Argentina
General Info
Total land area:
2,766,890 square km;
about 3/10 the size of
the United States
Climate: mostly
temperate; arid in the
southeast and
subarctic in the
southwest
General Info (cont.)
Terrain: north- rich plains of the Pampas; south- flat
or rolling plateau of Patagonia; western borderAndes Mountains
Natural Resources: fertile land in the Pampas, lead,
zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum,
uranium
Environmental Issues: deforestation, soil
degradation, desertification, & air and water
pollution. (Voluntarily cutting greenhouse gas
emissions)
General Info (cont.)
Geography: 2nd largest country in South America;
good location in relation to sea lanes; landscape
ranges from tropical climate (north) to tundra (south);
Cerra Aconcagua- highest peak in W. Hemisphere &
Laguna del Carbon- lowest point in W. Hemisphere
Population: 40.482 million
Population Growth Rate: 1.068%
General Info (cont.)
Ethnic Groups: white- 97%; mestizo, Amerindian, &
other non-white groups-3%
Religions: Roman Catholic- 92%; Protestant- 2%;
Jewish- 2%; other- 4%
Languages: Spanish, Italian, English, German, &
French
Literacy: 97.2%
General Info (cont.)
Government type: Republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Economy: Once one of the most wealthy countries in
the world, the 20th century brought financial crises,
inflation, debt, and political conflicts. In 2002, 60% of
the population was below the poverty line. GDP is
recovering, but inflation continues to increase.
GDP: $526.4 billion
General Info (cont.)
GDP per capita: $13,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 23.4%
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles,
consumer durables, textiles, chemicals &
petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, and steel
Exports: $55.78 billion f.o.b.
General Info (cont.)
Exports- commodities: soybeans and derivatives,
petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, and wheat
Export Partners: Brazil- 17.1%, China- 9.7%, US7.4%, Chile-6.7%, Spain- 4.1%
Imports: $42.53 billion f.o.b.
Imports-commodities: machinery, motor vehicles,
petroleum & natural gas, organic chemicals, &
plastics
General Info (cont.)
Import Partners: Brazil- 32.5%, US- 14.2%, China8.7%, Germany- 5.7%
Transnational Issues: Conflicts with the UK, Chile,
Brazil, and Uruguay over various territories; illegal
practices at the Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay border;
environmental dispute with Uruguay over pulp mills;
human and drug trafficking
Plaza San Martìn
A beautiful plaza
dedicated to ‘the
George Washington of
Argentina’
A statue dedicated to
Argentine
independence hero
Josè de San Martìn
stands in the center of
the plaza
La Casa Rosada &
the Plaza de Mayo
The “Pink House” is
the residence of
Argentina’s current
president. The plaza is
the site of many
events including
parades and
demonstrations like
those of the Mothers
of the Plaza de Mayo.
Rio de la Plata
Argentina’s “River of
Silver”
An estuary formed by
the Paranà & Uruguay
rivers flowing to the
Atlantic Ocean
Buenos Aires, found
on the Rio de la Plata,
is S. America’s largest
port.
Cerra Aconcagua
A peak in the Andes
Mountains in western
Argentina
It is the highest
mountain in the
Western Hemisphere
at 22,834 feet above
sea level.
Laguna del Carbon
A depression 6,960
meters below sea
level found in
southeastern
Argentina
The lowest point in the
Western Hemisphere
Misiones & Jesuit Ruins
The ruins of Jesuit
missions in Argentina
Jesuit missionaries
came to convert the
‘heathen’ natives.
Iguazù Falls
Brazil and Argentina
share this
extraordinary cascade
A beautiful waterfall
bigger even than
Niagara Falls
Perito Moreno
A 50 meter glacier
floating in a lake near
the mountains
Tierra del Fuego
National Park
A nature reserve with
many magnificent
paths past glaciers
and interesting
plantlife
Winds in the park are
so strong that bushes,
trees, etc. are bent at
a 45º angle
Falkland Islands
A beautiful landscape
with valleys and hills
reminiscent of
Scotland
Disputed land:
Controlled by UK;
Claimed by Argentina
Bibliography
Central Intelligence Agency. “CIA-The World
Factbook--Argentina” Available from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/print/ar.html. Internet; accessed 26
November 2008.
Blashfield, Jean F. Argentina:Enchantment of the
World. New York: Scholastic, 2007.
Bell, Brian South America.New York: APA
Publications/Discovery Channel, 2002.