by the president. The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch.

Legislative power is vested in the bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Nación, consisting of a Senate (Senado) of seventy-two seats, and a Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) of 257 members. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Congress of the Argentine Nation (Congreso de la Nación Argentina is the legislative branch of the government of Argentina. A senate is a Deliberative body, often the Upper house or chamber of a Legislature or Parliament. The Argentine Senate is the upper house of parliament in Argentina. Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the Lower house of a Bicameral legislature or can refer to a Unicameral legislature The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the National Congress, Argentina 's parliament

Senators serve six-year terms, with one-third standing for reelection every two years. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are directly elected to four-year term via a system of proportional representation, with half of the members of the lower house being elected every two years. Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation or PR is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. A third of the candidates presented by the parties must be women.

The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The Argentine Supreme Court of Justice has seven members who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Senate. The Supreme Court of Argentina (in Spanish, Corte Suprema de Justicia de la Nación) is the highest Court of Law of the Argentine The rest of the judges are appointed by the Council of Magistrates of the Nation, a secretariat composed of representatives of judges, lawyers, the Congress, and the executive (see Law of Argentina). The Council of Magistrates of the Nation (Consejo de la Magistratura de la Nación is an organ of the Judicial Branch of the Government of Argentina.

Argentina is a member of an international block, Mercosur, which has some legislative supranational functions. Role and potential Some South Americans see Mercosur as giving the capability to combine resources to balance the activities of other global economic powers especially the North Mercosur is composed of five full members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the It has five associate members without full voting rights: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America.

Argentina was the only country from Latin America to participate in the 1991 Gulf War under mandate of the United Nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security It was also the only Latin American country involved in every phase of the Haiti operation. Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY ( September 19, 1994 – March 31, 1995) was a response to the overthrow and expulsion of the duly elected government Argentina has contributed worldwide to peacekeeping operations, including in El Salvador-Honduras-Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador-Peru, Western Sahara, Angola, Kuwait, Cyprus, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Timor Leste. Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Western Sahara ( Arabic: الصحراء الغربية; transliterated: as-Ṣaḥrā' al-Gharbīyah; Sahara Occidental is a territory Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (República de Angola Pronounced ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈgɔlɐ Repubilika ya Ngola is a country in south-central The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste (officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste) is a country in Southeast Asia. In recognition of its contributions to international security, U.S. President Bill Clinton designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998. Global Security redirects here For the website of that name see GlobalSecurity The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States Major non-NATO ally ( MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have close strategic working relationships Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) In 2005, it was elected as a temporary member of the UN Security Council.

In 1993, Argentina launched the United Nations White Helmets indicative of humanitarian aid. The White Helmets Commission (Comisión Cascos Blancos is a Humanitarian aid and Peacekeeping agency based on an initiative launched by Argentina Humanitarian aid (also called succour) is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes typically in response to humanitarian crises

On November 4-November 5, 2005, the Argentine city of Mar del Plata hosted the Fourth Summit of the Americas. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province, south of Buenos Aires. The seaside resort of Mar del Plata, in the, about 400 km (250 Miles southeast of the capital, was the venue of the Fourth Summit of the Americas This summit was marked by a number of anti-U. S. protests. As of 2006, Argentina has been emphasizing Mercosur as its first international priority; by contrast, during the 1990s, it relied more heavily on its relationship with the United States. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Role and potential Some South Americans see Mercosur as giving the capability to combine resources to balance the activities of other global economic powers especially the North The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), the South Shetland Islands, the South Sandwich Islands and almost 1 million km² in Antarctica, between the 25°W and the 74°W meridians and the 60°S parallel. Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (born February 19 1953) commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner, is an Argentine Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about 120 kilometres north of the Antarctic Peninsula. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ( SGSSI) is a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. For more than a century, there has been an Argentine presence at the Orcadas Base. Orcadas Base is an Argentine base in Antarctica, and the first permanent base in the area defined by the Antarctic Treaty System.

Argentina is a founding signatory and permanent consulting member of the Antarctic Treaty System and the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is established in Buenos Aires. The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate International relations with respect to The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is an organization created on September 2004 by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM for the management of several ATCM tasks such Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern ^[17]

Military

Main article: Military of Argentina

Argentina's armed forces are controlled by the Defense Ministry, with the country's President as their Commander-in-Chief. The President of Argentina (full title President of the Argentine Nation, Spanish: Presidente de la Nación Argentina) is the Head of state A commander-in-chief is the Commander of a nation's Military forces or significant element of those forces Historically, Argentina's military has been one of the best equipped in the region (for example, developing its own advanced jet fighters as early as the 1950s),^[18] but has faced expenditure cutbacks in comparison to other regional militaries. The age of allowable military service is 18 years; there is no obligatory military service and currently no conscription. Military service in its simplest sense is service by an individual or group in an Army or other military organization whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority

The armed forces are composed of a traditional Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Argentine Army ( Ejército Argentino, EA is the land armed force branch of the Argentine military and the senior military service of the country The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic ( Armada de la República Argentina — ARA is the Navy The Argentine Air Force ( Fuerza Aérea Argentina or FAA) is the national aviation branch of the Armed forces of Argentina. Controlled by a separate ministry (the Interior Ministry), Argentine territorial waters are patrolled by the Naval Prefecture, and the border regions by the National Gendarmerie; both arms however maintain liaison with the Defense Ministry. Territorial waters, or a territorial sea, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a belt of coastal waters extending at most The Argentine Naval Prefecture, in Spanish Prefectura Naval Argentina or PNA, is a Military service of the Argentine Interior The Argentine National Gendarmerie ( Gendarmería Nacional Argentina; GNA) is the Gendarmerie and corps of border guards of Argentina Argentina's Armed Forces are currently undertaking major operations in Haiti and Cyprus, in accordance with UN mandates. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace

Provinces

Main article: Provinces of Argentina

See also: Governors in Argentina

Argentina is divided into twenty-three provinces (provincias; singular provincia), and one autonomous city (commonly known as the capital federal, but officially Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires):

1. Regions See also Geography of Argentina The country is also divided into six or seven regions (seven when The Pampas is divided into the Pampas' plains Governors are the executive authorities of each province of Argentina. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Autonomous city is a type of Administrative division. Argentina Since the 1994 Constitution grants Buenos Aires, formerly Buenos Aires (autonomous city) 2. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Buenos Aires (province) 3. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Catamarca 4. Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Chaco 5. Chaco is an Argentine province located on the north of the country near the border with Paraguay. Chubut 6. Chubut ( Spanish: Provincia del Chubut Welsh: Talaith Chubut a Province in the southern part of Argentina, that lies between the Córdoba 7. Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country Corrientes 8. Corrientes, Spanish for "currents" or "rapids" is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. Entre Ríos 9. Entre Ríos is a province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region in the northeast of the country Formosa 10. Formosa Province is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region Jujuy 11. Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. La Pampa 12. La Pampa is a province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the centre of the country La Rioja

13. La Rioja is a one of the Provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country Mendoza 14. Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region Misiones 15. Neuquén 16. Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country at the northern end of Patagonia. Río Negro 17. Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Salta 18. Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country San Juan 19. San Luis 20. San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country (on the 32º South parallel Santa Cruz 21. Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country in Patagonia. Santa Fe 22. Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country Santiago del Estero 23. Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country Tierra del Fuego 24. Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine Province entirely separated from Tucumán

Though declared the capital in 1853, Buenos Aires didn't become the capital of the country until 1880. Tucumán is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Federalization is a term which in Argentine law defines the process of assigning federal status to a territory with the purpose of making that territory the national capital There have been moves to relocate the administrative centre elsewhere. During the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín, a law was passed ordering the transfer of the federal capital to Viedma, a city in the Patagonian province of Río Negro. Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín Foulkes (born 13 March 1927 in Chascomús) is an Argentine politician who was the President of Argentina Viedma is the capital city of the Argentine province of Río Negro and the Adolfo Alsina Department of that province Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Studies were underway when economic problems halted the project in 1989. Though the law was never formally repealed, it is now treated as a relic.

Provinces are divided into smaller secondary units called departamentos ("departments"), of which there are 376 in total. Departments (departamentos form the second level of administrative division in the Provinces of Argentina. The province of Buenos Aires has 134 similar divisions known as partidos. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Departamentos and partidos are further subdivided into municipalities or districts.

In descending order by number of inhabitants, the major cities in Argentina are Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Tucumán, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Salta, Santa Fe, San Juan, Resistencia, and Neuquén. This is a list of cities in Argentina. For a more exhaustive list of cities in a particular province see the main article linked to in each applicable section Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Córdoba, abbreviated as CBA, is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the Mendoza (men'dōzə is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. San Miguel de Tucumán (usually referred to as simply Tucumán) is the largest City in northern Argentina, with a population of 525853 per the. La Plata is the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as of the partido of La Plata. Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province, south of Buenos Aires. For the village in Bangladesh see Salta Bangladesh. Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. San Juan is the capital city of the Argentine province of San Juan in the Cuyo region located in the Tulúm Valley, west of The Resistance city in Castilian Resistencia, is a city in northern Argentina, the capital of the Chaco Province, located on a Tributary

Geography

Main article: Geography of Argentina

Main features

The total surface area of Argentina (not including the Antarctic claim),is as the following:

• Total: 2,766,891 km²
• Land: 2,736,691 km²
• Water: 30,200 km²

Argentina is nearly 5,121 km (about 3,182 mi) long from north to south, and 1,400 km (about 870 mi) from east to west (maximum values). Geographical zones The country's provinces are divided in 6 zones regarding climate and terrain It can roughly be divided into four parts: the fertile plains of the Pampas in the center of the country, the source of Argentina's agricultural wealth; the flat to rolling, oil-rich plateau of Patagonia in the southern half down to Tierra del Fuego; the subtropical flats of the Gran Chaco in the north, and the rugged Andes mountain range along the western border with Chile. Laguna de Gomezjpg|thumb|left|240px|Lake Gomez near Junín in the heart of the Pampas grain belt Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago The Gran Chaco ( Quechua chaqu, "hunting land" dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier" is a sparsely populated hot and The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the

The highest point above sea level in Argentina is located in Mendoza. Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region Cerro Aconcagua, at 6,962 meters (22,834 feet), is the highest mountain in the Americas, the Southern,^[19] and Western Hemisphere. Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain outside Asia. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America Southern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is South of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' The Western Hemisphere, also Western hemisphere or western hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies West ^[20] The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón in Santa Cruz, −105 meters (−344 ft) below sea level. Laguna del Carbón ( Spanish for Coal Lagoon) is a 105 Metres (344 ft) below Sea level depression located at coordinates in the Santa Cruz Province may refer to Santa Cruz Province Argentina Santa Cruz Province Peru ^[21] This is also the lowest point on the South American continent. A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions The geographic center of the country is located in south-central La Pampa province. La Pampa is a province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the centre of the country

The country has a territorial claim over a portion of Antarctica (unrecognized by any other country), where, from 1904, it has maintained a constant presence. Argentine bases Esperanza and Marambio are the biggest Argentine bases holding together 70 buildings an average of 110 persons during the winter and over Orcadas Base is an Argentine base in Antarctica, and the first permanent base in the area defined by the Antarctic Treaty System.

Geographic regions

The country is traditionally divided into several major geographically distinct regions:

Pampas

The plains west and south from Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Called the Humid Pampa, they cover most of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and big portions of the provinces of Santa Fe and La Pampa. The Humid Pampa ( Pampa Húmeda) is an extensive region of flat fertile Grassland of Loessic origin in Argentina. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country La Pampa is a province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the centre of the country The western part of La Pampa and the province San Luis also have plains (the Dry Pampa), but they are drier and used mainly for grazing. La Pampa is a province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the centre of the country San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country (on the 32º South parallel The Sierra de Córdoba in the homonymous province (extending into San Luis), is the most important geographical feature of the pampas. The Sierras de Córdoba is a Mountain range in central Argentina, located between the Pampas to the east and south the Chaco to the north and

Gran Chaco

The Gran Chaco region in the north of the country is seasonal dry/wet, mainly cotton growing and livestock raising. The Gran Chaco ( Quechua chaqu, "hunting land" dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier" is a sparsely populated hot and It covers the provinces of Chaco and Formosa. Chaco is an Argentine province located on the north of the country near the border with Paraguay. Formosa Province is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region It is dotted with subtropical forests, scrubland, and some wetlands, home to a large number of plant and animal species. The province of Santiago del Estero lies in the drier region of the Gran Chaco. Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country

Mesopotamia

The land between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers is called Mesopotamia and it is shared by the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Ríos. This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River The Uruguay River (in Spanish, Río Uruguay, uɾuˈɣwaj in Portuguese, Rio Uruguai,) is a River in South La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica or Litoral (" Littoral " is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising Corrientes, Spanish for "currents" or "rapids" is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. Entre Ríos is a province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region in the northeast of the country It features flatland apt for grazing and plant growing, and the Iberá Wetlands in central Corrientes. The Iberá Wetlands (in Spanish Esteros del Iberá, from Guaraní ý berá "bright water" are the second-largest Wetlands Misiones province is more tropical and belongs within the Brazilian Highlands geographic feature. The Brazilian Highlands (or Planalto Brasileiro) are an extensive geographical region covering most of the eastern southern and central portions of Brazil It features subtropical rainforests and the Iguazú Falls. Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls ( Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu kataˈɾatɐz du igwaˈsu Spanish: Cataratas

Patagonia

The steppes of Patagonia, in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz, are of Tertiary origin. In physical Geography, a steppe ( German, from степь - "a flat and arid land" степ - /stɛp/ тал - tal дала - /dɑlɑ/ pronounced Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country at the northern end of Patagonia. Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Chubut ( Spanish: Provincia del Chubut Welsh: Talaith Chubut a Province in the southern part of Argentina, that lies between the Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country in Patagonia. The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately Most of the region is semiarid in the north to cold and arid in the far south, but forests grow in its western fringes which are dotted with several large lakes. Tierra del Fuego is cool and wet, moderated by oceanic influences. Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine Province entirely separated from Northern Patagonia (roughly Río Negro south of the homonymous river, and Neuquén) can also be referred as the Comahue region.

