Information
Country: ArgentinaContinent: South America
Argentina, South America
Overview
Here’s an in-depth look at Argentina-its geography, history, culture, economy, and more-without diving into individual landmarks.In terms of geography, it stretches from the windswept plains of Patagonia to the subtropical north, making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil and the eighth-largest in the world.It sits in the continent’s southern reaches, with Chile stretching along its western edge, Bolivia and Paraguay pressing in from the north, Brazil curving around to the northeast, and Uruguay and the choppy South Atlantic meeting it on the east; to the south lies the windswept Drake Passage.Northwest (Noroeste): Here you’ll find the towering Andes and the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, where red cliffs catch the evening light.The land stretches dry and spare, with sun-cracked deserts, dusty plains, and jagged, unforgiving hills.The region’s dotted with lush valleys and rows of sunlit vineyards, most famously near Mendoza.In Argentina’s northeast, the Mesopotamia region basks in a warm subtropical climate and spans provinces like Misiones, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos.The region’s known for the thundering Iguazú Falls and the sweeping, reed-filled expanses of the Iberá Wetlands.Pampas (Central Plains): Argentina’s most fertile region stretches out in wide, green fields, the famous Pampas where Buenos Aires sits at its heart.The Pampas fuel Argentina’s cattle ranching and grain harvests, with endless grasslands stretching under a wide, wind-swept sky.Cuyo sits in western Argentina, stretching across Mendoza and San Juan, and it’s famous for producing rich, sun-soaked wines.Snow-dusted peaks of the Andes rise in the distance, framing the whole area like a rugged wall.Patagonia lies in the far south of Argentina, stretching from the wide sweep of the Colorado River all the way down to the continent’s windswept tip.Patagonia, with its jagged peaks, glassy lakes, and sprawling glaciers, is home to few people, yet it draws adventurers to places like Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz.Buenos Aires may be the nation’s capital, but the surrounding province drives much of Argentina’s farming and industry, from golden wheat fields to humming factory floors.Rivers and lakes shape the land here, with the wide, muddy Río Paraná and the swift Río Uruguay marking parts of the country’s border and carrying ships loaded with goods to market.The Río de la Plata, where the muddy Paraná meets the wide, silvery Uruguay, forms an immense estuary that ranks among the largest river systems on Earth.Lake Nahuel Huapi, one of Argentina’s largest, stretches deep blue and cold near San Carlos de Bariloche in Patagonia.Because Argentina stretches so far from north to south, its weather shifts dramatically-from the sticky heat of tropical jungles to mild breezes in temperate plains, dry desert air, and the sharp cold of southern winds.In northern Argentina, the air stays warm and heavy with humidity, the kind that clings to your skin, while far to the south in Patagonia, cold winds sweep across the stark, open plains.The Pampas enjoy a mild climate with clear, changing seasons-warm sun in summer, crisp air in autumn-perfect for growing crops.In the western Andes, the highland climate brings crisp, cool air, and in some places the ground stays parched for months.Before colonial times, Argentina was home to the Mapuche, Guaraní, Quechua, and Puelche-peoples whose languages, traditions, and ways of living were as varied as the landscapes they inhabited.Some Indigenous groups built tightly knit, structured communities, while others roamed the land, following game and the seasons.The Inca Empire reached into the far north, yet most of Argentina-its wide plains and southern valleys-lay beyond their rule.Spain seized control of Argentina in the early 1500s, folding it into the Viceroyalty of Peru before it later shifted under the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, where Spanish galleons once crowded the docks.The Spanish founded settlements such as Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and before long the area grew into a key hub for trade and farming, especially across the wide, grassy Pampas.On July 9, 1816, at the Congress of Tucumán, Argentina broke from Spain and claimed its independence.After that, Argentina was torn by unrest-wars with Brazil and Spain flared, and fierce struggles erupted between centralists and federalists, sometimes spilling into the streets.In 1853, Argentina adopted its Constitution, sealing its place as a federal republic-a decision inked in dusty rooms filled with the smell of fresh parchment.In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Argentina’s economy boomed, driven by thriving agricultural exports-especially beef and golden wheat bound for European markets.During this time, waves of European immigrants-many from Italy and Spain-arrived, leaving their mark on Argentina’s culture, from the café-lined streets to the sound of tango in the air.In the early 1900s, factories multiplied and city streets buzzed with new ideas, as labor unions gained strength and political movements gathered momentum.From 1976 to 1983, Argentina endured a brutal military dictatorship that vanished thousands of people; families clutched fading photographs while human rights abuses spread unchecked.In 1983, the dictatorship fell, and Raúl Alfonsín stepped in to lead the country back to democratic rule, as crowds waved blue-and-white flags in the summer heat.In the 21st century, Argentina has wrestled with economic collapse, soaring prices that doubled in months, and waves of political unrest.In the early 2000s, the country was hit by a debt crisis that rattled its markets, and it’s been working ever since to steady the economy.From 2003 to 2015, under Néstor Kirchner and later his wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina saw its economy bounce back, even as stubborn problems-like soaring prices in neighborhood markets-refused to fade.In 2015, Mauricio Macri took office as president, pushing to open the economy and bring down inflation.Prices for basics like bread had been climbing fast, and he aimed to slow them.In 2019, voters chose Alberto Fernández as president, signaling a turn back toward left-leaning policies-like boosting social programs and subsidies.Spanish is Argentina’s official language, but in Buenos Aires and nearby towns you’ll hear Rioplatense Spanish-a local dialect with a smooth, almost Italian-sounding lilt.People use “vos” instead of “tú” for informal “you,” and they pronounce certain words in a noticeably different way-like softening the “ll” until it sounds almost like “sh.”In Argentina, some Indigenous communities still speak languages like Quechua and Mapudungun, though Spanish fills the streets and markets.In Argentina, roughly 70% of people are Roman Catholic, yet Protestant communities are on the rise, and many others-some lighting no candles at all-identify as agnostic or atheist.For centuries, the Catholic Church shaped Argentine life, from village festivals to national politics, but its influence has faded in recent decades.Music and Dance: Argentina gave the world the tango-a sultry, magnetic blend of music and movement born in Buenos Aires’ gritty working-class streets in the late 1800s.Folklore music-zamba, chacarera, milonga-runs deep in the country’s heritage, echoing in dusty village squares and late-night gatherings.Other favorites include rock nacional, born in the 1960s with jangling electric guitars, and the lively, dance-filled rhythms of cumbia.Argentine cuisine is famous for its beef, especially the smoky, tender cuts served at an asado barbecue.Argentina ranks among the world’s top beef eaters, with sizzling steaks and smoky grills woven into daily life.Empanadas, crispy milanesas, and the smoky choripán-a sausage tucked into crusty bread-are classic dishes in Argentina.Dulce de leche, steaming mate with its grassy aroma, and sweet, crumbly alfajores.
