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Culture,
History, Current Affairs. |
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Location, Area and Borders: |
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In
the southernmost end of the American Continent,
the territory of Argentina comprises almost
3.8 million square kilometers: 2.8 million
on the mainland –with approximately
54% plains (grasslands and savannahs), 23%
plateaus and 23% hills and mountains- and
the remaining one million sq km in the Antarctic
sector. The Argentine territory stretches
3,800 kilometers from 22º to 55º
latitude South. Argentina has a 9,376 km long
perimeter, bordering Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay,
Bolivia and Chile, and a 4,725 km long seafront
on the Atlantic Ocean.
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The
main feature of the Argentine geography is
the enormous contrast between the immense
plains in the east and the magnificent Andean
range in the west, including the highest peak
in the Western Hemisphere: the Aconcagua,
which is 6,959 meters (22,831 feet) high.
From Jujuy all the way down to Tierra del
Fuego, the Andean range displays an amazing
variety of landscapes: from the high plateau
or altiplano in the northwest – with
its desert-like landscape dotted with valleys,
ravines and colorful hills- to the lakes,
forests and glaciers of Patagonia in the south.
In the north, the Chaco is a region of thick
forests associated with rivers Bermejo, Salado
and Pilcomayo. Surrounded by the Parana and
Uruguay rivers, the Argentine Mesopotamia
in the northeast, comprising the provinces
of Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones, features
gentle slopes, lagoons and marshlands that
mark the old courses of once mighty rivers.
In certain locations in the midst of the subtropical
jungle, there are ruptures that cause spectacular
phenomena, like the Iguazu falls.
In the center of Argentina, the Pampas are
the most extensive and well-known plains.
With an intensive agricultural and cattle-raising
activity, this region encompasses the province
of Buenos Aires, the northeast of La Pampa
and the south of Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces.
The landscape is disrupted by the hills of
Tandil and Ventana to the south, and by the
Cordoba hills to the west. In the south, from
the Andes all the way eastwards to the sea,
the sterile and stony plateaus of Patagonia
are hit by wind almost all year round. The
Atlantic shoreline, bordered with high cliffs,
has a winding outline where Vales Peninsula
stands out with its awesome settlements of
sea animals. |
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| Argentina
has a wide climatic variety. The climate is
temperate and humid in the Pampa plains, cold
and humid in western Patagonia, subtropical
in the northern area of Mesopotamia, and warm
in the Northwest. From November to March,
average temperature is 23ºC (73ºF),
and from June to September, 12ºC (53ºF). |
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Population: |
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Argentina
has more than 36 million inhabitants. Almost
half of the country’s population is
concentrated in a true megalopolis, Buenos
Aires City, and its outskirts, known as the
Greater Buenos Aires area.
Population density is 13 inhabitants per square
kilometer.
Argentina’s population has a great ethnic
wealth. The country is a true melting pot,
as a result of the crossbreeding of the natives
with the various European migratory currents.
At present, the original ethnic groups - mapuches,
collas, tobas, matacos, chiriguanos and others-
account for only 0.5% of the Argentine population. |
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Language: |
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| The
official language of Argentina is Spanish.
Enriched by an array of accents and colloquialisms,
the language of Argentina has a personality
of its own. |
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| The
official religion of Argentina is Roman Catholic,
but there is full freedom of religion: Protestantism,
Judaism, Islam and the Greek Orthodox, Russian
Orthodox and other religions are practiced.
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Currency: |
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official currency is the Argentine Peso. There
are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 peso bills, and
1 peso and 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins. |
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The
national territory is divided into 23 provinces
and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. According
to the National Constitution, the country
has a representative, republican and federal
form of government. The Executive branch consists
of a President and a Vice President, who are
elected for four-year terms, and can be reelected
for one consecutive term. The Legislative
branch comprises two houses: the Senate, made
up by three senators per province and three
from Buenos Aires City, and the House of Representatives,
made up by representatives selected in a direct
manner proportionately to the number of inhabitants
in each constituency. The President, the Vice
President, the head of Buenos Aires City government,
the governors of the provinces and the members
of legislative bodies are elected by secret
ballot. All citizens of both genders who are
older than 18 have an obligation to vote.
The Judiciary is exercised by the Supreme
Court of Justice and lower courts.
Each province and the city of Buenos Aires,
by virtue of the principles, declarations
and guarantees set forth in the National Constitution,
and in accordance with the federal system
of representation, adopts its own constitution
to regulate the acts of government.
The current National Constitution was adopted
in 1853, and was reformed in 1860, 1898, 1957
and 1994. Based on the latest reform, the
President can be reelected for an additional
consecutive period. |
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Links: |
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