Argentina Facts
About Argentina FactsThe second largest country in South America, Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations. Argentina's continental area lies between the Andes Mountains in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It borders Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. A founding member of the United Nations, Mercosur and the Union of South American Nations, Argentina is also one of the G-20 major economies.
Argentina, meaning the “land of silver”, is a country that has abundant natural resources, an educated population, an export-oriented agricultural sector and a relatively diversified industrial base.
Argentina is highly urbanized. The ten largest metropolitan areas account for half of the total population in Argentina. About 3 million people live in the city of Buenos Aires. The Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area boasts a population of around 13 million people, making it one of the largest urban areas in the world.
The Constitution of Argentina guarantees freedom of religion but it also requires the government to provide economic support to the Roman Catholic Church.
Argentines are fun loving people. Tango, a dance form which originated in Argentina and embodies Argentinean ethos, has taken the world by storm and is loved by people across countries. The Tango Festival is held in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.
Argentines also love sports. Although a variety of sports are played in Argentina, soccer occupies a special place in the hearts of Argentines. It is a part of the country’s culture. The Argentina national football team has won the FIFA World Cup twice in 1978 and 1986 and successive Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008. They have also won the Copa América a whooping fourteen times, the Confederations Cup once and the Youth World Championship six times. Argentina's most famed national football idol is Diego Maradona.
Argentina Facts at a glance:
There are four major regions:
1)The fertile central plains of the Pampas (This area is the source of Argentina's agricultural wealth)
2)The flat to rolling, oil-rich southern plateau of Patagonia including Tierra del Fuego
3)The subtropical northern flats of the Gran Chaco
4)The rugged Andes Mountains on the west along the border with Chile
