Country Information on Argentina 

Terrain

Argentina's terrain can be divided into three main regions: the mountains, the upland areas, and the plains. The western boundaries of the country fall entirely within the Andes, the highest mountain system of the South American continent. The highest mountain is the Aconcagua (6,960 m), which is also the highest mountain in the world outside of central Asia. For considerable stretches, the main ridge of the Andes, which is also the continental divide, demarcates the Argentine-Chilean border. Several parallel ranges and foothills of the Andes project deep into north western Argentina.

The lowland in northern Argentina, averaging around 600 m above sea level, is part of the undulating Gran Chaco plain, one of the great natural landscapes of South America. The Pampas, which are undulating, mainly treeless grassland plains, form the Argentinean agricultural heartland, and extend about 1,600 km south from the Gran Chaco. In Patagonia, south of the Pampas, the terrain consists largely of arid, desolate steppes.

Climate

Temperate climatic conditions prevail throughout most of Argentina, except for a small tropical area in the north-east and the subtropical Gran Chaco in the north. In Buenos Aires the temperature ranges from 17 to 29°C in January and from 6 to 14°C in July. In Mendoza, in the foothills west of the Andes, the average temperatures range from 16 to 32°C in January and from 2 to 15°C in July. Considerably higher temperatures prevail near the Tropic of Capricorn in the north, where extremes as high as 45°C are occasionally recorded. Climatic conditions are generally cool and temperate in the Andes, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego.

Fauna/Flora

The country can be divided into four regions: the Andes to the west, with arid basins, foothills with grapevines, glaciers, and the lake district; the fertile lowland in the north, with subtropical rainforests; the central Pampas, which consist of both damp and arid areas; and Patagonia, consisting of a combination of steppes and glaciers. Twenty-two national parks preserve large areas of these varied environments and protect the mostly unique wildlife, which includes caimans, pumas, guanacos, Andean llamas, condors, flamingos, various marine mammals, and rare seabirds.

History/Politics

Nomadic or farming tribes sparsely populated the area which is now Argentina when Spanish explorers arrived in the early 16th century. Colonization began in 1535 and Spain gradually won control over the area. In 1816, Argentina gained independence from Spain. The year 1826 marked the foundation of the Argentinean nation state in the territories which were formerly the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata. In 1853, a constitution was put in place in Argentina, defining it as a federal republic with a president as head of state. Subsequently, Argentina made great economic and social progress, emerging as one of South America's leading nations.

The world economic crisis of the 1930s affected Argentina badly, however, and unemployment and other difficulties led to social and political unrest. In 1944, Colonel Juan Perón came to power and ruled the country almost uninterrupted until his death in 1974. Under the military dictatorship in Argentina after 1976, thousands of Argentines were murdered or disappeared. Late in 1981, General Leopold Galtieri took office as president. Under Galtieri, Argentina laid claim to the British Falkland Islands and declared war on Great Britain in April 1982. After the Argentinean defeat in June 1982, Galtieri resigned and Raúl Alfonsín of the radical party was democratically elected his sucessor.

In the following years, and especially after 1990, the situation in the country worsened. At the end of 2001 matters came to a head with a serious economic and political crisis forcing president Fernando de la Rúa to step down. There was a sequence of seven heads of state between December 2001 and January 2002. Nestor Kirchner has been president since May 2003.

Economy

Agriculture has always been Argentina's main source of revenue. Argentina is one of the major countries exporting beef, animal skins and wool. In addition, the country exports large quantities of grain, maize, linseed, soy beans and cotton. Major industries comprise food processing and the production of motor vehicles, consumer goods, textiles and chemicals. The printing, iron and steel industries also play an important role in the Argentinean economy. Coal and petroleum production has increased significantly in recent years. In 2003 inflation was at 13.9% and unemployment at 16.2%.

Culture

Argentina has a rich Spanish heritage, which in turn was influenced by other European immigrants, especially Italians, during the 19th century. There is an enormous interest in the country's history, which is above all embodied by the Gauchos, the "cowboys" of the Pampas. France has served as a model for the fine arts. Elements of Indigenous culture can only be found in folk art.

Prominent Argentine writers include Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ernesto Sábato, Manuel Puig and Osvaldo Soriano. Spanish, African and indigenous elements aer found in Argentine music. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Italian opera, palm court music, and symphonic music came to Argentina, which led to the founding of a conservatory in Buenos Aires. The Argentines are proud of their tango, which has its origins in the poor urban districts and brothels of the early 20th century, and which achieved worldwide prominence in the twenties. Today, the dance is a modified version of the original.