ARGENTINA

Capital: Buenos Aires

Currency: The Argentine Peso is the official currency.  

Population: Argentina has a low demographic density. It consists of around 36 million people, mainly established in the urban centers. The 85% of the population is descendant of immigrants from Europe. As opposed to most Latin American countries, in Argentina there are relatively few Indian half castes (people of mixed races: European and Indian). Almost half of the population of the country lives in the Federal Capital and the province of Buenos Aires. The urban population makes up the 88% of the whole whereas the rural population represents the 22%.  The figures give us a population density of 13 inhabitants per km2 with an annual rowing of 1, 5 %. Reme of this region makes up the southernmost point of the world.

Language: Spanish is the official language and is spoken by the great majority of Argentineans.

English, French and Italian are, in lesser or greater degree, widespread languages within the country

Geography: Argentina is located in the southern extreme of South America. With a continental extension of 2.791.810 Km2. (including Malvinas Islands, other South Atlantic Islands and part of Antarctica). Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth in the world. Including the Antarctic Sector, Argentina claims a total area of 3.761.274 Km2 It is some 1425 Km across at its widest from east to west and stretches 3.800 Km from the north to the south. it is bounded by Bolivia and Paraguay on the north,  Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and by the Atlantic Ocean and Chile on the west and south.

Climate: Argentina has exceptional natural beauties, for it comprises a diverse territory of mountains, plateau and plains with all the climatic variations there are several climatic and landscape regions

1.     NORTHWEST:  It stands out for its tropical climate, its colorful mountains, the Puna high plateau, the gorges, the valleys and the characteristic settlement patterns that make up the history of this land.

2.     GRAN CHACO:  Primarily forestall area with forests of subtropical climate, swampy lands and ponds.

3.     MESOPOTAMIA:  In the northern part the subtropical climate prevails whereas, in the south the climatic conditions are more temperate. It is rich in flora and fauna.  Its territory consists of slopes, ponds and swampy lands cut through by important rivers.

4.     CUYO: With its mountainous characteristics (The Aconcagua lies here), it has an arid temperate climate. However, man, through artificial irrigation, has turned it into an ideal land for the viticulture and viniculture.

5.     CENTRAL SIERRAS:  The central sierras of Córdoba and San Luis offer a quite benign dry temperate climate. They posses numerous rivers and artificial water mirrors.

6.     HUMID PAMPA: The Pampa with its temperate climate possesses the most productive lands of the country (and one of the best ones of the world) for the agriculture and cattle breeding. Its plain landscape is just broken by Tandil and Ventania Sierras. The East is characterized by the vast populated beaches of the Atlantic coast.

7.     PATAGONIA: The largest region with the coldest climate (especially in the southern part). The west consists mainly of a mountainous landscape peppered with spectacular woods, lakes and glaciers. The centre offers sterile plateaux and the east vast beaches with spectacular and unique colonies of marine animals for sightseeing. The southern ext

Culture: Argentina's cultural roots are mainly Europeans and that is clearly reflected in its arquitecture, music, literature and lifestyle. It has an intense cultural activity. It is seen in the festivities, expositions, cinemas, theatres, and concerts that take place in the principal cities. Buenos Aires has approximately 100 cinemas and 90 theatres with a great diversity of spectacles that turn it into one of the cities with the major theatrical activity in Latin America In the Borges, Recoleta y General San Martín cultural centers the cultural dynamics of the country and the world are exposed.  The Colon Theatre, which is among the best three lyrical theatres, stands out for its arquitecture and its perfect acoustics. It is visited by the most outstanding personalities of the classical music, ballet and drama of the world. Other important theatres are the   National Cervantes and the Municipal Gral. San Martin Theatres.  Painting and Sculpture are given great importance. This is reflected in the prestigious art galleries existing in the principal cities of the country. The characteristic music of the city of Buenos Aires is the world-famous tango. Folklore includes several and varied rhythms and styles according to the different regions of the country. The typical Argentine food is asado (barbecue: meat cooked over live coals), apart from empanadas (a sort of turnover meat pie or pastry that comes with a variety of other stuffing’s), tamales ( a dish made of corn meal, chicken or meat wrapped in corn husks), humita (dish made of grated corn, sweet peppers and tomatoes wrapped in the green leaves of corn) and locro ( dish made of meat, potato, pumpkin, corn and sweet pepper). However, and due to the important migrating current that populated the country, there exists a quite varied international cuisine: Spanish, Italian, French, German, Scandinavian, Greek, English, Swedish, Hungarian, Dutch, Chilean, Mexican, Basque, Jewish, Russian, Ukranian, Chinese, Japanese, Thailand and Arabian. Our country characteristic drink is mate (infusion).  The quality of its wines and meats is worldly known and the new Argentine cuisine has reached an international level standing out due to its qualified chefs.

Gastronomy: The first thing that comes to the mind of the traveler that has chosen Argentina as his (or her) destination is probably a tender cut of prime beef, probably accompanied by a delicious chimichurri steak sauce. However, one must not lose sight of the fact, when speaking of Argentinean food, that there is a vernacular cuisine, which has been influenced by Italian, Spanish, English and German food, in other words, we are speaking of a great diversity here.

To eat well is one of the pleasures of the Porteño inhabitants of Buenos Aires and gastronomy is a main topic at social gatherings as well as during ones free time. The Porteño cuisine is characterized both by the above mentioned international influence, as well as the variety and quality of the ingredients used in its preparation, not to mention the impressive number of restaurants and eating places that offer local delicacies, at all levels of prices, and thus affordable to most peoples pockets. Those restaurants that specialize in barbecued meat are called "Parrilladas" and they come in different categories. Some places offer what is called a free menu, where you can eat as much as you can hold for 8 pesos to sophisticated steak houses with accordingly high prices. It is a simple plate to prepare: the meat is roasted on charcoal pit or a barbecue grill. All you need to go with it is bread, French fries, salads. Do not to forget to try the garlic based, parsley and other greens chimichurri sauce to put on the meat. All this polished off with a bottle of excellent Argentinean red wine, which is so justly famed.

Local ready to eat meals are called "minutas" and you can get them in bars and in restaurants. The most popular ones are the so-called "milanesas" (breaded steaks) with French fries and the "empanadas" (pastry dough filled with meat, olives, hard boiled egg and spices.), pizzas, cold plates (salads), different kinds of pasta, etc. For dessert the custom is to eat a fresh fruit, ice cream or flan with a creamy sweet boiled milk toffee called dulce de leche. We suggest you try the last mentioned since it is very typical and quite delicious.   In Buenos Aires there are innumerable restaurants that serve food from different countries and cultures. Typical food from other countries grew roots and became popularized as local, due to the b influence by immigrants coming from Europe, Asia and other Latin American countries.  There are infinite varieties of ethnic cuisine: amongst others Italian, Spanish, Japanese, French, Nordic, Mexican, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish and Armenian, etc. There are also vegetarian and aphrodisiac food places.  And lastly, do not forget to try in some Porteño home, since it is very seldom found in bars or restaurants, the national drink par excellence, the Mate. It is similar to tae and is traditionally drunk at home or among friends. It can be drunk at any time during the day, by yourself or in company, with the peculiarity that everyone drinks out of the same mate gourd, using the same bombilla straw. If you have the opportunity to visit a family at home and you are offered a drink of mate, do not refuse; take at least a sip as a gesture of courtesy.