Argentina
The country of the large skies, an infinite land still mostly virgin offering supreme beauty in a high diversity of surprising outlooks: desert, mountains, pampa, lakes, glaciers, falls and oceans. From the heat of the Tropic of Capricorn to the ice of the Antarctic Polar Circle, from the imposing summits of the Andes to the vast Atlantic Ocean, there is a great diversity of vegetation, fauna, climate and more. Argentina surprises the
visitor with imposing cascades with over 200 waterfalls falling down in the jungle; it marvels with its millenary glaciers, unique testimony of the ice that once covered the earth's surface; and it amazes with its colonies of millions of penguins and hundreds of whales on the Atlantic Coast. In Argentina everything is possible, from horse riding at the foot of the highest mountain of the continent or attending polo matches and ski races to taking part in the German Oktoberfest, the Welsh Eisteddfods and the Argentine Fiesta Gaucha.
The topography is affected by both latitude and altitude, and is accordingly varied. Argentina's territory would cover a third of Europe and is as long as the US in wide. spanning 1.100.000 square miles. The population is around 30.000.000 of which 9.000.000 live in Buenos Aires. The topography of Argentina is varied. To the west is the Andes, to the north the vast forested plains of the Chaco, to the south the vast Pampas and in the far south Patagonia. Dress should be tailored to the area being visited. Seasons are the same as in Australia and New Zealand.
The country can be divided into four major physical provinces: the Andes to the west, the northern lowland, the central Pampas, and Patagonia. Argentina's climate ranges from subtropical in the north through humid and steamy in the centre to cold in the south.
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When to go
For residents of the southern hemisphere, Argentina offers the same climate conditions of Australia and New Zealand. The country's great variety and elongated geography can make a visit in any season worthwhile. Buenos Aires' urban attractions, for example, transcend the seasons, but Patagonian destinations, such as the Moreno Glacier is best to visit in the summer months (December to February). The Iguazú Falls in subtropical Misiones province are best in the southern hemisphere's winter or spring when heat and humidity are less oppressive. The winter months (mid-June to late Sep) also offer the opportunity to go skiing.
| FACTS FOR THE TRAVELLER |
| Full country name: |
República Argentina |
| Area: |
2,776,890 sq km
(1,083,000 sq mi) |
| Population: |
37,812,817 |
| Capital city: |
Buenos Aires (pop 11.5 millions) |
| People: |
85% European descent,
15% mestizo, Indian and other minorities |
| Language: |
American Spanish, plus
17 indigenous languages |
| Religion: |
93% Roman Catholic,
2.5% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 1.5% Ukranian Catholic,
1% Armenian Orthodox |
| Government: |
Republic |
| Visae & Health: |
For information on Visae and health requirements, please call your nearest consulate and appropriate health authorities. |
| Electricity: |
220V, 50Hz |
| Weights & measures: |
Mostly metric, but rural areas may use the legua (league, about 5 km). |
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