Cuyo

West-central Argentina is dominated by the imposing Andes Mountains. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. To their east is the arid region known as Cuyo. Cuyo is the name given to the wine-producing mountainous area of central-west Argentina. Melting waters from high in the mountains form the backbone of irrigated lowland oasis, at the center of a rich fruit and wine growing region in Mendoza and San Juan provinces. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region Further north the region gets hotter and drier with more geographical accidents in La Rioja province. La Rioja is a one of the Provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country

NOA or Northwest

This region is the highest in average elevation. Several parallel mountain ranges, several of which have peaks higher than 20,000 feet (6,000 m), dominate the area. These ranges grow wider in geographic extent towards the north. They are cut by fertile river valleys, the most important being the Calchaquí Valleys in the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta. Calchaquí Valleys ( Valles Calchaquíes) is a valley in the northwestern region of Argentina that crosses the provinces of Catamarca Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Tucumán is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Farther north the province of Jujuy near Bolivia lies mainly within the Altiplano plateau of the Central Andes. Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. The Altiplano ( Spanish for high plain) where the Andes are at their widest is the most extensive area of High plateau on earth outside The Tropic of Capricorn goes through the far north of the region. For the novel by Henry Miller, see Tropic of Capricorn (novel.

Rivers and lakes

Major rivers in Argentina include the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado, Uruguay and the largest river, the Paraná. Río Pilcomayo is a river in the central parts of South America, longest western tributary of the Paraguay River, and its watershed extends across 270000 km² The Paraguay River ( Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major River in south central South America The Bermejo River is a river in South America that travels a total of 1450 km from Bolivia to the Paraguay River in Argentina. The Colorado River ( Río Colorado) is a river in the south of Argentina. Negro River ( Río Negro) means black river and is the most important river of the Argentine province of Río Negro. For other rivers in Argentina named Salado see here The Salado River (in Spanish Río Salado, literally "Salty The Uruguay River (in Spanish, Río Uruguay, uɾuˈɣwaj in Portuguese, Rio Uruguai,) is a River in South This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River The latter two flow together before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, forming the estuary of the Río de la Plata. The Río de la Plata ( Spanish: " Silver River" &mdash which is often referred to in English-speaking countries as the River Plate Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and the San Francisco River in Salta. The Atuel River is a river located mainly in the south of the Argentine province of Mendoza, with its last part in La Pampa. The Mendoza River is a river in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The Chubut River ( Spanish, Río Chubut) is a river in Patagonia, Southern Argentina.

There are several large lakes in Argentina, many of them in Patagonia. A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the Among these are lakes Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi in Río Negro and Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Argentino (in Spanish, Lago Argentino) is a freshwater Lake located in the Patagonian, at. Lake Viedma (Spanish Lago Viedma) approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers long in southern Patagonia near the border between Chile and Argentina Nahuel Huapi Lake ( Lago Nahuel Huapi) is a Lake of the lake region of northern Patagonia between the provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén The Fagnano ( Spanish: Lago Fagnano or Lago Cami) is a Lake located on the main island of the Tierra del Fuego Lake Buenos Aires and O'Higgins/San Martín Lake are shared with Chile. The Buenos Aires or General Carrera is a Lake located in Patagonia and shared by Argentina, where is known as Lago Buenos Aires, and The lake known as O'Higgins in Chile and San Martín in Argentina, is located around coordinates in the Patagonia, between the Aysén Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water lake in the country. Mar Chiquita (in Spanish literally "Little Sea" or Mar de Ansenuza is an Endorheic salt lake located in the northeast of the There are numerous reservoirs created by dams. A reservoir is most broadly a place or hollow vessel where Fluid is kept in Reserve, for later use A dam is a barrier that divides waters. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water while other structures such as Floodgates, Levees Argentina features various hot springs, such as those at Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 30 °C and 65 °C. A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated Groundwater from the earth's crust. Termas de Río Hondo is a city in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. ^[23]

Coastal areas and seas

Argentina has 4,665 km (2,899 mi) of coastline. The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean. ^[24] The continental platform is unusually wide; in Argentina this shallow area of the Atlantic Ocean is called Mar Argentino. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. The Argentine Sea ( Spanish: Mar Argentino) refers to the sea within the Continental shelf off the Argentine mainland The waters are rich in fisheries and suspected of holding important hydrocarbon energy resources. In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. Argentina's coastline varies between areas of sand dunes and cliffs. Sand is a naturally occurring Granular material composed of finely divided rock and Mineral particles The two major ocean currents affecting the coast are the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falkland Current (Spanish: corriente antártica or corriente de las Malvinas). An ocean current is continuous directed movement of Ocean water. The Brazil Current is a warm water current that flows south along the Brazilian south coast to the mouth of the Río de la Plata. The Falkland Current is a cold water current that flows northward along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia as far north as the mouth of the Río de la Plata. Because of the uneveness of the coastal landmass, the two currents alternate in their influence on climate and do not allow temperatures to fall evenly with higher latitude. The southern coast of Tierra del Fuego forms the north shore of the Drake Passage. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago The Drake Passage or Mar de Hoces -Sea of " Hoces "- is the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn,

Climate

Main article: Climate of Argentina

Because of longitudinal and elevation amplitudes, Argentina is subject to a variety of climates. As a rule, the climate is predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from subtropical in the north to subpolar in the far south. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Regions having a subarctic climate (also called boreal climate) are characterized by long usually very cold winters and brief warm summers The north of the country is characterized by very hot, humid summers with mild drier winters, and is subject to periodic droughts. Central Argentina has hot summers with thunderstorms (in western Argentina producing some of the world's largest hail), and cool winters. Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones The southern regions have warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall, especially in mountainous zones. Higher elevations at all latitudes experience cooler conditions.

The hottest and coldest temperature extremes recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature A record high temperature of 49. 1 °C (120. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 4 °F), was recorded at Villa de María, Córdoba on January 2, 1920. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar The lowest temperature recorded was −39 °C (−38. 2 °F) at Valle de los Patos Superior, San Juan, July 17, 1972. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Major winds in Argentina include the cool Pampero blowing on the flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas after a cold front; the Viento Norte, a warm wind that can blow from the north in mid and late winter creating mild conditions; and the Zonda, a hot and dry wind (see also foehn wind), affecting west-central Argentina. A cold front defined as the leading edge of a cooler and drier mass of air Zonda wind (in Spanish, viento zonda) is a regional term for the foehn Wind that often occurs on the eastern slope of the Andes, in A foehn wind or föhn wind is a type of dry downslope wind which occurs in the lee of a mountain range Squeezed of all moisture during the 6,000 meter descent from the Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to 120 km/h, fueling wildfires and causing damage. (For the South African airport with IATA code "KMH" see Johan Pienaar Airport. A wildfire, also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, brush fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, Peat fire, When the Zonda blows (June-November), snowstorms and blizzard (viento blanco) conditions usually affect the higher elevations. A blizzard is a severe Winter storm condition characterized by low Temperatures strong Winds and heavy blowing Snow Blizzards are formed when

The Sudestada (literally “southeastern”) could be considered similar to the Noreaster, though snowfall is rarely involved (but is not unprecedented). Sudestada (literally Southeast hit) is the Spanish name for a climatic phenomenon common to the Río de la Plata (an Estuary formed by the combination A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below is a macro-scale Storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. Both are associated with a deep winter low pressure system. The sudestada usually moderates cold temperatures but brings very heavy rains, rough seas, and coastal flooding. It is most common in late autumn and winter along the coasts of central Argentina and in the Río de la Plata estuary. An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open

The southern regions, particularly the far south, experience long periods of daylight from November to February (up to nineteen hours), and extended nights from May to August. All of Argentina uses UTC-3 time zone. Areas using UTC−3 Single zone countries without DST Suriname Single zone countries with DST The country does observe daylight saving time occasionally, the last summertime being started at 0:00 December 30, 2007 and being finished at 0:00 March 16, 2008. Daylight saving time ( DST Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Extremities Argentina's eastermost continental point is northeast of the town of Bernardo de Irigoyen, Misiones (26°15′S, 53°38′W), the westernmost in the Mariano Moreno Range in Santa Cruz (49°33′S, 73°35′W). Bernardo de Irigoyen is a city in the province of Misiones, Argentina. Santa Cruz is a province of Argentina, located in the southern part of the country in Patagonia. The northernmost point is located at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete rivers, Jujuy (21°46′S, 66°13′W), and the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra del Fuego (55°03′S, 66°31′W). Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine Province entirely separated from ^[25]

Enclaves and exclaves

There is one Argentine exclave, the Martín García Island (co-ordinates 34°11′S, 58°15′W). Isla Martín García is an Argentine island off the Río de la Plata coast of Uruguay. It is near the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, a kilometer (0. 62 mi) inside Uruguayan waters, and 3. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America 5 kilometres (2. 1 mi) from the Uruguayan coastline near the small town of Martín Chico (itself halfway between Nueva Palmira and Colonia del Sacramento). Nueva Palmira is a city in the department of Colonia in south-western Uruguay. Colonia del Sacramento (formerly the Portuguese Colônia do Sacramento) is a City in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing

An agreement reached by Argentina and Uruguay in 1973 reaffirmed Argentine jurisdiction over the island, ending a century-old dispute. Under the terms of the agreement, Martín García is to be devoted exclusively as a natural preserve. Its area is about 2 square kilometres (500 acres), and its population is about 200 people.

Flora

Subtropical plants dominate the north, part of the Gran Chaco region of South America. The Gran Chaco ( Quechua chaqu, "hunting land" dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier" is a sparsely populated hot and The genus Dalbergia of trees is well disseminated with representatives like the Brazilian Rosewood and the quebracho tree; also predominant are white and black algarrobo trees (prosopis alba and prosopis nigra). A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Dalbergia is a large genus of small to medium-size Trees Shrubs and Lianas in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae Dalbergia is a large genus of small to medium-size Trees Shrubs and Lianas in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae For the left-wing Argentine group see Quebracho (group. For the monetary unit see Quebracho (money. For other tree species with similar names see Algarrobo. Prosopis alba is a South American tree species For other tree species with similar names see Algarrobo. Prosopis nigra (synonym Prosopis algarrobilla) is a Savannah-like areas exist in the drier regions nearer the Andes. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. Aquatic plants thrive in the wetlands dotting the region.

In central Argentina the humid pampas are a true tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Laguna de Gomezjpg|thumb|left|240px|Lake Gomez near Junín in the heart of the Pampas grain belt The tallgrass prairie is an Ecosystem native to central North America, with fire as its primary periodic disturbance An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( The original pampa had virtually no trees; today along roads or in towns and country estates (estancias), some imported species like the American sycamore or eucalyptus are present. A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Eucalyptus (From Greek ευκάλυπτος meaning "well covered" is a diverse Genus of Trees (and a few shrubs the members of which The only tree-like plant native to the pampa is the ombú, an evergreen. for the Tibetan village see Ombu Tibet The ombú is a massive evergreen Herb native to the Pampas of South America The surface soils of the pampa are a deep black color, primarily humus, known commonly as compost. Compost (ˈkɒmpɒst or US /ˈkɒmpoʊst/ also known as brown manure is the aerobically decomposed remnants of Organic matter. It is this which makes the region one of the most agriculturaly productive on Earth. However, this is also responsible for decimating much of the original ecosystem, to make way for commercial agriculture. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The western pampas receive less rainfall, this dry pampa is a plain of short grasses or steppe. In physical Geography, a steppe ( German, from степь - "a flat and arid land" степ - /stɛp/ тал - tal дала - /dɑlɑ/ pronounced

Most of Patagonia in the south lies within the rain shadow of the Andes. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. The flora, shrubby bushes and plants, is well suited to withstand dry conditions. The soil is hard and rocky, making large-scale farming impossible except along river valleys. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture In Geology, a valley (also called a vale, dale, glen or strath and near or in Appalachia, a draw) is Coniferous forests grow in far western Patagonia and on the island of Tierra del Fuego. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago Conifers native to the region include alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), ciprés de la cordillera (Austrocedrus chilensis), ciprés de las guaitecas (Pilgerodendron uviferum), huililahuán (Podocarpus nubigenus), lleuque (Prumnopitys andina), mañío hembra (Saxegothaea conspicua), and pehuén (Araucaria araucana), while native broadleaf trees include several species of Nothofagus including coigüe or coihue, lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), ñire (Nothofagus Antarctica). Fitzroya is a Genus in the cypress family Cupressaceae with a single Species, Fitzroya cupressoides native to the Austrocedrus is a Genus of conifer belonging to the cypress family Cupressaceae. Pilgerodendron is a Genus of conifer belonging to the cypress family Cupressaceae. Podocarpus nubigenus (also known as Podocarpus nubigena) is a species of podocarp, endemic to the Valdivian temperate rain forests Prumnopitys andina ( Lleuque) is an Evergreen coniferous Tree native to south-central Chile and a few areas in adjacent Saxegothaea is a Genus comprising a single Species of conifer belonging to the podocarp family Podocarpaceae, its full scientific Araucaria araucana ( Pehuén or Monkey-puzzle) is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria. Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of about 35 Species of Trees and shrubs native to the temperate oceanic Nothofagus dombeyi ( Coihue) is a Tree Species that inhabits the Andes of the Argentine Patagonia and central Nothofagus pumilio ( Lenga Beech or Lenga) is a Deciduous Tree or Shrub native to the southern area of the Nothofagus antarctica ( Antarctic Beech; in Spanish Ñirre) is a Deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Chile Other introduced trees present in forestry plantations include spruce, cypress, and pine. Forestry is the Art and Science of managing forests tree Plantations and related Natural resources. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae The Genus Cupressus is one of several genera within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Common plants are the copihue and colihue (Chusquea culeou). The Copihue ( co-pee-way) ( Lapageria rosea) also known as the Chilean Bellflower and Chilean Glory Flower, is the national flower of Chusquea culeou ( Spanish: caña coligüe or colihue) is a gramineae perennial bush of the Bamboo ^[26]

In Cuyo, semiarid thorny bushes and other xerophile plants abound. Xerophiles are extremophilic Organisms that can grow and reproduce in conditions with a low availability of water also known as Water activity Along the many river oasis, grasses and trees grow in significant numbers. In Geography, an oasis (plural oases) or Cienega ( Southwestern United States) is an isolated area of vegetation in a Desert, typically The area presents optimal conditions for the large scale growth of grape vines. Vitis is a genus of about 60 species of vining plants in the Flowering plant family Vitaceae. In the northwest of Argentina there are many species of cacti. A cactus (plural cacti) is any member of the Spine plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas In the highest elevations (often above 4,000mts), no vegetation grows because of the extreme altitude, and the soils are virtually devoid of any plant life.

