Capital: Buenos Aires
President: Cristina Fern á ndez de Kirchner
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT -3
Area: 2776890
Population: 40134500
People: European descent (95%), mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian and other minorities (5%)
Languages: Roman Catholic (86%), Protestant (5%), agnostic and atheist (4%), Muslim (2%), Jewish (2%), other (1%)
Currency: Argentine Peso (AR$)
GDP: Approx. AR$599100000000
Major industries:
Food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel, agribusiness
Major Trading Partners: Brazil, USA, China, the EU
Daylight Saving: From not in use to not in use
Country Dialing Code: 54
The home of the sultry tango does a good line in fiery soccer and juicy steaks. Argentina's pleasures - stunning natural wonders, an elegant capital with a European-flavored sophistication, and a passionate culture - are as tempting as ever. This is one Latin American country where Europeans and North Americans can feel at ease and travel relatively inconspicuously. An interest in soccer and some nimble foot skills may be all you need to blend in with the locals. 'Latins are tenderly enthusiastic. In Brazil they throw flowers at you. In Argentina they throw themselves.' - Marlene Dietrich.
Geography:
Argentina forms the eastern half of South America's long, tapering tail. It's a big country - the eighth largest in the world, and the second largest in South America. It borders Chile to the west (separated by the Andean Cordilleras range) and Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia to the north and east (separated by rivers). It also shares the offshore island territory of Tierra del Fuego with Chile, and continues to dispute the ownership of the Islas Malvinas (the Falklands to the British). Argentina's topography is affected by both latitude and altitude, and is accordingly varied. The country can be divided into four major physiographic provinces: the Andes to the west (with arid basins, grape-filled foothills, glacial mountains and the Lake District), the fertile lowland north (with subtropical rainforests), the central Pampas (a flat mix of humid and dry expanses) and Patagonia (a combination of pastoral steppes and glacial regions).
More European than South American in flavor, Buenos Aires' heart boasts bustling streets, grand avenues, old-time cafes and stylish restaurants. It's a city of tragedy and elation; a vibrant, cosmopolitan capital where locals are renowned for their flair and cockiness, even in times of adversity.
Getting There
For residents of the Northern Hemisphere, Argentina offers travelers the possibility of enjoying two summers in one year, but the country's great variety and elongated geography means visiting is pleasant during any season. Patagonian destinations, such as the Moreno Glacier in Santa Cruz, are best visited in the summer months (December to February ) when the weather's milder and more services are available. Outside this time, services thin out and public transport becomes trickier. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Buenos Aires (the summer is hot and humid). Mendoza, C ó rdoba and the Lake District are all spectacular in autumn, when the leaves are fiery reds and yellows, the temperatures are comfortable and the crowds are few. Northern Argentina, including the Iguaz ú Falls in the subtropical Misiones province, is also more pleasant in the Southern Hemisphere's winter or spring when heat and humidity are less oppressive. Ski season runs mid-June through mid-October, and the resorts are most expensive and most crowded during July and August when every porte ñ o (person from Buenos Aires) seems to be on the slopes. The most expensive times to travel are the Argentine vacation months of January, February and July.
Getting there and away
Argentina has direct flights between countries including North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Italy, Spain and South Africa, and from all South American countries except the Guianas. Alternatively, you can fly to a neighboring country, such as Chile or Brazil, and continue overland to Argentina. A multitude of land and river crossing points connect Argentina with neighboring Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. Travel from Chile usually involves going over the Andes, while overland travel to Bolivia can mean journeying through the border towns of La Quiaca, Tarija or Pocitos/Yacuiba. Paraguay can be reached by bus and/or river launch, and the most common crossing to Brazil is via Foz do Igua ç u or Uruguaiana. Uruguay is linked to Argentina by road bridges, and frequent ferries sail between Buenos Aires and Colonia in Uruguay.
Getting around
Several major Argentine airlines attempt to make this big country appear smaller. In some cases (if you are, for instance, in Patagonia), flying can be cheaper than covering the same distance by bus. Long-distance buses are fast, comfortable and affordable; some provide on-board snacks or meal services and all have bathrooms. If traveling long distances you can take an overnight bus and save on a hotel stay. For many years there were major reductions in long-distance train service in Argentina, but recent years have seen some rail lines being reopened.
Customs:
Argentine officials are generally courteous and reasonable toward tourists. If you're entering Argentina from a neighboring country, officials focus on different things. Travelers southbound from the central Andean countries may be searched for drugs, while those from bordering countries will have fruits and vegetables confiscated. Carrying illegal drugs will pretty much get you into trouble no matter which country you're coming from.
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