The name Argentina comes from the latin word “argentum” which means silver. The origin of the name goes back to the voyage made by the first Spanish “conquerors” to the Río de la Plata (Silver River). The shipwrecked survivors of the expedition led by Juan Díaz de Solís discovered Indians in the region who presented them with silver objects. The news about the legendary Sierra del Plata, a mountain rich in silver, reached Spain around 1524. From this date the Portuguese named the river Solís, the Silver River. Two years later the Spanish used the same name. Since 1860 the official name of the country has been the República Argentina (Republic of Argentina).

In this territory you’ll find three main kinds of landscapes: mountains, plains and plateaus. The country is not only home of the highest summit in America (Aconcagua, 6.959 m), but also of the widest river in the world (Río de la Plata, 220 km in its mouth).

Argentina has a mild warm climate, but to the North there is a large subtropical area and to the South the cold climate prevails. Buenos Aires is mainly humid; summers are warm (28 ºC average), and winters are not so cold, with temperatures ranging from 3º to 10º C.

In this country you may enjoy the dense forests of Tucumán and Misiones, the sounds of silence in the Northern altiplano, the water falls from up to 80 meters in the Iguazú Falls, as well as the penetrating uproar of a thaw in the Perito Moreno Glaciar. You may also descry the touching flight of a condor above the impressive Cordillera de los Andes (The Andes Mountain Range), or the courting of the Franca whale in the Valdés Península.

Argentina, a fascinating place to know and enjoy; you will sure want to come back to the country of the six continents.

Geography

Its North-South extension of 3,800 Km and its area of 3,761,274 sq. km, gives Argentina a great variety of climates and landscapes.

The Pampas, one of the three largest fertile plains in the world, cover approximately cover approximately a third of the country’s surface, with a temperate and humid climate.

To the south is Patagonia, an immense and arid plateau bordered on the west by the southern end of the Andes range. This mountain chain changes according to latitude. In the south it is covered with forests, lakes and glaciers, with a cold and damp climate. In the center, we find the Andes, which have the highest peaks in the Americas and the Cuyo region, which is known in the local Indian language as “the desert country” and has become nowadays a fertile productive area.

In the Northwest region, the Andean mountains, the desert plateau of the Puna, the valleys, the gorges, the multicolored hills and the picturesque villages come together to endow the area with vigorous and contrasting physical and cultural features.

In the central region, the Pampa Hills, a feral area of hills, escarpments and waterfalls alternate with valleys and plains with a temperate climate.

The Chaco, in the country’s middle north, is a vast wooded plain with marshes and lakes.

To the northeast, bracketed by the big Paraná and Uruguay rivers, is the region known as Mesopotamia. In the north, it prevails a subtropical climate and jungle areas; and in the south, temperate weather with plains suitable for farming.

Language

Argentina’s national language is Spanish. English, French and Italian are widely understood and spoken.

Govenment

The government is republican, representative and federal, as determined by the Constitution. Politically the country is divided into 23 provinces and the autonomous city (City of Buenos Aires).

Economy

A main feature of Argentina is its farming. Grain and oilseeds are harvested as well as sugarcane, cotton, fruit, “yerba mate” and grapes. Cattle raising is notable for the size of the herds; cows, sheep, horses and pigs are bred.

The country’s main industries are those that are derived from agriculture.

As regards mining, there are deposits of metallic minerals (iron, uranium, lead, tungsten, tin, zinc, gold, copper, silver and manganese), non-metallic minerals (clays, ordinary salt, gypsum) and rocks for applications (sands, limestone, pebbles and grouns granite). As regards fuels, oil, natural gas and coal are produced.

Fisheries are significant: river, lake and maritime fishing, the latter along the country’s Atlantic coastline.

Over the last years, tourism has strengthened as one of the main sources of development of the Argentine economy, generating both employment and investments. Likewise, the increase of the receptive tourism income has positioned this activity on the first place within export items.

Farms

The entire Argentine territory is dotted with farming establishments known as estancias, many of them over 200 years old. Some have farmhouses, called cascos, which are gorgeous English or French style mansions, luxuriously furnished and very comfortable. Others, on the other hand, preserve the old and austere colonial style.

A number of farm owners have opened their establishments to the public, transforming them into small and exclusive top-notch hotels. The estancias offer guests a range of activities that turn their stay into an attractive experience: horse riding, fishing, bird watching, polo, golf, etc. as well as diverse farming activities, such us cattle roundups, milking, cattle branding, sheep marking and shearing, or watching gauchos breaking horses or displaying their riding abilities, as well as enjoying their guitar playing and folklore dances.

Religion

The official religion is Roman Catholic, although there is complete freedom of worship for Protestants, Jews, Moslems, Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox.

Transportation

The country has a modern air, maritime, river, terrestrial and urban transportation system.

Buses travel to all destinations in the country with very comfortable units (air-conditioning, color TV and toilets).

Airports have ground connection services with urban centers: buses, taxis, and chauffeured hired cars (remises).

In addition to local firms, the main international car rental companies have offices in the country’s main cities and airports.

World Heritage Sites

Since 1981, UNESCO has distinguished Argentina by designating as World Heritage a number of sites of natural and cultural relevance located in its territory.

Natural Heritage:

• Los Glaciares National Park (Province of Santa Cruz), 1981.
• Iguazú National Park (Province of Misiones), 1984.
• Valdés Península (Province of Chubut), 1999.
• Ischigualasto - Talampaya Parks (Provinces of San Juan and La Rioja), 2000.

Cultural Heritage:

• Jesuit Missions of Guaraní Indians (Province of Misiones), 1983-1984.
• Cave of the Hands, at the Upper Pinturas River (Province of Santa Cruz), 1999.
• Jesuit Ranches and City Block (Province of Córdoba), 2000.
• These places are visited by Argentine and foreign researchers and tourists attracted by their exceptional beauty.

Argentina's Tourism Website

For more information you can visit: www.turismo.gov.ar