The ceibo flower, of the tree Erythrina crista-galli, is the national flower of Argentina. Erythrina crista-galli is a flowering tree in the family Fabaceae, native to Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay

Fauna

See also: List of national parks of Argentina

Many species live in the subtropical north. Big cats like the jaguar, cougar, and ocelot; primates (howler monkey); large reptiles (crocodiles), and a species of caiman. The term big cat is used to distinguish the larger cat species from smaller ones The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family The Ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis) also known as the Painted Leopard, McKenney's Wildcat, Jaguatirica (in Brazil or Manigordo Howler monkeys ( Genus Alouatta monotypic in Subfamily Alouattinae) are among the largest of the New World monkeys A crocodile is any Species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the Subfamily Crocodylinae) Alligators and caimans are Archosaurs Species of Crocodilians and form the family Alligatoridae (sometimes regarded instead Other animals include the tapir, capybara, peccary, bush dog, raccoon, and various species of turtle and tortoise. Tapirs (ˈteɪpɚ as in "taper" or /təˈpɪər/ as "ta-pier" are large browsing Mammals, roughly pig-like in shape with short Capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) also known as capibara, chigüire in Venezuela chigüiro, carpincho Peccaries (also known as javelinas, by the Portuguese name javali and Spanish jabalí or pecarí) are medium-sized For the conservative Democratic group within the United States House of Representatives, see Blue Dog Coalition. The raccoon ( Procyon lotor) (sometimes spelt as racoon) also known as the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon Turtles are Reptiles of the Order Testudines (all living turtles belong to the Crown group Chelonia) most of Tortoises or land Turtles are land-dwelling Reptiles of the family of Testudinidae', order Testudines. There are many birds, notably hummingbirds, flamingos, toucans, and parrots. Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas. Flamingos or flamingoes ( are gregarious Wading birds in the Genus Phoenicopterus and family Toucans are a family Ramphastidae, of Near-passerine Birds from the Neotropics (i Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 Species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions

The central grasslands are populated by the giant anteater, armadillo, pampas cat, maned wolf, mara and the rhea (ñandú), a flightless bird. The Giant Anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, is the largest Species of Anteater. Armadillos are small Placental Mammals known for having a leathery armor shell The Pampas Cat ( Leopardus pajeros) is a small feline from the Pampas area of Argentina and Chile The Maned Wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid of South America, resembling a big fox with reddish fur For other uses see Mara. The maras ( Dolichotis) are a Genus of the cavy family The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. Hawks, falcons, herons, partridges inhabit the region. Howard Winchester Hawks ( May 30, 1896 &ndash December 26, 1977) was an American Film director, producer and There several sports teams with the name Falcons or similar Atlanta Falcons, an NFL (American football team Springfield Falcons, an The herons are wading Birds in the Ardeidae family Some are called Egrets or Bitterns instead of herons Partridges are Birds in the Pheasant family Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group There are also deer and foxes. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small Some of these species extend into Patagonia. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina

The western mountains are home to different animals. These include the llama, guanaco, vicuña, among the most recognizable species of South America. The llama ( Lama glama) is a South American Camelid, widely used as a Pack animal by the Incas and other natives of the Andes The guanaco ( Lama guanicoe) is a Camelid animal native to South America that stands between 107 and 122 centimeters (3 The vicuña ( Vicugna vicugna) is one of two wild South American Camelids along with the Guanaco, which live in the high alpineous areas of the Also in this region are the fox, viscacha, Andean Mountain Cat, kodkod and the largest flying bird in the New World, the Andean Condor. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small Viscachas or vizcachas are rodents in the chinchilla family Chinchillidae. The Andean Mountain Cat ( Leopardus jacobitus or L jacobita) is also known as the Andean Cat. The Kodkod ( Leopardus guigna) alternatively spelled Codcod and also known as the Guiña, is the smallest cat in the Americas The Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the

Southern Argentina is home to the cougar, huemul, pudú (the world's smallest deer), and introduced, non-native wild boar. The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family Hippocamelus is a Genus of Cervidae, the deer family It compromises two Endangered species, commonly known as huemuls or güemals The pudú pew-dooh ( Pudu) considered to be the world's smallest Deer, is a native of South America. The boar or wild boar ( Sus scrofa) is an Omnivorous, gregarious Mammal of the biological family Suidae. ^[26] The coast of Patagonia is rich in animal life: elephant seals, fur seals, sea lions, and species of penguin. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Elephant seals are large oceangoing Mammals in the Genus Mirounga, in the Earless seal (Phocidae family. Fur seals are any of nine species of Pinnipeds in the Otariidae family For other uses of the term "sea lion" see Sea lion (disambiguation. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost The far south is populated by cormorant birds. The Bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 Species of cormorants and shags.

The territorial waters of Argentina have abundant ocean life; mammals such as dolphins, orcas, and whales like the southern right whale, a major tourist draw for naturalists. Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. The Orca or Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) less commonly Blackfish or Seawolf, is the largest species of the Oceanic dolphin family Right whales are the species of large Baleen whales belonging to the Genus Eubalaena. Sea fish include sardines, argentine hakes, dolphinfish, salmon, and sharks; also present are squid and spider crab (centolla) in Tierra del Fuego. For the hide and seek-like game see Hide and seek. Sardines, or pilchards, are a group of several types of small Oily The term hake refers to Fish in either of family Gadidae (subfamily Phycinae family Merlucciidae (both The Pompano dolphinfish ( Coryphaena equiselis) is a species of surface-dwelling ray-finned Fish found in Tropical and Subtropical Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago Rivers and streams in Argentina have many species of trout and the South American dorado fish. Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family For other uses see Dorado (disambiguation The Golden Dorado is a large river Fish that lives in South America. ^[27] Outstanding snake species inhabiting Argentina include boa constrictors, and the very venomous yarará pit viper and South American rattle snake. Common names boas boa constrictors Boa is a Genus of non-venomous boas found in Mexico, Central This article is about the class of Biotoxins For other uses see Venom (disambiguation and Venomous (disambiguation. Common names: urutu wutu crossed pit viper Bothrops alternatus is a venomous pitviper Species Common names: pit vipers pitvipers The Crotalinae, or crotalines are a subfamily of venomous vipers found Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous Snakes, genera Crotalus and Sistrurus.

The Hornero was elected the National Bird after a survey in 1928. The horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America. ^[28]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Argentina

Argentina benefits from abundant natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base, that was once one of the wealthiest nations^[29] with a large middle class but this segment of the population has suffered by a succession of economic crises. Argentina benefits from rich Natural resources, a highly literate population an export-oriented Agricultural sector and a diversified industrial base Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" Argentina otherwise maintains a relatively high standard of living. The standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people and the way these goods and services are distributed within a population

Argentina's economy started to slowly lose ground after 1945^[30] when it went from a wealthy nation with a strong and prosperous economy to a deep recession in the mid 50s, losing its place in the position of prosperous industrialized nations. ^[31] The economy further declined during the military dictatorship that lasted from 1976 to 1983. ^[32]

During this period, the government took out large loans with high interest rates from the IMF and private banking institutions. The country engaged in a disorganized and corrupt rapid liberalization that marked the end of its industrial hegemony in Latin America. During the military dictatorship over 400,000 companies of all sizes went bankrupt. The economic decisions made from 1983 till 2001 failed to revert the situation. Finally, in 2001, after 3 years of recession, the economy broke down and reached its worst point in history.

Although significant since then, the result is that, today, while a significant segment of the population is still financially well-off, they stand in sharp contrast with the millions who have seen their purchasing power drastically reduced. Since 2002, there has been an improvement in the situation of the poorer sectors and a strong rebound of the middle class.

The urban poverty rate dropped to 26. 9% by 2007, down from 48 percent observed in 2003, but is still above the level prior to the recession. ^[33] From the late 1970s the country piled up public debt and was plagued by bouts of high inflation. In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time In 1991, the government pegged the peso to the U.S. dollar and limited the growth in the money supply. A fixed exchange rate, sometimes called a pegged exchange rate, is a type of Exchange rate regime wherein a Currency 's value is matched to the value of The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been In Economics, the monetary base, or the money base (often called narrow money in the UK) is a term relating to the volume of money in the It then embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation and privatization. Free trade is a system in which the trade of goods and services between or within countries flows unhindered by government-imposed restrictions Deregulation, a term which gained widespread currency in the period 1970-2000 can be seen as a process by which governments remove reduce or simplify Restrictions on Business Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business Inflation dropped and gross domestic product grew, but external economic shocks and failures of the system diluted benefits, causing the economy to crumble slowly from 1995 until the collapse in 2001.

By 2002, Argentina had defaulted on its debt, its GDP had shrunk, unemployment was more than 25%, and the peso had depreciated 75% after being devalued and floated. In Finance, default occurs when a debtor has not met its legal obligations according to the debt contract e Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. Currency depreciation is the loss of value of a country's currency with respect to one or more foreign reference currencies typically in a Floating exchange rate system Devaluation is a reduction in the value of a Currency with respect to other monetary units Floating rate may also refer to a Floating interest rate applied to a Loan or other lending product However, careful spending control and heavy taxes on then-soaring exports allowed the state to regain resources and conduct monetary policy. Monetary policy is the process by which the Government, Central bank, or monetary authority of a country controls (i the Supply of Money,

In 2003, import substitution policies and soaring exports, coupled with lower inflation and expansive economic measures, triggered a surge in the GDP. Import Substitution Industrialization (also called ISI) is a Trade and economic Policy based on the premise that a Country should In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion This was repeated in 2004 and 2005, creating millions of jobs and encouraging internal consumption. Capital flight decreased, and foreign investment slowly returned. Capital flight, in Economics, occurs when Assets and/or Money rapidly flow out of a Country, due to an economic event that disturbs Investors Foreign direct investment ( FDI) in its classic definition is defined as a company from one country making a physical investment into building a factory in another country An influx of foreign currency from exports created a huge trade surplus. The balance of trade (or net exports, sometimes symbolized as NX) is the difference between the monetary value of Exports and imports in an The Central Bank was forced to buy dollars from the market, and continues to do so from time to time to prevent the Argentine peso from appreciating significantly and cutting competitiveness.

The situation by 2006 was further improved. The economy grew 8. 8% in 2003, 9. 0% in 2004, 9. 2% in 2005, 8. 5% in 2006, and 8. 7% in 2007, though inflation, estimated at around 12 to 15% (official numbers are 9. 8% for 2006), has become an issue again, and income distribution is still considerably unequal. Income inequality metrics or income distribution metrics are techniques used by economists to measure the distribution of Income and Economic inequality ^[34][35]

Sectors

See also: Tourism in Argentina

In 2007, agricultural output accounted for 10% of GDP, and nearly one third of all exports. Tourism in Argentina is favoured by its ample and varied natural assets (made possible by its geographical extension and by its cultural offerings Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Soy and vegetable oils are major export commodities at 32% of exports. A commodity is anything for which there is demand but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market Wheat, maize, oats, sorghum, and sunflower seeds totalled 7%. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Oats redirects here It may mean either the common cereal oat discussed here or any cultivated or wild species of the Genus Avena. Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, some of which are raised for grain and many of which are used as Fodder plants either cultivated or as part The sunflower seed is the Fruit of the Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) ^[36] Cattle is also a major industry. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family Beef, milk, leather products, and cheese were 6% of total exports. Beef is the Culinary name for Meat from Bovines especially domestic Cattle (cows Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. ^[36] Sheep and wool industries are important in Patagonia, pigs and caprines elsewhere. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Pigs, also called hogs or' swine', are Ungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food leather and similar products since ancient times

Fruits and vegetables made up 4% of exports: apples and pears in the Río Negro valley; oranges and other citrus in the northwest and Mesopotamia; grapes and strawberries in Cuyo, and berries in the far south. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however The apple is the pomaceous Fruit of the apple tree Species Malus domestica in the Rose family Rosaceae. A pear is a pomaceous Fruit produced by a tree of Genus Pyrus. Negro River ( Río Negro) means black river and is the most important river of the Argentine province of Río Negro. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of The Argentine Northeast ( Noroeste Argentino) is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica or Litoral (" Littoral " is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is Garden strawberries are a common variety of strawberry cultivated worldwide The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification Cotton and yerba mate are major crops in the Gran Chaco, sugarcane and tobacco in the northwest, and olives and garlic in Cuyo. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp The Gran Chaco ( Quechua chaqu, "hunting land" dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier" is a sparsely populated hot and Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. The Olive is the Fruit of the Olive tree (Olea europaea and is a major component of the Agriculture and Gastronomy of many countries Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. Bananas (Formosa), tomatoes (Salta), and peaches (Mendoza) are grown for domestic consumption. For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Formosa Province is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Argentina is the world's fifth-largest wine producer, and fine wine production has taken major leaps in quality. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice A growing export, total viticulture potential is far from met. Viticulture (from the Latin word for Vine) is the Science, production and study of Grapes which deals with the series of Mendoza is the largest wine region, followed by San Juan. Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region ^[37] As a strike by farmers, who are protesting an increase in export taxes for their products, continued for a 13th day March 25, 2008 with no solution in sight, butchers and supermarkets were among the first hit. A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[38]

Industrial petrochemicals, oil, and natural gas are Argentina's second group of exports, 20% of totals. Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, The most important oil fields lie in Patagonia and Cuyo. An oil field is a region with an abundance of Oil wells extracting Petroleum (crude oil from below ground Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina An impressive network of pipelines send raw product to Bahia Blanca, center of the petrochemical industry, and to the La Plata-Rosario industrial belt. Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Bahía Blanca is a City located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, head town of La Plata is the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as of the partido of La Plata. Coal is also mined.

