Some characteristics of Argentina are its size, its great diversity and its complex culture, among other peculiarities. Its official name is the Argentine Republic and it is located in southern America. Its political organization is that of a representative and federal republic, commanded by a sovereign state..
Argentina is divided into 24 districts, 23 provinces plus the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which is also the capital of the country and where the federal government is located. It is estimated that it has 40 million inhabitants, according to the last census, who are little dispersed and mostly concentrated in urban centers.
Despite the fact that its Gross Domestic Product is one of the highest in the world, Argentina has a high degree of social inequality. In 2010, the country was classified as an upper-middle-income nation by the World Bank..
It has an area of 2,780,400 km², is the largest Spanish-speaking country on planet Earth, the second largest in Latin America (behind Brazil) and the fourth in the American continent. In the world ranking it is ranked number 8.
If other territories where it has sovereignty are added, such as the Falkland Islands, whose sovereignty remains in conflict with England, the total area is 3,761,274 km².
It limits to the north with Bolivia and Paraguay, to the northeast with Brazil, to the east with Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and west with Chile. Its flag is made up of two horizontal light blue stripes, with a white one between them and a sun in the center..
The official language of Argentina is Spanish. It is spoken by most of the population, although some also speak Italian and the native languages of the aboriginal peoples of America survive..
92% of Argentines profess the Catholic religion, so it can be said that Argentina is a Catholic country, although religions such as Judaism, Protestant religions, and other Christian and non-Christian religions are also practiced..
The currency of this country is the Argentine peso. However, traditionally the monetary system was based on the "gold peso".
As already mentioned, the Republic of Argentina is located in South America. To the north, it limits with Bolivia and Paraguay; in the east, with Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean; in the south with the Atlantic Ocean and Chile and in the west with Chile.
On the other hand, the country claims the territory that includes the Falkland Islands and another area of islands in the South Atlantic, which are part of Antarctica..
The main cities of Argentina are the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Plata, Mar del Plata, San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza.
These cities concentrate a large part of the population in a country, whose length is approximately 3,330 kilometers, with a width of up to 1,384 km from west to east, which unites the Andes Mountains with the Atlantic Ocean..
The country stands out for its geographic diversity. With a diverse territory of mountains, highlands and plateaus, the Andes stand out, the largest mountain system on the continent, whose elevations exceed 3,600 meters.
Its highest peak is the famous Aconcagua, located in the province of Mendoza, with about 6,960 meters high. This summit is the most in South America. In the south of the country, known as Patagonia, the terrain is arid, wide and desolate.
The climate in Argentina is mostly temperate. However, to the north you can also find a tropical climate.
In Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, the average climate is about 17 ° to 29 ° C and the minimums range from 6 ° to 14 ° C. The level of rainfall is very varied, depending on each region.
Argentina is known for the richness of the Pampas. These are excellent areas for pasture and the cultivation of grains and cereals..
It also has great mineral resources, oil deposits and natural gas. There are also deposits of cobalt, iron, gold, silver, zinc and mica, among others..
The vegetation in Argentina is also incredibly varied. The reason is the various climatic conditions and topography.
Regarding the flora, you can find numerous varieties of trees, such as eucalyptus, sycamore and acacia. On the other hand, cacti and other desert trees predominate in arid regions..
The fauna is equally diverse and abundant. In the north, there are several species of monkeys, jaguars, pumas, ocelots and others. Among the birds, there are flamingos and hummingbirds.
In the Pampas there are foxes and armadillos, among other animals. The cold Andean regions are the habitat of llamas, condors and other native species. Fish abound in lake areas and seashores.
In Argentina, the vast majority of the population are descendants of European immigrants and mestizos are a minority, unlike other Latin American countries.
The descendants originally come from Spain and Italy, for the most part, and secondly from France, England, Russia, Germany, Russia, Poland and Syria.
Education plays an important role in Argentina. Currently, it has 25 national and private universities. Primary and secondary education are free and compulsory. There are an estimated one million students.
If we talk about music, in Argentina the traditional sound is related to gaucho songs and dances, although music from the north of the country has great influence, which came from Europe and African music.
