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Monday, May 10, 2010

Argentina


One of the southernmost countries in the world, ARGENTINA is located in the southern region of South America. Argentina's bordering countries are Bolivia to the north and northwest, Brazil to the northeast, Chile to the west, Paraguay to the north, and Uruguay to the east. Argentina also borders the South Atlantic Ocean. Argentina's currency is the Argentinean Peso, and its ISO 4217 currency code is ARS.

 People and Places    According to Encyclopædia Britannica, Argentina's population in the year 2020 is about 43,377,000 and is ranked 30th among populations of the whole world’s countries, dependencies, and territories. Argentina's capital is Buenos Aires ("good air"), which is located west of the Río de la Plata ("river of silver") and the Atlantic Ocean. Buenos Aires is also located southwest of Uruguay. As of 2015, 3 million residents live in Buenos Aires. Other major cities throughout Argentina include Córdoba, La Plata, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, Tucumán, and Ushuaia. A majority of Argentinians — anywhere from 60% to 97%, depending on the information source and definition — have ancestral heritage of European and non-European Caucasian people. At least 10% of residents are of partial or whole indigenous ancestral descent. Native indigenous groups in Argentina include the Aymara, Guaraní, Mapuche (Mapudungu), Quechua, Qulla, and Wichí people. Over 95% of Argentinians speak Spanish (official language), about 1% can speak German, and other residents speak indigenous languages. 92% of religious Argentinians are Roman Catholic, followed by Islam at about 2% and Judaism at 1.3%.

Post Link: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Argentina

 Land and Water Features    Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, the triangular Tierra del Fuego archipelago's largest island. Tierra del Fuego translates to "land of fire," named by Ferdinand Magellan when he discovered smoke rising from campfires built by native islanders. The island's western section belongs to Chile. East of this island is Isla de los Estados, which forms the archipelago's eastern extent. Other islands in this archipelago — including Isla Clarence, Isla Dawson, Isla Gordon, Isla Hoste, and Isla Navarino — belong to Chile. With a total length of about 4,880 kilometers and 3,032 miles, Paraná River is South America's second-longest river and the longest river flowing through Argentina. Other rivers include Chico, Colorado, and Uruguay.

Standing near the Argentina-Chile border in Mendoza Province, Argentina's highest point is Mount Aconcagua (Cerro Aconcagua). Aconcagua stands about 6,960 meters and over 22,830 feet in elevation within the Southern Andes mountains. Other mountains — some of which are also volcanoes — which straddle the country's western border include Cerro Bonete, Llullaillaco (also a historically active volcano), Cerro Mercedario, Monte Pissis (also an extinct volcano), Ojos del Salado (also a stratovolcano), and Volcán Tupungato (also a stratovolcano).


Rounded flag of Argentina

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