Mining is a rising industry. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body The northwest and San Juan Province are main regions of activity. The Argentine Northeast ( Noroeste Argentino) is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Metals mined include gold, silver, zinc, magnesium, copper, sulfur, tungsten and uranium. Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Sulfur or sulphur (ˈsʌlfɚ see spelling below) is the Chemical element that has the Atomic number 16 Tungsten (ˈtʌŋstən also known as wolfram (/ˈwʊlfrəm/ is a Chemical element that has the symbol W and Atomic number 74 Uranium (jʊˈreɪniəm is a silvery-gray Metallic Chemical element in the In only ten years exports soared from US$ 200 million to 1. 2 billion in 2004, 3% of total. ^[39] Estimates for 2006 are US$ 2bn, a 10 fold rise from 1996.

In fisheries, argentine hake accounts for 50% of catches, pollack and squid follow. For the fishing industry and the practice of fishing see Fishing. The term hake refers to Fish in either of family Gadidae (subfamily Phycinae family Merlucciidae (both Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species Forestry has expanded in Mesopotamia; elm for cellulose, pine and eucalyptus for furniture, timber, and paper products. Forestry is the Art and Science of managing forests tree Plantations and related Natural resources. La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica or Litoral (" Littoral " is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising Elms are Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found Cellulose is an Organic compound with the formula, a Polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β(1→4 This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Eucalyptus (From Greek ευκάλυπτος meaning "well covered" is a diverse Genus of Trees (and a few shrubs the members of which Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging Both sectors each account for 2% of exports.

Manufacturing is the nation's leading single sector in GDP output, with 35% of the share. Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, "making by hand" is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale ^[36] Leading sectors are motor vehicles, auto parts, and transportation and farming equipment (7% of exports), iron and steel (3%), foodstuffs and textiles (2%). Auto parts are components of Automobiles They mainly are in alphabetic order (only car specific articles or articles with car section Air filter Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another A tractor is a Vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high Tractive effort at slow speeds for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw Ingredients into Food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Other manufactures include cement, industrial chemicals, home appliances, and processed wood. In the most general sense of the word a cement is a binder a substance which sets and hardens independently and can bind other materials together A chemical substance is a Material with a definite chemical composition. Refrigerator1svg|left|100px]]A major appliance, or domestic appliance, is usually defined as a large Machine which accomplishes some routine housekeeping task which Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs The biggest industrial centers are Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Córdoba, abbreviated as CBA, is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the

The telecommunication sector has been growing at a fast pace, with an important penetration of mobile telephony (More than 75% of the population)^[40]internet (with more than 16 million people online),^[41] and broadband services (4. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks The term broadband can have different meanings in different contexts 1%). Regular telephone (with 9. Basic principle A traditional landline telephone system also known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS, commonly handles both signaling and audio information 5 million lines)^[42] and mail are robust. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also

The service sector is the biggest contributor to total GDP. A service is the non-material equivalent of a good. A service provision is an economic activity that does not result in Ownership, and this is what differentiates Argentina produces energy in large part through well developed hydroelectric resources; nuclear energy is also of high importance. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water Nuclear Energy is released by the splitting (fission or merging together (fusion of the nuclei of Atom (s ^[43] The country is one of the largest producers and exporters (with Canada and Russia) of Cobalt-60, a radioactive isotope widely used in cancer therapy. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Cobalt-60 (60Co is a Radioactive isotope of Cobalt, with a Half life of 5 Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled Construction has led employment creation in the current economic expansion, and is 5% of GDP. In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure

Tourism is increasingly important, now providing 7% of economic output. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Argentines are traveling more within their borders, and foreigners are flocking to a country seen as affordable, safe, and incredibly diverse: Cosmopolitan Buenos Aires and Rosario; the Iguazu Falls and colonial Salta; the South American indigenous Jujuy Province and fun-filled Córdoba; the wineries of Mendoza; the ski-suitable scenic Bariloche to the beaches of Pinamar; and Perito Moreno Glacier to Tierra del Fuego. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Iguazu Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls ( Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu kataˈɾatɐz du igwaˈsu Spanish: Cataratas For the village in Bangladesh see Salta Bangladesh. Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country A winery is a building or property that produces Wine, or a business involved in the production of wine such as a wine company. Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes ( Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Pinamar is a small Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province. The Perito Moreno Glacier ( is a Glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Tierra del Fuego (officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur) is an Argentine Province entirely separated from 3. 7 million tourists visited in 2005. ^[44]

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Argentina

Argentina's infrastructure is advanced compared to other countries in Latin America. Tranvía del Este or “Puerto Madero Tramway” is a Light rail line in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires operated by the rail company ^[45] There are nearly 215,471 km (133,887 mi)^[46] of roads of which 68,809 km are paved, and 734 km are expressways,^[47] many of which are privatized. Multilane highways now connect several main cities and more are now under construction. ^[48]

The railway network has a total length of 31,902 km. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. ^[47] After decades of decaying service and lack of maintenance, most passenger services shut down in 1992 when the rail company was privatized, and thousands of kilometers of track are now in disrepair. Railway services are currently being reactivated among several cities.

The country has around 3,000 kilometers of waterways, the most significant among these being the Río de la Plata, Paraná, Uruguay, Río Negro and Paraguay rivers. A waterway is any navigable Body of water. These include Rivers Lakes Seas Oceans and Canals In order for a waterway The Río de la Plata ( Spanish: " Silver River" &mdash which is often referred to in English-speaking countries as the River Plate This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River The Uruguay River (in Spanish, Río Uruguay, uɾuˈɣwaj in Portuguese, Rio Uruguai,) is a River in South The Paraguay River ( Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major River in south central South America

Water supply and sanitation

Water supply and sanitation in Argentina faces five key challenges: (i) low coverage with higher levels of service provision for its income level; (ii) poor service quality; and (iii) high levels of pollution; (iv) low cost recovery; and (v) unclear allocation of responsibilities between institutions in the sector. Access Argentina has achieved very high levels of access to an Improved water source in urban areas (98% using a broad definition of access

Population

Contemporary figures

The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) 2001 census showed the population of Argentina was 36,260,130. National Statistics and Censuses Institute ( Spanish: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos, INDEC is the Argentine government agency responsible A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population It ranks third in South America in total population and 30th globally. The 2007 estimate is 40,927,301. Argentina's population density is 14 inhabitants per square kilometer. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume However, the population is not evenly distributed: areas of the city of Buenos Aires have a population density of over 14,000 inhab. /km², while Santa Cruz province has less than 1 inhab. /km². Argentina is the only nation in South America with a net positive migration rate, of about +0. Human migration denotes any movement by Humans from one locality to another sometimes over long distances or 4 persons. ^[49]

Cities and metropolitan areas

Main article: List of cities in Argentina by population

As of 2005, Argentina's 20th largest metropolitan areas are:

Rank	City	Province	Population	Region
1	Buenos Aires	City + 24 partidos in Buenos Aires Province	11,453,725	Pampean
2	Córdoba	Córdoba	1,513,200	Pampean
3	Rosario	Santa Fe	1,295,100	Pampean
4	Mendoza	Mendoza	1,009,100	Cuyo
5	La Plata	Buenos Aires	857,800	Pampean
6	San Miguel de Tucumán	Tucumán	833,100	NOA (northwest)
7	Mar del Plata	Buenos Aires	699,600	Pampean
8	Salta	Salta	530,400	NOA (northwest)
9	Santa Fe	Santa Fe	525,300	Pampean
10	San Juan	San Juan	456,400	Cuyo
11	Resistencia	Chaco	399,800	Gran Chaco
12	Neuquén	Neuquén	391,600	Patagonian
13	Santiago del Estero	Santiago del Estero	389,200	Gran Chaco
14	Corrientes	Corrientes	332,400	Mesopotamia
15	Bahía Blanca	Buenos Aires	310,200	Pampean
16	Río Cuarto	Cordoba	144,021	Pampean
17	Comodoro Rivadavia	Chubut	140,628	Patagonia
18	Santa Rosa	La Pampa	110,640	Pampean
19	Zárate	Buenos Aires	101,271	Pampean
20	Tandil	Buenos Aires	101,010	Pampean

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Argentina

Ethnicity

Argentina is a melting pot of different peoples, both autochthonous and immigrants. This list of Argentine cities by population briefly explains the three different population figures given for Argentine cities and provides rankings for each Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Córdoba, abbreviated as CBA, is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country Mendoza (men'dōzə is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. Mendoza is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region La Plata is the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as of the partido of La Plata. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. San Miguel de Tucumán (usually referred to as simply Tucumán) is the largest City in northern Argentina, with a population of 525853 per the. Tucumán is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province, south of Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. For the village in Bangladesh see Salta Bangladesh. Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country San Juan is the capital city of the Argentine province of San Juan in the Cuyo region located in the Tulúm Valley, west of The Resistance city in Castilian Resistencia, is a city in northern Argentina, the capital of the Chaco Province, located on a Tributary Chaco is an Argentine province located on the north of the country near the border with Paraguay. Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country at the northern end of Patagonia. Santiago del Estero is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country Foto-0065jpg|thumb|216px|The Belgrano Bridge]]Plaza 25 de mayo Corrientes Corrientes, Spanish for "currents" or "rapids" is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. Bahía Blanca is a City located in the south-west of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by the Atlantic Ocean, head town of Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Río Cuarto is a city in the. Located in the south of the province it has about 144000 inhabitants ( and is an important commercial and agricultural hub Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country Comodoro Rivadavia is a city in the Patagonian province of Chubut in southern Argentina, located Chubut ( Spanish: Provincia del Chubut Welsh: Talaith Chubut a Province in the southern part of Argentina, that lies between the Santa Rosa is a city in the Argentine Pampas, and the capital of La Pampa Province, Argentina. La Pampa is a province of Argentina, located in the Pampas in the centre of the country Zárate is a city in the northeast of the. It lies on the western shore of the Paraná River, from Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. Tandil can also be a spider genus and a German detergent Tandil is the main city of the homonym Partido (department located in the southwest Buenos Aires Province (ˈbwenos ˈaiɾes Spanish: Provincia de Buenos Aires is the most populated province of Argentina. This article is about the Demographics features of the Population of Argentina, including distribution ethnicity, economic status and other Citizens of European descent make up the great majority of the population, with estimates varying from white 89. White Latin Americans are the white population of Latin America. 7%^[50] to 97%^[51] of the total population. The last national census, based on self-ascription, indicated a similar figure. ^[52]

A study conducted by Argentine, Swedish and North American institutions, established that the genetic average structure of the Argentine population, contains 79. The University of Buenos Aires (in Spanish Universidad de Buenos Aires - ( UBA) is the largest University in Argentina, founded on August The University of California ( UC) is a Public university system in the state of California. 9% of European contribution,^[53] whereas the Amerindian admixture, though not fully visible in physical appearance, was estimated to be present in a high percentage of the population, close to 56% on either paternal or maternal lineages, of which just 10% were shown to have Amerindian ancestors on both lineages. The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. ^[54]

After the Spanish colonists, waves of European settlers migrated to Argentina from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. The original inhabitants of Argentina were descendants of Asian peoples that crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America and then over thousands Major contributors included Italy (initially from Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy, later from Campania and Calabria),^[55] Spain (foremost among them Galicians and Basques,^[56] and France (mostly to Buenos Aires and Mendoza). Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Piedmont ( Piemonte; Piedmontese and Occitan: Piemont; French: Piémont) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. Veneto or Venetia ( Vèneto) is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Lombardy (Lombardia Latin: Langobardia, Western Lombard: Lumbardìa, Eastern Lombard: Lombardia) is one of the Campania is a region of Southern Italy in Europe. The region has a population of around 5 Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Galicians ( Galician: Galegos) are an Ethnic group or Nationality whose homeland is Galicia, which is a historical region The Basques (Euskaldunak are a people who inhabit a region spanning over parts of north-central Spain and southwestern France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Smaller but significant numbers of immigrants came from Germany and Switzerland (to the Lakes Region of Patagonia; and to Córdoba), Scandinavia, (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Greece, Lebanon, the United Kingdom and Ireland (to Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, and Patagonia; see also English settlement in Argentina), and Portugal. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. English settlement in Argentina, the arrival of English emigrants in Argentina, Famous Argentines such as adventurer Lucas Bridges, Huracan football club Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Eastern Europeans were also numerous from Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania and from Central Europe (Slovenia^[57], Hungary, Poland, Romania, Croatia), as well as Balkan countries (Serbia and Montenegro, particularly in Chaco). Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country Montenegro ( British English) Montenegrin / Serbian: PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE LANGUAGES WITHOUT CONSENSUS ON THE TALK PAGE! There is a large Armenian community, and the Patagonian Chubut Valley has a significant Welsh-descended population. The Armenians (Հայեր Hayer) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus and in the Armenian Highlands A large

