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Comprising almost the entire southern half of South America, Argentina is the world's eighth largest country, covering an area of 2.8 million square km. Argentina possesses some of the world's tallest mountains, expansive deserts, and impressive waterfalls, with the diversity of the land ranging from wild, remote areas in southern Patagonia to the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires in the north.
Behind Buenos Aires, the land of the Pampas begins. Many towns with historical centres that go back to colonial are worth visiting. In the west, the Andes mountains offer great outdoor opportunities: hiking, skiing and much more. Patagonia, the far south of Argentina is a rugged and cold land. It is great for the lovers of nature and wildlife; big glaciers that go directly into the Ocean, birds, seals and other arctic animals abound.
In the northwestern corner of this dreamed land, deserts and steppes are the most common geographical sites; and in the northeastern part of the country, Las Cataratas del Iguazú, a gorgeous waterfall like the Niagara Falls on USA, complete all kinds of climate existing on the Earth... all in one beautiful country.
The people are awesome, full of kindness - at least most of the time ;) -, and the weather is mostly pleasant all the year. Many people call this the Paris of the Americas.
Argentina has six major regions are as folows:
Cuyo & the Andean Northwest
This area surrounding the Andes began as a colony of Peru, but today only a few miners and herders occupy this unforgiving region of volcanic peaks and salt lakes. Very little rain falls in Cuyo, though to the east are found the fertile river valleys and subtropical lowlands of the Gran Chaco.
Mesopotamia, a broad, flat plain between the Parana and Uraguay Rivers in northern Argentina, is wet, swampy and extremely hot during the summer. The northern province of Misiones, a more mountainous region nearly enclosed by Brazil and Paraguay, is densely forested and contains a section of the majestic Iguazu Falls.
The Chaco
This parched area in the west is part of the enormous Gran Chaco, a region that Argentina shares with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. The Chaco contains both grassland and thorny forest.
The Pampas
These fertile plains are Argentina's bread- basket. They consist of the Humid Pampas along the seaboard and the Dry Pampas in the west and south. The region includes Buenos Aires, as well as the world- class beaches of its surrounding area.
Patagonia and the Lake District
South of the Rio Colorado, experiences a desert climate, although temperatures range from mild to subzero and terrain varies from bucolic river valleys to the gigantic, ice-capped southern Andes. Its cool grazing grounds support enormous flocks of sheep, and numerous fruit and vegetable farms can be found in the valleys. Patagonia also holds vast reserves of oil and coal.
The Land of Fire is actually an archipelago including the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (which Argentina shares with neighbouring Chile) and numerous smaller islands. Northern Isla Grande is similar in terrain to Patagonia's plains, while the mountainous area in the south is filled with forests and glaciers. Its climate is usually mild year-round, although storms are frequent.
Culture
European influences permeate Argentina's art, architecture, literature and lifestyle yet it manages to retain a healthy and unique identity of its own, evident in the writings of Argentinian authors such as Jorge Luis Borges and Manuel Puig, whose works have pushed Argentina onto the world stage. Known for the liveliness of the tango, the exploits of Maradona and the beauty of the language, Argentina prides itself on its energy and its talent for sumptous living.
With the education of many Argentines taking place in Europe, Buenos Aires in particular has self-consciously emulated European cultural trends in art, music and architecture. As a result, there are many important art museums and galleries in the city. Argentine cinema has also achieved international stature, and has been used as a vehicle to exorcise the horrors of the Dirty War.
In the field of literature in particular, there has been a significant cross-cultural transaction with Europe, with Argentina producing writers of international stature such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ernesto Sábato, Manuel Puig and Osvaldo Soriano.
Last edited by Admin (17:01, 05 January 2006)
Travel Argentina!
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by Alex on 20 July 2007
I would like to recommend a great travel agency based in Buenos Aires, Argentina: http://www.argentina-excepcion.com. They offer circuits throughout the country with driver-guides, and accommodations at luxury hotels and estancias. That's all!