Some Characteristics of Argentina Are its extension, its great diversity and its complex culture, among other peculiarities.
Its official name is República Argentina and it is located in the south of America. Its political organization is that of a representative and federal republic, commanded by a sovereign state.
Argentina is divided into 24 districts, 23 provinces plus the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, which is also the capital of the country and where the federal government is located.
It is estimated that it has 40 million inhabitants, according to the last census, which are sparsely scattered and mostly concentrated in urban centers.
Although its Gross Domestic Product is one of the highest in the world, Argentina has a high degree of social inequality. In 2010, the country was ranked as a middle-income nation by the World Bank.
It has an area of 2,780,400 km², is the largest Spanish-speaking country on planet Earth, the second largest in Latin America (behind Brazil) and the fourth on the American continent. In the world ranking occupies the position number 8.
If other territories are added where it has sovereignty like the Malvinas Islands, whose sovereignty is maintained in puja with England, the total surface is of 3,661,274 km ².
It limits the north with Bolivia and Paraguay, the northeast with Brazil, the east with Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean, and the south and the west with Chile. Its flag is composed of two horizontal celestial stripes, with a white between them and a sun in the center.
You may also like This list of natural resources of Argentina .
List of the 15 most outstanding characteristics of Argentina
1- Language
The official language of Argentina is Spanish. It is spoken by most of the population, although some also speak Italian and survive the native languages of the aboriginal peoples of America.
2- Religion
92% of Argentines profess the Catholic religion, so it can be said that Argentina is a Catholic country, although religions such as Judaism, Protestant religions, and other Christian and non-Christian religions are also practiced.
3- Currency
The currency of this country is the Argentine peso. Traditionally, however, the monetary system was based on the"golden weight".
4- Geography
As already mentioned, the Republic of Argentina is located in South America. To the north, it borders Bolivia and Paraguay; In the east, with Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean; In the south with the Atlantic Ocean and Chile and the west with Chile.
On the other hand, the country claims the territory that includes the Malvinas Islands and another space of islands of the South Atlantic, that comprise of Antarctica.
The main cities of Argentina are the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, La Plata, Mar del Plata, San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza.
These cities concentrate a large part of the population in a country, whose length is approximately 3,330 kilometers, with a width of up to 1,384 kilometers from west to east, linking the Andes with the Atlantic Ocean.
The country stands out for its geographical diversity. With a diverse territory of mountains, highlands and plateaus, the Andes, the main mountainous system of the continent, whose elevations exceeds 3,600 meters stand out.
Its highest peak is the famous Aconcagua, located in the province of Mendoza, with about 6,960 meters in height. This summit is the most of South America. In the south of the country, known as Patagonia, the terrain is arid, wide and desolate.
5- Weather
The climate in Argentina is mostly temperate. However, to the north you can also find a tropical climate.
In Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, the average climate is about 17 ° to 29 ° C and the minimum ranges from 6 ° to 14 ° C. The level of precipitation is very varied, depending on each region.
6- Natural resources
Argentina is known for the wealth of Pampas . These are excellent areas for grazing and growing grains and grains.
It also has large mineral resources, oil deposits and natural gas. There are also deposits of cobalt, iron, gold, silver, zinc and mica, among others.
7- Flora and fauna
The vegetation in Argentina is also incredibly varied. The reason is the various climatic conditions and topography.
As for the flora, you can find numerous varieties of trees, such as eucalyptus, sycamore and acacias. On the other hand, cacti and other trees in desert areas predominate in arid regions.
The fauna is equally diverse and abundant. In the north, there are several species of monkeys, jaguars, pumas, ocelots and others. Among the birds, there are flamingos and hummingbirds.
In the Pampas there are foxes and armadillos, among other animals. The cold Andean regions are the habitat of llamas, condors and other native species. Fishes abound in areas of lakes and sea coasts.
8- Population
In Argentina, the vast majority of the population are descendants of European immigrants and mestizos are a minority, unlike other Latin American countries.
The descendants originally came from Spain and Italy, for the most part, and second from France, England, Russia, Germany, Russia, Poland and Syria.
9- Education
Education plays an important role in Argentina. At present, it has 25 national and private universities. Primary and secondary education are free and compulsory. It is estimated that there are one million students.