Minorities

See also: Welsh settlement in Argentina and Asian-Argentines

Small but growing numbers of people from East Asia have also settled in Argentina, mainly in Buenos Aires. The first Asian-Argentines were of Japanese descent; Koreans, Vietnamese, and Chinese followed, now at over 60,000. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. ^[58]

The majority of Argentina's Jewish community derive from immigrants of north and eastern European origin (Ashkenazi Jews), and about 15–20% from Sephardic groups from Syria. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim ( Hebrew: אַשְׁכֲּנָזִים, ˌaʃkəˈnazim sing Sephardi Jews ( Hebrew: ספרדי, Standard Səfardi Tiberian Səp̄arədî; plural Syrian Jews ( Arabic, يهود سوريون) derive their origin from two groups those who inhabited the region of today's Syria from the ancient times Argentina is home to the fifth largest Ashkenazi Jewish community in the world. (See also History of the Jews in Argentina) Argentina has a large Arab community, made up mostly of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon. The history of the Jews of Argentina harks back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition and Portuguese Inquisition when Jews fleeing persecution settled in what The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Many have gained prominent status in national business and politics, including former president Carlos Menem, the son of Syrian settlers from the province of La Rioja. Carlos Saúl Menem Akil (born July 2, 1930) was President of Argentina from July 8, 1989 to December 10, 1999 Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Most of the Arab Argentines are Christian of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See

The officially recognized indigenous population in the country, according to the "Complementary Survey of Indigenous Peoples" based on 2001 Census data, stands at approximately 402,921 people (about 1 percent of the total population)^[59]

Illegal immigrants

Illegal immigration has been a recent factor in Argentine demographics. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Illegal immigration refers to Immigration across National Borders in a way that violates the Immigration laws of the destination Country Most illegal immigrants come from Bolivia and Paraguay, countries which border Argentina to the north. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish: República del Paraguay; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái) is one of the only Smaller numbers arrive from Peru, Ecuador, and Romania. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania ^[60] The Argentine government estimates that 750,000 inhabitants lack official documents and has launched a program called Patria Grande ("Big Homeland"),^[61] to encourage illegal immigrants to regularize their status; so far over 670,000 applications have been processed under the program. [4]

Urbanization

Main article: List of cities in Argentina

Argentina's population is very highly urbanized. This is a list of cities in Argentina. For a more exhaustive list of cities in a particular province see the main article linked to in each applicable section About 3 million people live in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, and 12. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern 4 million in Greater Buenos Aires (2007), making it one of the largest conurbations in the world. Greater Buenos Aires ( Gran Buenos Aires, GBA in Spanish) is the generic denomination to refer to the Megalopolis comprised by the Autonomous city Together with their respective metropolitan areas, the second- and third-largest cities in Argentina, Córdoba and Rosario, comprise about 1. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central Córdoba, abbreviated as CBA, is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the 3 and 1. 1 million inhabitants respectively.

Most European immigrants to Argentina settled in the cities, which offered jobs, education, and other opportunities which enabled newcomers to enter the middle class. The original inhabitants of Argentina were descendants of Asian peoples that crossed the Bering Land Bridge into North America and then over thousands The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. Many also settled in the growing small towns along the expanding railway system. Since the 1930s, many rural workers have moved to the big cities.

The 1990s saw many rural towns become ghost towns when train services ceased and local products manufactured on a small scale were replaced by massive amounts of cheap imported goods. A ghost town is a Town or City that has been abandoned usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed or due to natural or human-caused Many slums (villas miserias) sprouted in the outskirts of the largest cities, inhabited by impoverished lower-class urban dwellers, migrants from smaller towns in the interior, and also a large number of immigrants from neighbouring countries that came during the time of the convertibility and did not leave after the 2001 crisis. Vista Riachuelo desde Puente Boschjpg|thumb|240px| Villa miseria along the Riachuelo, on Buenos Aires' industrial southern edge

Some urban areas appear European, reflecting the influence of European settlers. Many cities are built in a Spanish-grid style around a main square (plaza). A cathedral and important government buildings often face the plaza. The general layout of the cities is called damero (checkerboard), since it is based on a pattern of square blocks, though modern developments sometimes depart from it (the city of La Plata, built at the end of the nineteenth century, is organized as a checkerboard plus diagonal avenues at fixed intervals).

The city of La Plata was the first in South America with electric street illumination. La Plata is the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as of the partido of La Plata. ^[62]

Largest cities of Argentina								view • talk • edit
	Core City	Province	Population			Core City	Province	Population
1	Buenos Aires	Buenos Aires	15,052,177	Buenos Aires Córdoba	11	Resistencia	Chaco	452,800
2	Córdoba	Córdoba	1,613,211		12	Neuquén	Neuquén	400,600
3	Rosario	Santa Fe	1,325,090		13	Santiago del Estero	Santiago del Estero	397,200
4	Mendoza	Mendoza	1,109,104		14	Corrientes	Corrientes	342,400
5	La Plata	Buenos Aires	957,800		15	Avellaneda	Buenos Aires	328,980
6	Tucumán	Tucumán	903,100		16	Bahía Blanca	Buenos Aires	310,200
7	Mar del Plata	Buenos Aires	706,600		17	Río Cuarto	Córdoba	144,021
8	Salta	Salta	556,400		18	Comodoro Rivadavia	Chubut	140,628
9	Santa Fe	Santa Fe	534,300		19	Santa Rosa	La Pampa	110,640
10	San Juan	San Juan	498,400		20	Zárate	Buenos Aires	101,271
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas y Censos (Estimates for 2006)

Culture

Main article: Culture of Argentina

Argentine culture has significant European influences. The Culture of Argentina is as varied as the country's geography and mix of ethnic groups Buenos Aires, considered by many its cultural capital, is often said to be the most European city in South America, as a result both of the prevalence of people of European descent and of conscious imitation of European styles in architecture. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern The Architecture of Argentina can be said to start at the beginning of the Spanish colonisation, though it was in the 18th century that the cities of the country The other big influence is the gauchos and their traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Gaucho ( gaúcho in Portuguese, "gaucho" in Spanish) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American Pampas Finally, indigenous American traditions (like mate tea drinking) have been absorbed into the general cultural milieu.

Literature

Main article: Argentine literature

Argentina has a rich history of world-class literature, including one of the twentieth century's most critically acclaimed writers, Jorge Luis Borges. Argentine literature is among the most important national literatures written in the Spanish language. The country has been a leader in Latin American literature since becoming a fully united entity in the 1850s, with a strong constitution and a defined nation-building plan. The struggle between the Federalists (who favored a loose confederation of provinces based on rural conservatism) and the Unitarians (pro-liberalism and advocates of a strong central government that would encourage European immigration), set the tone for Argentine literature of the time. A confederation is a group of empowered states or communities usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal

The ideological divide between gaucho epic Martín Fierro by José Hernández, and Facundo^[63] by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, is a great example. Gaucho ( gaúcho in Portuguese, "gaucho" in Spanish) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American Pampas This article deals with Hernández's poem For other things named after it see Martín Fierro (disambiguation Martín Fierro is For the astronaut see Jose Hernandez, for the Baseball player see José Hernández. Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Albarracín (February 15 1811 &ndash September 11 1888 was an Argentine activist intellectual and writer and the seventh President Hernández, although a federalist, opposed to the centralizing, modernizing, and Europeanizing tendencies. Sarmiento wrote immigration was the only way to save Argentina from becoming subject to the rule of a small number of dictatorial caudillo families, arguing such immigrants would make Argentina more modern and open to Western European influences, and therefore a more prosperous society. Caudillo is a Spanish ( caudilho in Portuguese word usually used to designate "a political-military leader at the head of an authoritarian power

Argentine literature of that period was fiercely nationalist. It was followed by the modernist movement, which emerged in France in the late nineteenth century, and this period in turn was followed by vanguardism, with Ricardo Güiraldes as an important reference. Modernist literature is the literary form of Modernism and especially High modernism; it should not be confused with modern literature, which is the history This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. In the context of Revolutionary struggle vanguardism is a strategy whereby an organization (usually a Vanguard party) attempts to place itself at the center of the Ricardo Güiraldes ( 13 February 1886 — 8 October 1927) was an Argentine novelist and poet one of the most significant Argentine Jorge Luis Borges, its most acclaimed writer, found new ways of looking at the modern world in metaphor and philosophical debate, and his influence has extended to writers all over the globe. Borges is most famous for his works in short stories such as Ficciones and The Aleph. Ficciones is the most popular anthology of Short stories by Jorge Luis Borges, and is considered by many to be the best introduction to his work The Aleph and Other Stories (Spanish El Aleph, 1949 is a book of short stories by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.

Argentina has produced many more internationally noted writers, poets, and intellectuals: Juan Bautista Alberdi, Roberto Arlt, Enrique Banchs, Adolfo Bioy Cásares, Eugenio Cambaceres, Julio Cortázar, Esteban Echeverría, Leopoldo Lugones, Eduardo Mallea, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, Tomás Eloy Martínez, Victoria Ocampo, Manuel Puig, Ernesto Sabato, Osvaldo Soriano, Alfonsina Storni, and María Elena Walsh. Juan Bautista Alberdi ( 29 August 1810 – 19 June 1884) was an Argentine political theorist and diplomat. Roberto Arlt ( Buenos Aires, April 2, 1900 &ndash July 26, 1942) was an Argentine short-story writer novelist and playwright Fred Banchs (1888 - 1968 was an homosexual poet He published all his work in the space of four years at the beginning of the 20th century then lay dormant until his coming out the closet(live Adolfo Bioy Casares (September 15 1914 – March 8 1999 was an Argentine fiction writer Eugenio Cambaceres ( Buenos Aires, 1843 - Buenos Aires, 1888 Argentine writer and politician Julio Cortázar, born Jules Florencio Cortázar ( August 26, 1914 &ndash February 12, 1984) was an Argentine Author Esteban Echeverría ( September 2, 1805 &ndash January 19, 1851) was an Argentine poet, Fiction writer Leopoldo Lugones Argüello ( 13 June 1874 - 18 February 1938) was an Argentine writer and journalist Eduardo Mallea ( 14 August 1903, Bahía Blanca, Argentina - 12 November 1982, Buenos Aires) was a writer and Ezequiel Martínez Estrada ( September 14, 1895 - November 4, 1964) was an Argentine writer poet essayist and literary critic Tomás Eloy Martínez (born July 16, 1934 in Tucumán) is an Argentine journalist and writer Victoria Ocampo ( Buenos Aires, April 7, 1890 - Buenos Aires January 27, 1979) was an Argentine intellectual described Manuel Puig (born Juan Manuel Puig Delledonne ( General Villegas, Argentina December 28, 1932 - Cuernavaca, Mexico July 22 Ernesto Sabato (born June 24, 1911) is an Argentine writer of Italian and Arbëreshë (Italian Albanian descent Osvaldo Soriano, Journalist and writer Born January 6, 1943 in Mar del Plata, Argentina - died on January 29, 1997 in Monumento a Alfonsina Stornijpg|thumb|Monument to Storni in Mar del Plata, Argentina]] Alfonsina Storni ( May 29 1892 – October 25 1938 María Elena Walsh (born February 1 1930 (age) in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine musician and writer known for her Quino (born Joaquin Salvador Lavado), has entertained readers the world over, while dipping into the events of modern times, with soup-hating Mafalda and her comic strip gang. Joaquín Salvador Lavado, better known by his Pen name Quino, is an Argentine Cartoonist born on July 17, 1932 in Mafalda is a comic strip written and drawn by the Argentine Cartoonist Joaquín Salvador Lavado (pen name Quino) A comic strip is a sequence of drawings that tells a story Currently in the Western world, most comic strips are written and drawn by a Comics artist

Film and theatre

Main article: Cinema of Argentina

Argentina is a major producer of motion pictures. The Cinema of Argentina has a long tradition dating back to the late nineteenth century and has played an important role in the Culture of Argentina for more than The world's first animated feature films were made and released in Argentina, by cartoonist Quirino Cristiani, in 1917 and 1918. This list of animated feature-length films compiles animated feature Films from around the world and is organized alphabetically under the year of release Quirino Cristiani ( July 2, 1896 – August 2, 1984) was an Argentine Animation director and Cartoonist Argentine cinema enjoyed a 'golden age' in the 1930s through the 1950s with scores of productions, many now considered classics of Spanish-language film. The Cinema of Argentina has a long tradition dating back to the late nineteenth century and has played an important role in the Culture of Argentina for more than The industry produced actors who became the first movie stars of Argentine cinema, often tango performers such as Libertad Lamarque, Floren Delbene, Tito Lusiardo, Tita Merello, Roberto Escalada, and Hugo del Carril. Libertad Lamarque (born November 24 1908 in Rosario &mdashdied December 12 2000 in Mexico City) was an iconic Floren Delbene (1898 - 1978 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine Film actor of the classic era Tito Lusiardo ( September 13 1896 - June 24 1982 in Buenos Aires) was an Iconic Argentine Film actor Laura Ana Merello best known as Tita Merello ( 11 October 1904 - 24 December 2002 in Buenos Aires) was a prominent Roberto Escalada born Aldo Roberto Leggero ( 4 July 1914 - 5 December 1986 in Buenos Aires) was a major Argentine Pierre Bruno Hugo Fontana otherwise known as Hugo del Carril ( 30 November[[ 912]] - 13 August 1989 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine

More recent films from the "New Wave" of cinema since the 1980s have achieved worldwide recognition, such as The Official Story (La historia official), Nine Queens (Nueve reinas), Man Facing Southeast (Hombre mirando al sudeste), Son of the Bride (El hijo de la novia), The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta), or Iluminados por el fuego. The Official Story ( Spanish: es La historia oficial) ( 1985) is a Argentine Drama film directed by Nine Queens ( Nueve reinas) ( 2000) is a Argentine Crime drama Film written and directed by Fabián Bielinsky Son of the Bride ( Spanish: El hijo de la novia) ( 2001) is an Argentine Comedy drama film directed by The Motorcycle Diaries ( 2004) is a Biographical film about the journey and written Memoir of the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara who would years Although rarely rivaling Hollywood-type movies in popularity, local films are released weekly and widely followed in Argentina and internationally. Even low-budget films have earned prizes in cinema festivals (such as Cannes). Cannes (kan in Occitan Canas) is a city in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur The city of Mar del Plata organizes its own film festival, while Buenos Aires has its independent cinema counterpart. Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Buenos Aires Province, south of Buenos Aires. The Mar del Plata International Film Festival ( Festival Internacional de Cine de Mar del Plata) is a prestigious international film festival that takes place every year during The Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente ( BAFICI, English Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival) is an international festival The per capita number of screens is one of the highest in Latin America, and viewing per capita is the highest in the region. A new generation of Argentine directors has caught the attention of critics worldwide. ^[64] Additionally, Argentina is a major center of cinema, it is compared to European countries in terms of people who attend movie theaters. An example of this was Spider-Man 3 which took in 466,586 the first day a record in Argentina. For the video game based on the film see Spider-Man 3 (video game. In Italy it took in 400,000 and Germany 486,571, breaking all records for first day release. ^[65]

Buenos Aires is one of the great capitals of theater. Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is the branch of the Performing arts defined by Bernard Beckerman as what "occurs when one The Teatro Colon is a national landmark for opera and classical performances. Built at the ending of XIX century, Teatro Colon's acoustic is considered the best in the world. Currently it is undergoing major refurbishment, in order to preserve its outstanding sound characteristics, the French-romantic style, the impressive Golden Room (a minor auditorium targeted to Chamber Music performances), and the museum at the entrance. Enrico Caruso, B. Enrico Caruso (born Errico Caruso; February 25 1873 &ndash August 2 1921) was an Italian Opera singer Gigli, Félix Weingartner, Artur Nikisch, Richard Strauss, Arturo Toscanini, Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Camille Saint-Saëns, Manuel de Falla, Aaron Copland, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gian-Carlo Menotti, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Tullio Serafin, Gino Marinuzzi, Albert Wolff, Víctor De Sabata, Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Karl Böhm, Fernando Previtali, Sir Thomas Beecham, Ferdinand Leitner, Lorin Maazel, Igor Markevitch, Bernard Haitink, Zubin Mehta, Marek Janowsky, Aldo Ceccato, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, Michel Corboz, Franz-Paul Decker, Riccardo Chailly, Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, René Jacobs are among the artists, composers and conductors who performed in this opera house.

Besides the Teatro Colón (one of the great opera houses of the world), with its program of national and international caliber, Calle Corrientes, or Corrientes Avenue, is synonymous with the art. The Teatro Colón ( Spanish) ( Colón Theatre) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is one of the world's major Opera houses An opera house is a theater building used for Opera performances that consists of a stage an orchestra pit audience seating and backstage facilities for costumes Corrientes Avenue ( Avenida Corrientes in Spanish) is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires It is dubbed 'the street that never sleeps', and sometimes referred to as the Broadway of Buenos Aires. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. ^[66] Many great careers in acting, music, and film have begun in its many theaters. The Teatro General San Martín is one of the most prestigious along Corrientes Avenue; the Teatro Nacional Cervantes is designated the national theater of Argentina. Another important theater is the Independencia in Mendoza. Mendoza (men'dōzə is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. Florencio Sanchez and Griselda Gambaro are famous Argentine playwrights. Griselda Julio Bocca is one of the great ballet dancers of the modern era. Julio Bocca (born March 6 1967) is one of the most important Ballet dancers of the later part of the 20th century and probably the most important This is a list of people involved in dance Alphabetical A Alicia Alonso - great Cuban Prima ballerina assoluta

Painting and sculpture

Perhaps one of the most enigmatic figures of Argentine culture is Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, aka Xul Solar, whose watercolor style and unorthodox painting media draws large crowds at museums worldwide; he also 'invented' two imaginary languages. Xul Solar was the adopted name of Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari (born December 14, 1887 – April 9, 1963) Argentine Watercolor ( US) or Watercolour ( UK) (and "aquarelle" in French is a Painting method The works of Candido Lopez (in Naïve art style), Emilio Pettoruti (cubist), Antonio Berni (neo-figurative style), Fernando Fader, and Guillermo Kuitca are appreciated internationally. Cándido López (1840— December 31, 1902) was an Argentine painter and soldier See also Primitivism and Neo-primitivism Naïve art is characterized by a childlike simplicity Emilio Pettoruti was an Argentine painter who caused a scandal with his avant-garde cubist exhibition in 1924 in Buenos Aires. Cubism was a 20th century Avant-garde Art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European Delesio Antonio Berni ( 14 May 1905 &ndash 13 October 1981) was a neofigurative artist, born in Rosario, province Neo-figurative art describes an Expressionist revival in modern form of Figurative art. Guillermo Kuitca (born 1961 is an Argentinian visual Artist, born in Buenos Aires and a key figure in the history of Latin American art known

Benito Quinquela Martín is considered to be the quintesennial 'port' painter, to which the city of Buenos Aires and particularly the working class and immigrant-bound La Boca neighborhood, was excellently suited for. --> Benito Quinquela Martín ( March 10 (? 1890 &mdash January 28, 1977) was an Argentine painter born in La Boca, Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern La Boca is a neighborhood or barrio of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. Lucio Fontana and Leon Ferrari are acclaimed sculptors and conceptual artists. Lucio Fontana ( 19 February 1899  &ndash  7 September 1968) was a painter and sculptor born in Rosario León Ferrari (b 1920 Buenos Aires) is a contemporary conceptual Argentine Artist. Conceptual art is Art in which the Concept (s or Idea (s involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic and material concerns Ciruelo is a world-wide famous fantasy artist and sculptor. Ciruelo Cabral (born July 20, 1963) is an Argentine Fantasy artist whose work focuses especially on Dragons.

Food and drink

Argentine food is influenced by cuisine from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and other European countries, and many foods from those countries such as pasta, sausages, and desserts are common in the nation's diet. This article was a former Spanish Translation of the Week. The cuisine of Argentina is distinctive in South America because of its Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Argentina has a wide variety of staple foods, which include empanadas, a stuffed pastry; locro, a mixture of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd; and chorizo, a spicy sausage. An empanada (not to be confused with the Portuguese empada, which is a different dish is essentially a stuffed Pastry. Locro (from the Inca's language Quechua ruqru) is a hearty thick Stew popular along the Andes mountain range Chorizo (tʃo̞ˈɾiso̞ in Latin American Spanish or tʃo̞ˈɾiθo̞ in Castilian Spanish) Chouriço (ʃoˈɾisu in Portuguese) or Xoriç Other popular items include facturas (Viennese-style pastry), Dulce de Leche and mate, Argentina's national beverage. Viennese cuisine is the Cuisine that is characteristic of Vienna, Austria, and its residents This article describes Pastry in food For the Distributed Hash Table system see Pastry_(DHT. Dulce de leche in Spanish or doce de leite in Portuguese ("milk candy" is a milk-based syrup Mate or maté (\ˈmä-ˌtā\ Spanish and Portuguese: mate, ˈmate is an infusion, containing Stimulants including

The Argentine barbecue, asado as well as a parrillada, is one of the most famous in the world and includes various types of meats, among them chorizo, sweetbread, chitterlings, and morcilla (blood sausage). Asado is a technique for Cooking cuts of Meat, usually consisting of Beef alongside various other meats which are cooked on a Grill ( parrilla Sweetbreads are the thymus glands of lamb, Beef, or Pork. There are two different connected Glands one set in the neck and the Chittlins (often ˈtʃɪtlɪnz and sometimes spelled chitlins in vernacular are the Intestines and rectum of a Pig that have been prepared as Black pudding or (less often blood pudding is a British English term for Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal Thin sandwiches, sandwiches de miga, are also popular. Sandwiches de miga are popular food items in Argentina where they are typical tea-time Food. Argentines have the highest consumption of red meat in the world. For mammal meat see Red meat. For the band see Red Meat (band. ^[67]

Since 1992 Argentina has invested over 650 million dollars to modernize the wine industry. The country is an important wine producer, rated fifth in the world, with the annual per capita consumption of wine amongst the highest in the world. Argentine wine, as with some aspects of Argentine cuisine, has its roots in Spain. (Malbec has become a representative variety from Argentina). Malbec is a variety of Grape used in making Red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark colour and robust Tannins Long known as one of the Malbec grape, a discardable varietal in France (country of origin), has found in Province of Mendoza an ideal environment to successfully develop and turn itself into tthe world's best Malbec. The city of Mendoza is one of the eight wine capitals of the world,^[68] and Mendoza accounts for 70% of the country total production (all varietals considered). Mendoza (men'dōzə is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. "Wine tourism" is important in the Province of Mendoza, with the impressive landscape of Cordillera de Los Andes and the highest peak in America, Mount Aconcagua, 6952 meters high, providing a very desirable destination for international tourism.

Sports

See also: List of Argentines and Sport in Argentina

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Argentina, whose national team is twice FIFA World Cup Champion and one-time Olympic Gold medalist (also fourteen-time Copa América winners). Football is the most popular sport in Argentina, it has more registered players than any other sport (54000 in 2002 equivalent to Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Benefiting form a multicultural population and a mostly mild climate Argentines participate in a variety of sports though without doubt the most important Sport in Argentina The Argentina national football team is the national football team of Argentina and is controlled by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football The Copa América ( Spanish and Portuguese for "America Cup" is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by ^[69]

Also widespread are volleyball and basketball; a number of basketball players participate in the NBA and European leagues. Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Carlos Delfino, and Fabricio Oberto are a few, and the national team won Olympic Gold in the Athens Olympics. Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the indoor arena in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Athens, Greece for the preliminary Argentina has an important rugby union football team, "Los Pumas" (see Argentina national rugby union team), with many of its players playing in Europe. Rugby union is a popular team sport played in Argentina. The first rugby match played in the country dates back to 1873 as the game was introduced by the The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international Rugby union matches Argentina beat host nation France twice in the Rugby World Cup 2007, placing them third in the competition. The Pumas currently sit at third spot in the International Rugby Board's official world rankings. The International Rugby Board (IRB is the world governing and law-making body for the sport of Rugby union, and previously for Rugby football. Argentine tennis is very competitive on the world stage, with dozens of players, male and female, in active tour. Tennis is a sport played between two players ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles)

Other popular sports include field hockey (the top female sport, see Las Leonas), golf, and sailing. Field hockey is a Team sport in which players attempt to score goals by hitting the Ball across the pitch with a stick Las Leonas are Argentina 's national women's Field hockey team Argentina has the highest number of highly-ranked polo players in the world and the national squad has been the uninterrupted world champion ever since 1949. Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team The Open Polo Championship of Buenos Aires is the most important polo-related event in the world. Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Cricket is growing in popularity due to the National Team's recent successes where they came as the underdogs and finished runner's up of the Inaugural World Cricket League Division 3. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries The ICC World Cricket League is a series of international one-day Cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status administered by the International Baseball is played in a most limited fashion, as well as the Gridiron. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each ^[70]

Motorsports are well represented in Argentina, with Turismo Carretera and TC 2000 being the most popular car racing formats. Turismo Carretera ( English: Road racing, lit Road Touring) is probably the most popular car racing series in Argentina, and the oldest car For TC 2000, the 1993 film starring Billy Blanks see TC 2000 (film. People all over the country enjoy the races, but it is most fervently followed in small towns and rural Argentina, attracting a rather similar demographic as NASCAR in the United States. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Rally Argentina is part of the World Rally Championship (currently held in Córdoba Province). The Rally Argentina is an Argentine rally competition and a stage of the World Rally Championship. History Early The World Rally Championship was formed from well-known international rallies nine of which were previously part of the International Championship In Formula 1 racing, the country produced one world champion (Juan Manuel Fangio, five times) and two runners-up (Froilán González and Carlos Reutemann, once each)

The official national sport of the country is pato, played with a six-handle ball on horseback. Carlos Alberto Reutemann (born Santa Fe Argentina April 12, 1942) nicknamed "Lole" is an Argentine former racing driver (who raced Pato is a game played on horseback that combines elements from Polo and Basketball.

