Perito Moreno Glacier , in Los Glaciares National Park , southern Argentina
Photo: Luca Galuzzi ( Lucag ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Aerial view of Valle Carbajal ( terminus ) in the Southern Andes , Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina (Fuegian Andes within a 12 miles radius of Ushuaia )
Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The Llao Llao Peninsula, between the Moreno and Nahuel Huapi Lakes in Patagonia, Argentina.
Photo: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Did you know?
The earliest recorded human presence in modern-day Argentina dates back to the Paleolithic period. The Inca Empire expanded to the northwest of the country in pre-Columbian times. The modern country has its roots in Spanish colonisation of the region during the 16th century. Argentina rose as the successor state of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a Spanish overseas viceroyalty founded in 1776.
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Calchaquí Valleys, Argentina
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Basilica Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Recoleta (Buenos Aires)
Photo: Butterfly austral, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Etymology
The description of the region by the word Argentina has been found on a Venetian map in 1536. The name Argentina derives from the Latin word argentum, meaning "silver". Early 16th century explorers around the Río de la Plata became aware of the abundance of silver in the region.
The name Argentina was probably first given by the Venetian and Genoese navigators, such as Giovanni Caboto.
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South American Sea Lion pups in a colony in Patagonia. When they are born they are black (or dark brown) and they molt to a mid-brown colour.
Photo: Killy Ridols, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Balneario Alfonsina, La Perla, Mar del Plata, Argentina
Photo: Ezarate, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Wreck of HMS Justice W140, known as "St. Christopher" in Ushuaia, Argentina.
Photo: Gabriel Resende Veiga, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
History
Evidence suggests that humans inhabited parts of what is now Argentina as early as 21,000 years ago. In 2015, fossilised bones of a large, extinct armoured mammal called Neosclerocalyptus were unearthed near Buenos Aires. These bones bore cut marks indicative of butchering with stone tools, implying human activity during the Last Glacial Maximum. Further south, the Piedra Museo site in Santa Cruz Province has yielded human remains and artifacts dating back approximately 11,000 years.
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Onelli Bay, Los Glaciares national park, Patagonia, Argentina.
Photo: Luca Galuzzi ( Lucag ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Aconcagua Provincial Park, Argentina
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Geography
With a mainland surface area of 2,780,400 km2 (1,073,518 sq mi), Argentina is located in southern South America, sharing land borders with Chile across the Andes to the west; Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east; and the Drake Passage to the south; for an overall land border length of 9,376 km (5,826 mi). Its coastal border over the Río de la Plata and South Atlantic Ocean is 5,117 km (3,180 mi) long.
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A Cyttaria hariotii fruiting body.
Photo: Butterfly austral, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Fishing vessels in dock of fishing, port of Mar del Plata, Argentina
Photo: Ezarate, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Aconcagua Provincial Park, Argentina
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Government and politics
In the 20th century, Argentina experienced significant political turmoil and democratic reversals. Between 1930 and 1976, the armed forces overthrew six governments in Argentina; and the country alternated periods of democracy (1912–1930, 1946–1955, and 1973–1976) with periods of restricted democracy and military rule. Following a transition that began in 1983, full-scale democracy in Argentina was reestablished.
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Economy
Benefiting from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, a diversified industrial base, and an export-oriented agricultural sector, Argentina's economy is Latin America's third-largest, and the second-largest in South America. In 1913, Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries in the world by GDP per capita. It has a "very high" rating on the Human Development Index and ranks 66th by nominal GDP per capita, with a considerable internal market size and a growing share of the high-tech sector. As a middle emerging economy and one of the world's top developing nations, it is a member of the G-20 major economies.
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Demographics
The 2022 census [INDEC] counted 46,044,703 inhabitants, up from 40,117,096 in 2010. The population in 2024 is estimated to have increased to 47,067,441 inhabitants. Argentina ranks third in South America in total population, fourth in Latin America and 33rd globally. Its population density of 15 persons per square kilometre of land area is well below the world average of 50 persons. The population growth rate in 2010 was an estimated 1.03% annually, with a birth rate of 17.7 live births per 1,000 inhabitants and a mortality rate of 7.4 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.
Wikipedia: Argentina – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Culture
Argentina is a multicultural country with significant European influences. Modern Argentine culture has been largely influenced by Italian, Spanish and other European immigration from France, Russia, United Kingdom, among others. Its cities are largely characterised by both the prevalence of people of European descent, and of conscious imitation of American and European styles in fashion, architecture and design.
Wikipedia: Argentina – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0