Tango, for its part, was born in Buenos Aires and today it is known throughout the world for its particular sound and characteristic dance. Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzola were two of the most important figures in tango.
Some of the most prominent Argentine authors are: José Hernández, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Ricardo Güiraldes, Julio Cortázar, Manuel Puig, Ernesto Sábato, Eduardo Mallea and Jorge Luis Borges.
Among the most important painters, Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós, Benito Quintela Martín, Emilio Pettoruti and Raúl Soldi stand out..
Argentina has good public health indices if the data from the region are taken into account. The free health program has been in operation since 1944.
It is currently guaranteed by various organizations and some free hospitals and clinics. Access to medical facilities in rural localities is also ensured..
The Argentine government is affirmed in the Constitution adopted in 1853, with several reforms, the last one in 1994. It is a federal republic, managed by a president assisted by the Council of Ministers..
The National Congress is made up of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, which represent the legislative power. The judiciary, complete the trident of government.
According to the World Tourism Organization, Argentina is the most visited tourist destination in South America, with 5.9 million tourists a year.
The country offers its visitors an immense territory, a variety of climates, natural wonders, a rich culture and internationally famous gastronomy. In addition, it has a high degree of development, good quality of life, and an infrastructure prepared for tourism..
In terms of climate, the country presents a great variety. The weather can be temperate, dry, warm humid, cold dry, cold humid, semi-arid, steppe, subantarctic, subtropical, level and mountain cold. You can also see a great diversity of microclimates.
The vast majority of tourists come from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, Paraguay, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
The rivers of Argentina are numerous and extensive. Three systems stand out: rivers of the Atlantic slope, rivers of the Pacific slope and closed basins.
Among the rivers of the Atlantic slope are the rivers that belong to the Plata basin, the most important in the country and which is the drainage of the rivers of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.
In addition, it receives the rivers of the Puna, the sub-Andean system, the Pampas mountains, the Pampa, the Chaco and Mesopotamia..
Among the main rivers in this system are the Paraná, Uruguay, Paraguay, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Salado, Carcarañá and Iguazú, with great hydroelectric potential.
In the famous Río de la Plata, which is born at the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay, the waters of the former meet.
For its part, the Patagonian system is made up of rivers that originate in the Andes and run in "cajones" through narrow valleys. The main ones are the Río Negro, the Limay, the Chubut and the Santa Cruz.
As for the rivers on the Pacific slope, most are unimportant, short and unnavigable, and flow into the Pacific. The main utility of these rivers is their energy potential.
Finally, among the closed basins, the Desaguadero and the Pampeanas mountains stand out. There is also a third basin: that of the rivers of the Puna de Atacana.
Argentina stands out economically for its agriculture, although the cultivated land does not represent more than 12% of the territory. The rest is made up of forests and weeds, unproductive land, mountains, swamps and lagoons..
In the province of Buenos Aires what is called “intensive agriculture” takes place, which is the crop-livestock association, and whose modern and intensive practices require the proximity of a large city.
Further away from the cities, you can find huge areas dedicated to the cultivation of wheat..
On the other hand, there is the type of traditional livestock, which is dedicated to cattle or sheep, depending on the region. Another type of livestock and agriculture is characterized by its location in hot and humid regions, or relatively humid.
There, natural resources are taken advantage of, especially quebracho and yerba mate, thanks to which a popular infusion that is taken in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is prepared: mate. In these lands cattle ranching and cotton cultivation are also practiced.
Finally, the dry sub-Andean regions are characterized by small areas where irrigation is harvested. Viticulture, vegetables, legumes, olive groves and even alfalfa predominate there..
Agricultural products are almost exclusively related to wheat, the most important production in Argentina. Half of what is produced is destined for domestic consumption, the rest is sold to other countries, especially China.
Rice, fruits, sugar cane, and a long etcetera feed the inhabitants of Argentina. For its part, Argentine wines are imposed in the world as one of the best and at really cheap prices when compared to Europeans. Argentine wines compete with Chileans, but are vastly superior to those of Brazil.
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