Music

Main article: Music of Argentina

Tango, the music and lyrics (often sung in a form of slang called lunfardo), is Argentina's musical symbol. Argentina is known mostly for the tango, which developed in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas as well as Montevideo, Uruguay. Lunfardo is an Argot of the Spanish language which developed at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century in the lower classes in and around The Milonga dance was a predecessor, slowly evolving into modern tango. Milonga can refer to an Argentine, Uruguayan, and Southern Brazilian form of Music which preceeded the tango and the dance form which By the 1930s, tango had changed from a dance-focused music to one of lyric and poetry, with singers like Carlos Gardel, Roberto Goyeneche, Hugo del Carril, Tita Merello, and Edmundo Rivero. Carlos Gardel ( 11 December 1887 /1890 1 - 24 June 1935 Medellín, Colombia) is Roberto Goyeneche ( January 29, 1926 - August 27, 1994) was an Argentine tango singer who epitomized the archetype of 1950s Pierre Bruno Hugo Fontana otherwise known as Hugo del Carril ( 30 November[[ 912]] - 13 August 1989 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine Laura Ana Merello best known as Tita Merello ( 11 October 1904 - 24 December 2002 in Buenos Aires) was a prominent Leonel Edmundo Rivero ( June 8 1911 – January 18 1986) was an Argentine tango singer and Impresario. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid-1950s) mirrored that of Jazz and Swing in the United States, featuring large orchestral groups too, like the bands of Osvaldo Pugliese, Anibal Troilo, Francisco Canaro, and Juan D'Arienzo. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Swing music, also known as swing jazz, is a form of Jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and had solidified as a distinctive style by 1935 in the United The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese ( Buenos Aires, December 2, 1905 - July 25, 1995) was an Argentine tango musician Francisco Canaro ( November 26, 1888 &ndash December 14, 1964) was an Uruguayan Violinist and tango Orchestra Juan D'Arienzo ( December 14, 1900 - January 14, 1976) was an Argentine tango musician also known as "El Rey del After 1955 tango turned more intellectual and listener-oriented, led by Astor Piazzolla. Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla ( March 11, 1921 &ndash July 4, 1992) was an Argentine tango Composer and Today tango has worldwide popularity, and the rise of neo-tango is a global phenomenon with groups like Tanghetto, Bajofondo and Gotan Project. Tango is a style of music that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay. Tanghetto is a musical group based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and one of the most important on the neo tango scene Bajofondo is a South American music band consisting of eight musicians from Argentina and Uruguay. Gotan Project is a musical group based in Paris, consisting of musicians Philippe Cohen Solal ( French) Eduardo Makaroff ( Argentine) and Christoph H

Argentine rock, called rock nacional, is the most popular music among youth. The moment when 'Argentine' rock began as a distinct musical style can be traced to the middle 1960s when several garage groups and aspiring musicians began composing Songs and Lyrics Arguably the most listened form of Spanish-language rock, its influence and success internationally owes to a rich, uninterrupted evolution. Bands such as Soda Stereo or Sumo, and composers like Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta, and Fito Páez are referents of national culture. Soda Stereo is an Argentine rock Power trio formed in 1982 (see 1982 in music) consisting of Guitarist and vocalist Sumo was a 1980s Argentine Alternative rock band, merging Post-punk with Reggae and Ska. Charly García (born Carlos Alberto García Moreno on October 23, 1951) is an influential musician from Argentina Luis Alberto Spinetta (born January 23, 1950) is an Argentine musician Rodolfo "Fito" Páez Ávalos (born March 13, 1963 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province) is an Argentine popular Mid 1960s Buenos Aires and Rosario were cradles of the music, and by 1970 Argentine rock was established among middle class youth (see Almendra, Sui Generis, Pappo, Crucis). Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Sui generis (English pronunciation ( IPA) /ˌsuːiˈdʒɛnərɪs/ roughly "SOO-ee JEN-a-ris" Latin pronunciation /ˌsuːiˈgeneris/ is a Neo-Latin Pappo is the Pseudonym of Argentine Blues and metal / Rock musician Norberto Napolitano ( Buenos Aires, 10 Crucis was an Argentine band considered one of the pioneers of the Argentine Progressive rock. Seru Giran bridged the gap into the 1980s, when Argentine bands became popular across Latin America and elsewhere (Enanitos Verdes, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Virus, Andres Calamaro). Serú Girán is an Argentine rock band Biography Progressive rock band from Argentina formed in the late '70s by Charly García, guitarist For the album of the same name see Los Enanitos Verdes. Los Enanitos Verdes (Lit Los Fabulosos Cadillacs are a Latin- rock band from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Virus was an Argentine New wave music band led by Federico Moura until his death on December 21, 1988 from AIDS -related Andrés Calamaro (born Andrés Calamaro Masel August 22 1961 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine musician and composer There are many sub-genres: underground, pop oriented, and some associated with the working class (La Renga, Attaque 77, Divididos, Los Redonditos). La Renga is a Hard rock band from Argentina, formed in 1988. They have a moderate success with the albums A Dónde Me Lleva La Vida Attaque 77 ("Attack 77" is an Argentine Punk rock, and now Alternative rock group formed in 1987. Divididos (Meaning "Separated" is an important Argentine rock band Patricio Rey y Sus Redonditos de Ricota was a rock band originally from La Plata, Argentina whose tours in the 1980s 1990s and 2000s drew a cult-like following Current popular bands include: Babasonicos, Rata Blanca, El Otro Yo, Attaque 77, Bersuit, Los Piojos, Intoxicados, Catupecu Machu, and Miranda!. Babasónicos is an Argentine rock band formed in the early 1990s along with others such as Peligrosos Gorriones and Los Brujos. Rata Blanca ( White Rat) is a classic heavy metal band from Argentina that formed in the 1980s El Otro Yo is an Argentine band of Alternative rock and originally of Temperley, Buenos Aires, formed at the beginning of the decade of Attaque 77 ("Attack 77" is an Argentine Punk rock, and now Alternative rock group formed in 1987. Bersuit Vergarabat, formed formally in 1989 is one of the most important Argentine Rock bands of the 1990s/2000s Los Piojos are a rock band from Argentina, highly popular and one of the seminal bands of the 1990s Argentine suburban rock movement Biography The band started as a Power trio in the suburb of Villa Luro, Buenos Aires, in 1994. Miranda! is an Argentine Electro pop band formed in 2001 Band members include Alejandro Sergi (vocals Juliana Gattas (vocals Lolo

European classical music is well represented in Argentina. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Buenos Aires is home to the world-renowned Colón Theater. The Teatro Colón ( Spanish) ( Colón Theatre) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is one of the world's major Opera houses Classical musicians, such as Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, Eduardo Delgado, Lalo Schiffrin, and classical composers such as Alberto Ginastera, are internationally acclaimed. Martha Argerich (born June 5, 1941) is an Argentine concert Pianist. Daniel Barenboim (born November 15, 1942) is a pianist and conductor. Eduardo Alonso-Crespo (also spelled Eduardo Alonso Crespo, without the hyphen is an Argentine Composer of classical music. Lalo Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine pianist and Composer. Alberto Evaristo Ginastera ( Buenos Aires, April 11 1916 &ndash June 25 1983 Geneva) was an Argentine Composer of classical music All major cities in Argentina have impressive theaters or opera houses, and provincial or city orchestras. Some cities have annual events and important classical music festivals like Semana Musical Llao Llao in San Carlos de Bariloche and the multitudinous Amadeus in Buenos Aires. Semana Musical Llao Llao is a classical music festival in Argentina. San Carlos de Bariloche is a city in the, situated on the foothills of the Andes, surrounded by lakes ( Nahuel Huapi, Gutiérrez Lake, Moreno Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern

Argentine folk music is uniquely vast. Beyond dozens of regional dances, a national folk style emerged in the 1930s. Perón's Argentina would give rise to Nueva Canción, as artists began expressing in their music objections to political themes. Juan Domingo Perón (October 8 1895 &ndash July 1 1974 was an Argentine Colonel and Politician, elected three times as President of Argentina Nueva Canción (Spanish for 'new song' is a movement in Latin American music that was developed first in the Southern Cone of South America - Argentina Chile and Uruguay - Atahualpa Yupanqui, the greatest Argentine folk musician, and Mercedes Sosa would be defining figures in shaping Nueva Canción, gaining worldwide popularity in the process. Atahualpa Yupanqui ( 31 January 1908 - 23 May 1992) was an Argentine Singer, Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Mercedes Sosa (born 9 July 1935) is an Argentine singer immensely popular throughout Latin America. The style found a huge reception in Chile, where it took off in the 1970s and went on to influence the entirety of Latin American music. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the ^[71] Today, Chango Spasiuk and Soledad Pastorutti have brought folk back to younger generations. Horacio "Chango" Spasiuk (born on September 23, 1968 in Apóstoles Misiones) is an Argentine Chamamé musician Soledad Pastorutti "La Sole" (born October 12, 1980 in Arequito, Santa Fe) is an Argentine Folklore singer Leon Gieco's folk-rock bridged the gap between argentine folklore and argentine rock, introducing both styles to millions overseas in successive tours. Raúl Alberto Antonio Gieco, better known as León Gieco (born on November 20 1951 on a farm near Cañada Rosquín in northern Argentina is known mostly for the tango, which developed in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas as well as Montevideo, Uruguay. The moment when 'Argentine' rock began as a distinct musical style can be traced to the middle 1960s when several garage groups and aspiring musicians began composing Songs and Lyrics

Other notable musicians include Gato Barbieri with his seductive saxophone and free jazz compositions, and Jaime Torres and his spacious andean music. Leandro Barbieri (born on November 28 1934 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina) better known as Gato Barbieri The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind For the Ornette Coleman album after which this genre was named see Free Jazz A Collective Improvisation. Jaime Torres may refer to Jaime Torres Bodet (1902–1974 Mexican politician and intellectual director-general of UNESCO Jaime Andean music comes from the general area inhabited by the Incas prior to European contact

Religion

Main article: Religion in Argentina

See also: State-Church relations in Argentina

Argentines are predominantly Roman Catholic. A majority of the population of Argentina is nominally Roman Catholic. Around 93% declare themselves Roman Catholic according to different surveys; the Church estimates an affiliation of 70%. ^[72][73] According to the Constitution, the Argentine government should support Roman Catholicism. The constitution of Argentina is one of the primary sources of exisiting law in Argentina. However, this does not imply that it is the official religion of the Argentine Republic, nor does it imply that people working in the government should have this faith.

Evangelical churches have gained a foothold in Argentina since the 1980s, and their followers now number more than 3. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. 5 million, about 10% of the total population. Traditional Protestant communities are present in most communities. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) numbering over 330,300, the seventh-largest concentration in the world, are also present. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known ^[74]

The country also hosts the largest Jewish population in all of Latin America, about 2 percent of the population. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut ^[75]

Islam in Argentina constitutes approximately 1. Islam in Argentina is represented by one of Latin America's largest Muslim minorities 5% of the population, or an estimated 500,000-600,000 (93% Sunni). Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic ^[76] Argentina is also home to one of the largest mosques in Latin America, serving Argentina's Muslim community. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger Islam in Argentina is represented by one of Latin America's largest Muslim minorities

Approximately 12% of Argentines can be considered agnostic, and 4% are atheists. Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the Atheism

Language

See also: Languages of Argentina and List of indigenous languages in Argentina

The official language of Argentina is Spanish, usually called "Castellano" (Castilian) by Argentines. The spoken languages of Argentina number at least 40 although Spanish is dominant This is a list of Indigenous languages that are or were spoken in the present territory of Argentina. Castilian is a noun and adjective that refers to the region and former kingdom of Castile in Spain; in particular it may refer to a native person

A phonetic study conducted by the Laboratory for Sensory Investigations of CONICET and the University of Toronto showed that the accent of the inhabitants of Buenos Aires (known as porteños) is closer to the Neapolitan dialect of Italian than any other spoken language. This article is about the University of Toronto's St George Campus Buenos Aires is the Capital and largest city of Argentina. It is geographically located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern Porteño is used to refer to a person who lives in a port city but it can also be used as an adjective for anything related to these port cities Neapolitan (autonym napulitano; napoletano is the name given to the varied Italo-Western group of dialects of Southern Italy or more specifically the Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Italian immigration and other European immigrations influenced Lunfardo, the slang spoken in the Río de la Plata region, permeating the vernacular vocabulary of other regions as well. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Lunfardo is an Argot of the Spanish language which developed at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century in the lower classes in and around

Argentines are the largest Spanish-speaking society that universally employs what is known as voseo (the use of the pronoun vos instead of tú (you), which occasions the use of alternate verb forms as well). In Spanish, voseo is the use of the second person singular Pronoun vos instead of tú. In Linguistics and Grammar, a pronoun is a Pro-form that substitutes for a (including a noun phrase consisting of a single Noun) with or The most prevalent dialect is Rioplatense, whose speakers are primarily located in the basin of the Río de la Plata. Rioplatense Spanish ( Spanish: Español rioplatense, although locally known as castellano rioplatense The Río de la Plata ( Spanish: " Silver River" &mdash which is often referred to in English-speaking countries as the River Plate

Standard German is spoken by between 400,000 and 500,000^[77] Argentines of German ancestry, though it has also been stated that the there could be as much as 1,800,000. Standard German ( German: Hochdeutsch) is the standard varieties of the German language used as a Written language, in formal contexts Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ^[78] German today, is the third or fourth most spoken language in Argentina.

According to one survey, there are around 1,500,000 Italian speakers^[79] (which makes it the second most spoken language in the country) and 1,000,000 speakers of Levantine Arabic,^[79] but these numbers are probably no longer current, as the newer generations mostly switch to Spanish and do not speak the ancestral language in the home. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The same phenomenon applies to the Galician language that was used by many Spanish immigrants, Yiddish, and Japanese. Yiddish (yi [[wiktייִדיש ייִדיש]] yidish or yi [[wiktאידיש אידיש]] idish, literally "Jewish" is a nonterritorial High is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities The usage of these languages is in decline, as the respective immigration waves ended in the first half of the 20th century.

Some indigenous communities have retained their original languages. This is a list of Indigenous languages that are or were spoken in the present territory of Argentina. Guaraní is spoken by some in the northeast, especially in Corrientes (where it enjoys official status) and Misiones. Guaraní /gwaraˈni/ (local name avañe'ẽ) is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily of the Corrientes, Spanish for "currents" or "rapids" is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. Quechua is spoken by some in the northwest, and has a local variant in Santiago del Estero. Quechua ( Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America. Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country Aymara is spoken by members of the Bolivian community who migrated to Argentina from Bolivia. Aymara ( Aymar aru) is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. In Patagonia there are several Welsh-speaking communities. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic The Welsh settlement in Argentina began in 1865 and occurred mainly along the coast of Chubut province in the far southern region of Patagonia More recent immigrants have brought Chinese and Korean, mostly to Buenos Aires. This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system English, Brazilian Portuguese and French are also spoken. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Brazilian Portuguese ( Language code pt-BR Portuguese: português brasileiro or português do Brasil) is a group of Portuguese French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people English is commonly taught at schools, with Portuguese and French behind.