10- Culture
If you talk about music, in Argentina the traditional sound is related to songs and gaucho dances, although the music of the north of the country, which came from Europe and African music, has great influence.
Tango, for its part, was born in Buenos Aires and today is known throughout the world for its particular sound and its characteristic dance. Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzola were two of the most important figures in the tango.
Some of the most outstanding Argentine authors are: José Hernández , Domingo Faustino Sarmiento , Ricardo Güiraldes , Julio Cortazar , Manuel Puig , Ernesto Sábato , Eduardo Mallea Y Jorge Luis Borges .
Among the most important painters are Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós , Translation and Localization , Emilio Pettoruti Y Raúl Soldi .
11- Health
Argentina has good public health indexes if data from the region are taken into account. The free health program has been under way since 1944.
It is currently guaranteed through various organizations and some free hospitals and clinics. It also ensures access to medical facilities in rural locations.
12- Government
The Argentine government affirms in the Constitution adopted in 1853, with several reforms, the last one in 1994. It is a federal republic, managed by a president assisted by the Council of Ministers.
The National Congress consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, which represent the legislative power. The judiciary, complete the trident of government.
13- Tourism
According to the World Tourism Organization, Argentina is the most visited tourist destination in South America, with 5.9 million tourists a year.
The country offers its visitors an immense territory, variety of climates, natural wonders, a rich culture and a gastronomy famous internationally. In addition, it has a high degree of development, good quality of life, and an infrastructure prepared for tourism.
As for the climate, the country presents a great variety. Weather can be temperate, dry, warm humid, cold dry, cold humid, semi-arid, steppe, sub-antarctic, subtropical, level and mountain cold. There is also a great diversity of microclimates.
The vast majority of tourists come from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, Paraguay, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, United Kingdom and Switzerland.
14- Hydrography
The rivers of Argentina are numerous and extensive. Three systems are highlighted: rivers of Atlantic slope, rivers of the pacific slope and closed basins.
Among the rivers of Atlantic slope are the rivers that belong to the Plata basin, the most important of the country and that is the drainage of the rivers of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia.
In addition, it receives the rivers of the Puna, the sub-Andean system, the Pampas, Pampa, Chaco and Mesopotamia.
Among the main rivers of this system are the Paraná, Uruguay, Paraguay, Pilcomayo, Bermejo, Salado, Carcarañá and Iguazú, of great hydroelectric potential.
In the famous Rio de la Plata, which is born at the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay, the waters of the previous ones are united.
On the other hand, the Patagonian system is formed by the rivers that are born in the Andes and run in"drawers"by the narrow valleys. The main ones are the Negro River, the Limay, the Chubut and the Santa Cruz.
As for the rivers of the Pacific slope, most are unimportant, short and uncrowded, and flow into the Pacific. The main utility of these rivers is their energy potential.
Finally, among the closed basins are the Desaguadero, and the Pampean mountain ranges. There is also a third basin: that of the Puna rivers of Atacana.
15- Agriculture
Argentina stands out economically for its agriculture, although the cultivated land does not represent more than 12% of the territory. The rest is composed of forests and weeds, unproductive lands, mountains, marshes and lagoons.
In the province of Buenos Aires there is what is called"intensive agriculture", which is the crop-livestock association, and whose modern and intensive practices demand the proximity of a large city.
Farther from the cities, you can find huge tracts of wheat.
On the other hand, there is the traditional type of livestock, which is dedicated to cattle or sheep, according to the region. Another type of livestock and agriculture is characterized by its location in warm and humid regions, or relatively humid.
There, natural resources are exploited, especially quebracho and Mate , Thanks to which a popular infusion is prepared that is taken in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay: the mate. Livestock and cotton cultivation are also practiced in these lands.
Finally, dry sub-Andean regions are characterized by small areas where irrigation is harvested. There, viticulture, vegetables, legumes, olive groves and even alfalfa predominate.
Agricultural products are almost exclusively related to wheat, the most important production in Argentina. Half of what is produced goes to domestic consumption, the rest is sold to other countries, especially China.
Rice, fruits, sugar cane, and a long etcetera feed the inhabitants of Argentina. For its part, Argentine wines are imposed in the world as one of the best and at really cheap prices when compared with Europeans. Argentine wines compete with the Chileans, but they are vastly superior to those of Brazil.