Map Analysis
By Luciano Ramirez
Population
• Argentina contains 41.34 million people.
• 90 percent of the population live in urban areas.
• Buenos Aires is one of the most populated cities in the world,
with almost 13 million in its metropolitan area.
• 97 percent of European stock, included those of Italian,
Spanish, Welsh, English, French, and Russian descent.
• Mestizos, indigenous peoples, and other groups make up the
rest.
A Map of Argentine Population Density
• The map to the right shows
Argentina’s population density in
relation to its provinces.
• The black circles vary in size to
show the provincial populations in
relation to one another.
A Map of Argentine Population Density (continued)
• This map is a
geographically accurate
map of Argentina’s
population density.
• Buenos Aires, Rosario, and
Córdoba are shown, which
are the three largest cities
in Argentina.
• Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay,
and parts of Bolivia and
Brazil are also shown on
this map.
Physical Features
• Argentina’s land area is 1,072,157 sq. mi.
• It stretches from the Gran Chaco to Tierra Del Fuego
• To the northeast lies the Río Del Plata, as well as the Paraná
and Uruguay rivers.
• The Uruguay River and the Río Del Plata separate Argentina
from Uruguay and Brazil.
• The Picomayo and Paraguay rivers separate Argentina and
Paraguay.
• The Andes Mountains line the border between Argentina and
Chile.
• The Gran Chaco and part of the Andes mountain chain form
the border between Argentina and Bolivia.
Physical Features (continued)
• Mt. Aconcagua, located in the Andes, is 22,835 ft. high,
and is Argentina’s tallest peak, as well the tallest in all
of S. America.
• In the E. central part of Argentina are the Pampa,
which is a vast grassland.
• To the east lies the southern Atlantic Ocean.
• In the Atlantic, Argentina has notoriously claimed
Falkland, South Georgia, South Sandwich, and South
Orkney Islands, all of which are British dependencies.
• Argentina also claims a sizable chunk of Antarctica,
which lies directly south of the country.
Physical Map of Argentina
• The map to the right not only
presents Argentina’s physical
features, but also its topography.
• In the western part of the map,
the Andes mountains are viewed.
• Major mountain peaks are also
shown.
• In the east, the Paraguay river
basin can be shown, which
includes much of Argentina’s
major river systems.
• In the bottom right-hand corner, a
captioned projection shows the
claims to part of Antarctica, as
well as the southern Atlantic
islands.
Vegetation
• In the Pampa, various kinds of grasses can be found,
because of its dark, rich, and fertile soil. Many crops
are grown there.
• Few kinds of vegetation can be encountered with in the
Andean region of Argentina.
• In the surrounding lands overlooked by the Andes, its
vegetation can range of short grasses to cacti.
• The poor soils of Patagonia in the south, do not for
much botanical variety, and do not favor cultivation.
• In the flat alluvial lands of the Gran Chaco, there are
several types of swampy plants in its marshlands, due
to the lack of drainage of seasonal floods.
Vegetation Map of Argentina
• This map presents
the various biomes
of vegetative
classification.
Among them are the
temperate steppes
of the Pampa, the
alpine tundras and
montane forests of
the Andes, and the
subtropical dry
forests of the Gran
Chaco.
Climatic Regions
• Argentina’s climate can range from subtropical to
an alpine climate of subzero temperatures.
• The NW Andes have an arid climate, which affects
the semiarid lands east of them, due to a rain
shadow imposed by the tall peaks and the
Chilean ranges.
• The lands of the Pampas and those surrounding it
have a very temperate and somewhat humid
climate.
• Patagonia has a cold and dry climate, which is
obvious due to its proximity to the Antarctic.
Climatic Map of Argentina
• This map shows
Argentina’s regions of
climate. As you can see,
the different areas of
climate are distinguished
in different colors.
Orange-red for
subtropical areas, yellow
for temperate, brown for
arid and semiarid, and
blue variations for cold
climates.
Languages and Language Groups
• Spanish is the official language of Argentina, which is
spoken by the vast majority of the population.
• Italian is also spoken by the Italian-Argentine community,
compromises a large chunk of the national ethnic makeup.
• Various Araucanian and Patagonian language are spoken by
the indigenous communities of both Argentina and Chile.
• In the north, a small but established populace speak several
Quechua dialects.
• Guaraní dialects are also spoken in the Argentine lands
surrounding Paraguay, where the Guaraní language is the
official language.