Education

After independence, Argentina constructed a national public education system in comparison to other nations, placing the country high up in the global rankings of literacy. traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen, Today the country has a literacy rate of 97% (2003 Est. List of countries by Literacy rate, as included in the United Nations Development Programme Report 2007/2008 ) [5]

School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 17. The Argentine school system consists of a primary or lower school level lasting six or seven years, and a secondary or high school level lasting between five to six years. In the 1990s, the system was split into different types of high school instruction, called Educacion Secundaria and the Polimodal. Some provinces adopted the Polimodal while others did not. A project in the Executive to repeal this measure and return to a more traditional secondary level system was approved in 2006. ^[80] President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento is overwhelmingly credited in pushing and implementing a free, modern education system in Argentina. Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Albarracín (February 15 1811 &ndash September 11 1888 was an Argentine activist intellectual and writer and the seventh President The 1918 University reform shaped the current tripartite representation of most public universities. The Argentine university reform of 1918 was a general modernisation of the universities, especially tending towards democratisation, brought about by Student

Education is funded by tax payers at all levels except for the majority of graduate studies. A graduate school or ("grad school" is a school that awards advanced degrees such as doctoral degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned There are many private school institutions in the primary, secondary and university levels. Around 11. 1 million people were enrolled in formal education of some kind:

• 9,551,728 people attended either kindergarten, primary (lower school), or secondary (high school) establishments;
• 494,461 people attended non-university level establishments (such as training or technical schools);
• 1,125,257 people attended colleges or universities. ^[81]

Education in public schools (primary, secondary and tertiary) is free. Public education, which was perceived to be of the best quality during the mid 20th century, is now often perceived to be bad and in continuous decline because of lack of funding. Public education is education mandated for or offered to the children of the general public by the Government, whether national regional or local provided by an institution This has helped private education to flourish, albeit it has also caused an imbalance in terms of who can afford it (usually middle and upper classes), as often private schools have no scholarship systems in place.

There are thirty-eight public universities across the country,^[82] as well as several private. This is a list of public and private universities in the "Latin American docta", grouped by region and/or province The Universities of Buenos Aires (the largest one, has 300,000 students), Córdoba (110,000 students and one of the oldest in the continent), Rosario (75,000 students), La Plata (75,000 students) and UTN (National Technological University, 70,000 students) are among the most important. The University of Buenos Aires (in Spanish Universidad de Buenos Aires - ( UBA) is the largest University in Argentina, founded on August The National University of Rosario (Castilian Universidad Nacional de Rosario UNR) is a research educational and public university located in the city of Rosario The National University of La Plata ( Spanish: Universidad Nacional de La Plata, UNLP is an Argentine National university and the most important The National Technological University ( Spanish: Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, UTN is a National university of Argentina, which specializes Public universities faced cutbacks in spending during the 1980s and 1990s, which led to a decline in overall quality.

Holidays

Main article: Public holidays in Argentina

Public holidays include most of the Catholic holidays, though holidays of other faiths are respected. National public Holidays of Argentina. Other Observances Teacher's Day ( Día del Maestro) on September The main historic holidays include the anniversaries of the May Revolution (May 25), the Independence Day (July 9), National Flag day (June 20), and the death of the hero José de San Martín (August 17). The May Revolution (in Spanish: Revolución de Mayo) was a series of political and social events in the Nineteenth century city of Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. The Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. José Francisco de San Martín Matorras, also known as José de San Martín ( 25 February 1778 – 17 August 1850) was an Argentine Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli

On Christmas Eve, the extended family gathers around 9 p. m. for dinner, music, and often dancing. Candies are served just before midnight, when fireworks displays begin. The evening also includes opening gifts from Papá Noel (Father Christmas or "Santa Claus"). New Year's Day is marked with fireworks as well. New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though Other holidays include Good Friday and Easter; Labor Day (1 May), and sovereignty Day (former Malvinas Day) (2 April). Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of

Science and technology

Argentina has contributed many distinguished doctors, scientists, and inventors to the world, including three Nobel Prize laureates in sciences. The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature

Argentines have been responsible for major breakthroughs in world medicine. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the Domingo Liotta designed and developed the first artificial heart successfully implanted in a human being in 1969. Domingo Santo Liotta ( 29 November 1924 – is a pioneer of Heart surgery, creator of multiple cardiac prostheses including the first total Artificial An artificial heart is a prosthetic device that is implanted into the body to replace the biological Heart. René Favaloro developed the techniques and performed the world's first ever coronary bypass surgery, and Francisco de Pedro invented a more reliable artificial cardiac pacemaker. Dr René Gerónimo Favaloro ( July 12, 1923 – July 29, 2000) was an Argentine Cardiac surgeon who created the technique The contractions of the Heart are controlled by chemical impulses which fire at a rate which controls the beat of the heart Medicine's Nobel laureate Bernardo Houssay, the first Latin American awarded with a Nobel Prize, discovered the role of pituitary hormones in regulating glucose in animals; Medicine's Nobel laureate César Milstein did extensive research in antibodies; and Chemistry's Nobel laureate Luis Leloir discovered how organisms store energy converting glucose into glycogen, and the compounds which are fundamental in metabolizing carbohydrates. This is a list of Nobel Prize Laureates awarded for their outstanding contributions to Humanitarian causes for Peace, work in Literature Bernardo Alberto Houssay ( April 10, 1887 &ndash September 21, 1971) was an Argentine Physiologist who in 1947 with The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature The pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an Endocrine gland about the size of a Pea. Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. This is a list of Nobel Prize Laureates awarded for their outstanding contributions to Humanitarian causes for Peace, work in Literature César Milstein ( October 8 1927 &ndash March 24 2002) was an Argentine Biochemist in the field of Antibody Antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins, abbreviated Ig) are Gamma globulin Proteins that are found in Blood or other Bodily This is a list of Nobel Prize Laureates awarded for their outstanding contributions to Humanitarian causes for Peace, work in Literature Luis Federico Leloir ( September 6, 1906 – December 2, 1987) was an Argentine doctor and biochemist who Glycogen is a Polysaccharide of Glucose (Glc which functions as the secondary short term energy storage in Animal cells Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Luis Agote performed one of the first two blood transfusions with pre-stored blood in history. Luis Agote ( September 22, 1868 &ndash November 12, 1954) was an Argentinian Physician and researcher Blood transfusion is the process of transferring Blood or blood-based products from one person into the Circulatory system of another Enrique Finochietto designed operating table tools such as the surgical scissors that bear his name ("Finochietto scissors"), and a rib-spreader. ^[83] Roberto Zaldívar is a pioneer in laser-eye procedures and research. Roberto Zaldívar, MD is an Argentine doctor who is one of the foremost Ophthalmologists and refracting surgeons in the world Argentine research has led to advancement in wound-healing therapies, heart disease, and in several forms of cancer. Heart disease is an Umbrella term for a variety for different diseases affecting the Heart. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled

Argentina's nuclear program is highly advanced. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions Argentina developed its nuclear program without being overly dependent on foreign technology. Nuclear facilities with Argentine technology have been built in Peru, Algeria, Australia, and Egypt. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Algeria ( ar [[Arabic]] الجزائر, Al Jaza'ir ælʤæˈzæːʔir Amazigh: ⴷⵥⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer) officially the People's For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. In 1983, the country admitted having the capability of producing weapon-grade uranium, a major step to assemble nuclear weapons. Uranium (jʊˈreɪniəm is a silvery-gray Metallic Chemical element in the A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Since then Argentina has pledged to use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. ^[84]

In other areas, Juan Vucetich, a Croatian immigrant, was the father of modern fingerprinting (dactiloscopy). Juan Vucetich ( July 20, 1858 &ndash January 25, 1925) was a Croatian born Argentine Anthropologist and ^[85] (see fingerprint), Raúl Pateras de Pescara demonstrated the world's first flight of a helicopter, Hungarian-Argentine László Bíró mass-produced the first modern ball point pens, and Eduardo Taurozzi developed the more efficient pendular combustion engine. A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger Raúl Pateras Pescara de Castelluccio (born in Buenos Aires in 1890 and died in Paris in 1966 Marquis of Pateras-Pescara was an Argentine History Since 400 AD Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys. László József Bíró (Bíró László József ( September 29, 1899 &ndash November 24, 1985) was the Inventor of the modern A ballpoint pen ( Hungarian: golyóstoll also Eponymously known in British English and Australian English as a biro and ˈbaɪroʊ ^[86] Juan Maldacena, an Argentine-American scientist, is a leading figure in string theory. Juan Martín Maldacena (born September 10, 1968) is a theoretical Physicist born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. String theory is a still-developing scientific approach to Theoretical physics, whose original building blocks are one-dimensional extended objects called strings An Argentine satellite, the PEHUENSAT-1^[87] was successfully launched on January 10, 2007 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Communications and media

Print

The printed media in Argentina is highly developed and independent. There are over two hundred newspapers in the country, influential in their home cities and regions. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. The major national newspapers are from Buenos Aires, including the centrist Clarín, one of the best selling daily in the Spanish speaking world. Clarín is a major Newspaper in Argentina, founded by Roberto Noble on August 28 1945. Other national papers are La Nación (center-right) in the streets since 1870, Página/12 (left), Ámbito Financiero (business conservative), Argentinisches Tageblatt in German, Le Monde Diplomatique in Spanish and French and Crónica (populist). La Nación is an Argentine daily Newspaper. It is on the right of the political spectrum with the centrist Clarín being its main Página/12 a left-wing newspaper based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, founded on May 25, 1987 by journalist Jorge Lanata Ámbito Financiero is an Argentine Newspaper founded on December 9 1976 by Economist Julio A Argentinisches Tageblatt (lit 'Argentine Daily' is a Weekly newspaper published every Saturday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Crónica is a newspaper from Buenos Aires city in Argentina. It's known as a Yellow press tabloid with three editions morning evening and night Regional papers of importance include La Capital (Rosario), Los Andes (Mendoza), La Voz del Interior (Córdoba), and El Tribuno (Salta). La Capital is a daily Spanish-language Newspaper edited and published in Rosario, province of Santa Fe, Argentina Los Andes is an Argentine daily Newspaper published in the city of Mendoza. Mendoza (men'dōzə is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. La Voz del Interior is a daily Spanish language Newspaper edited and published in Córdoba, capital of the province of Córdoba Córdoba, abbreviated as CBA, is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains on the El Tribuno is an Argentine Newspaper and Media group from Salta Province. For the village in Bangladesh see Salta Bangladesh. Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the Salta The Buenos Aires Herald is a well-respected English language daily. The Buenos Aires Herald is an English language daily Newspaper from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Argentine publishing industry is together with those in Spain and Mexico the most important in the Spanish-speaking world. Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Argentina features the largest bookstore chains in Latin America, the El Ateneo and Yenny bookstores; numerous well-stocked independent stores abound. El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the most well-known bookshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A number carry titles in English and other languages. There are hundreds of magazine publications covering a plethora of issues and hobbies, which are sold in kiosks on city sidewalks and in bookstores. Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally

Radio and television

Argentina was a pioneering nation in radio broadcasting. At 9 pm on August 27, 1920, Sociedad Radio Argentina announced: "We now bring to your homes a live performance of Richard Wagner's Parsifal opera from the Coliseo Theater in downtown Buenos Aires"; only about twenty homes in the city had a receiver to tune in. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar Parsifal is an Opera, or Music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner. The world's first radio station was the only one in the country until 1922, when Radio Cultura went on the air. By 1925, there were twelve stations in Buenos Aires and ten in other cities. The 1930s were the "golden age" of radio in Argentina, with live variety, news, soap opera, and sport shows. ^[88]

At present there are more than 1,500 radio stations licensed in Argentina; 260 are AM broadcasting and 1150 FM broadcasting. See also Frequency modulation, FM band FM broadcasting is a broadcast Technology invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong that Radio remains an important medium in Argentina. Music and youth variety programs dominate FM formats; news, debate, and sports are AM radio's primary broadcasts. Amateur radio is widespread in the country. Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a Hobby and a service in which participants called "hams" use various types of Radio communications Radio still serves a vital service of information, entertainment and even life saving in the most remote communities.

The Argentine television industry is large and diverse, widely viewed in Latin America, and its productions seen around the world. Many local programs are broadcast by networks in other countries, and others have their rights purchased by foreign producers for adaptations in their own markets. Argentina has five major networks. All provincial capitals and other large cities have at least one local station. Argentina boasts the highest penetration of cable and satellite television in Latin America, similar to percentages in North America. ^[89] Many cable networks operate from Argentina and serve the Spanish-speaking world, including Utilísima Satelital, TyC Sports, Fox Sports en Español (with the United States and México), MTV Argentina, Cosmopolitan TV, and the news network Todo Noticias. Torneos y Competencias ( TyC) is an Argentine sports communications firm created by Paraguayan businessman Carlos Ávila Fox Sports en Español (FSE is a Cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day in Spanish

International rankings

Organization	Survey	Ranking
Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal	Index of Economic Freedom	107 out of 157
The Economist	Worldwide Quality-of-life Index, 2005	40 out of 111
Reporters Without Borders	Worldwide Press Freedom Index	76 out of 167
Transparency International	Corruption Perceptions Index	105 out of 163
United Nations Development Programme	Human Development Index	38 out of 177

See also

• Southern Cone
• Buenos Aires

References

Bibliography

• (Spanish) Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina
• (Spanish) Presidency of Argentina
• (Spanish) Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto (official website of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship)
• The Special Relationship between Argentina and Brazil
• (Spanish) Historia de las Relaciones Exteriores Argentinas. History of Argentine foreign relations.

External links

• Official website
• Government of Argentina (Spanish)
• Business News and Analysis in English
• The President of Argentina
• Wikimedia Atlas of Argentina
• Argentina travel guide from Wikitravel
• Argentina at the Open Directory Project

Country Data

• Argentina entry at The World Factbook
• World Bank's country data profile for Argentina. Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory
• World Intellectual Property Handbook: Argentina

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