Argentina — map and facts

About Argentina

Argentina is the second-largest country in South America and the eighth-largest in the world, covering approximately 2.78 million square kilometres. Home to around 46 million people, it is a federal republic composed of 23 provinces and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, which serves as the nation's capital and cultural heart. The official language is Spanish, and the predominantly Roman Catholic population reflects deep European—particularly Italian and Spanish—immigrant heritage. Argentina is celebrated for its vibrant culture: tango music and dance, world-class football, rich literary traditions, and a cuisine that revolves around the asado, or barbecue. The economy is one of the largest in Latin America, with strengths in agriculture, natural resources, and industry. Argentina has produced numerous Nobel Prize winners and is renowned for its universities and intellectual life. Despite recurring economic challenges, the country maintains a high Human Development Index and a strong sense of national identity rooted in both European roots and Latin American belonging.

Geography and Landscape

Argentina stretches from the subtropical north to the sub-Antarctic south, encompassing an extraordinary range of landscapes. In the northwest, the Andes mountains form a dramatic spine along the Chilean border, reaching their highest point at Aconcagua (6,961 m), the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere. The fertile Pampas grasslands dominate the centre of the country, forming the agricultural heartland that has made Argentina one of the world's leading grain and beef exporters. Patagonia, in the south, is a vast, windswept plateau of steppes, glaciers, and jagged peaks, culminating in the islands of Tierra del Fuego. The northeast is home to subtropical forests and the spectacular Iguazú Falls, one of the world's largest waterfall systems. The country's climate varies accordingly: tropical in the north, temperate in the centre, and cold and arid in the south. The Río de la Plata estuary in the east is one of the world's widest rivers.

History

Indigenous peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years before Spanish colonisers arrived in the early sixteenth century. Buenos Aires was founded in 1536 and again in 1580, becoming the centre of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776. Argentina declared independence on 9 July 1816 following years of revolutionary struggle inspired by Enlightenment ideals. The nineteenth century saw mass immigration from Europe, transforming the country's demographics and fuelling rapid economic growth. Argentina became one of the ten wealthiest nations on earth by 1900. Political instability plagued the twentieth century, including a series of military coups. The most brutal dictatorship (1976–1983) disappeared an estimated 30,000 people. The return to democracy in 1983 under Raúl Alfonsín initiated a new era. Economic crises—most dramatically in 2001—tested the republic repeatedly. The early twenty-first century brought left-wing Kirchnerist governments, followed by a conservative administration and, in 2023, the election of libertarian Javier Milei, marking yet another sharp political turn.