• In the Misiones province, which borders Brazil, a minority
speak Tupí.
Linguistic Map of Argentina
• The map to the right
shows the various
indigenous languages
spoken in both and
only Argentina and
the Republic of Chile.
• Different language
groups are colorcoded on the map.
• Spanish is shown on
the map in white.
Ethnic Groups and Makeup
• 97 percent of complete or partial European stock, included
those of Italian, Spanish (including Basque), German, Swiss,
Welsh, English, French, and Russian descent. These groups
first immigrated in large numbers in the 1880’s, and several
other waves of mass migration to Argentina occurred in the
1930’s and immediately after World War II.
• Mestizos, indigenous peoples (primarily both of Spanish
and Quechua descent), and other groups make up the rest.
• The mestizo community is concentrated in the northwest.
• The Jewish population in Argentina, which compromise 2%
of the national population, is the largest in South America,
and is the fifth largest in the world.
Ethnic Map of Argentina (c. 1880)
• This map shows the various
ethnic groups of Argentina and
neighboring nations in 1880,
for lack of a better ethnic map.
• This map reflects the various
ethnic localities of the modern
era, although the Spanish and
other Latin groups, shown in
beige, have largely uprooted
the predominately indigenous
population of Patagonia, which
was conquered and pacified by
General Julio A. Roca.
Administrative Divisions
• Argentina is composed on 22 provinces, one
federal district (Buenos Aires), and one national
territory (Tierra Del Fuego).
• Its claimed territories and enclaves (the Falklands,
South Georgia, South Sandwich, and South
Orkney Islands, as well as its claim in Antarctica
are not administered by the claimant (the
southern Atlantic islands are ruled by the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Administrative Map of Argentina
• This is a general political
map of Argentina. It
displays provincial
boundaries, provincial
capitals, the national
capital of Buenos Aires,
and major infrastructure
in the form of important
roads and railways. The
Falkland Islands are
shown, but not the rest of
the southern islands
claimed by Argentina.
Political Regions
• Argentina can be divided into five regions: Buenos Aires, Central,
the Great-North, Nuevo Cuyo, and Patagonia.
• Buenos Aires is composed of the province of its namesake, as well
as the Federal District of Buenos Aires.
• The provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos make up the
Central region of Argentina.
• The Great-North is made up of the Catamarca, Salta, Jujuy, Chaco,
Formosa, Tucumán, Santiago Del Estero, Corrientes, and Misiones
provinces.
• Nuevo Cuyo is composed of the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan, San
Luis, and Mendoza.
• Patagonia is made up of the provinces of La Pampa, Neuquén, Río
Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and the lands claimed by Argentina.
Regional Map of Argentina
• This map presents the
five constituent
regions of Argentina
that were described
on the previous page.
Economy
• With $7,550 per capita, Argentina has one of the highest GNP per
capita incomes in South America, and wealth is fairly distributed.
• The industrial sectors have grown in Argentina, which has had a
traditionally agricultural economy.
• Livestock (Argentine herds are among the finest in the world) and
grains have been the source of much of Argentine wealth, thanks
mostly to the fertile and extremely productive soils of the Pampa.
Argentina’s food output rivals that of the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Wheat, corn, flax, oats, beef, mutton, hides, and wool are among its
edible exports. Oilseeds, sorghum, soybeans, and sugar beets are also
grown.
• Mineral deposits in Argentina are mostly of local importance, and do
not serve a major role in total industrial output. Petroleum and natural
gas production has made Argentina energetically self-sufficient.
Pipelines connect the oil and gas fields to refining centers such as
Buenos Aires.
• Low grade coal can be found in Patagonia, and Argentina is also has an
ample amount of hydroelectric resources.
Economy (continued)
• Argentine industry has long been protected by a strong nationalistic
policy, which in turn has made the country economically selfsufficient.
• Food processing is the main manufacturing industry. Textiles,
chemicals, and leather goods are also produced.
• Argentina’s chief imports are machinery, metals, and other
manufactured goods.
• Its chief trading partners are Brazil, Italy, the United States, and
other European Union members.
• Argentina is a member of the Southern Cone Common Market and
MERCOSUR.
• As of the recent decades, the Argentine economy has experienced
periods of instability, inflation, and slow economic growth.
• High unemployment and a large national debt are among the rest
of the economic problems for Argentina.
Economic Map of Argentina
• This map shows the
land use and
economic areas of
Argentina. As you can
see, agriculture and
stock raising are
widely practiced.