南美洲:
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| 阿根廷 Argentina 首都:布宜诺斯艾利斯 国家代码: ar |
 阿根廷简介 国名：阿根廷共和国 Republic of Argentina 阿根廷首都是布宜诺斯艾利斯 国名由来：在西班牙语中，“阿根廷”与“拉普拉塔”两词意义相同，均为“白银”。 1527年，西班牙探险家塞瓦斯蒂安·卡沃托率领一支远征队到达南美大陆后，从一个宽阔的河口溯流而上，深入到内地。探险家们发现当地印第安人佩带着很多银制的饰物，以为当地盛产白银，便将这条河命名为拉普拉塔河，把这一地区称为拉普拉塔区。西班牙殖民统治者后来又将拉普拉塔区改为省。1816年7月9日，拉普拉塔省宣布独立，并将国名正式定为阿根廷。阿根廷一词源于拉丁文，不仅是指具体意义上的白银，同时寓意“货币”、“财富”。这块广袤的土地上虽不产白银，但有着肥沃的土壤，丰茂的草原，良好的气候，这使阿根廷成了“世界的粮仓和肉库”，财富滚滚而来。因此，把这个国家称之为“阿根廷”，真是再恰如其分不过了。 人口：3780多万。主要民族是欧洲人和印第安人，其中白种人占97％，多属意大利和西班牙后裔。是南美洲各国白种人比率最高的国家。城市人口占五分之四。混血种人，印第安人及其他人种占3％。官方语言为西班牙语。居民87％信奉天主教，其余的信奉新教及其他宗教。 首都：布宜诺斯艾利斯 Buenos Aires是拉美最繁华的都市之一，西班牙语意为“好空气”。该市位于拉普拉塔河西岸，风景秀美，气候宜人，有“南美巴黎”之称。市内以街心公园、广场和纪念碑众多而著名。城市建筑多受欧洲文化影响，至今还保留有几个世纪前的西班牙和意大利风格的古代建筑。有人口278万（2001年），包括近郊19个区的大布宜诺斯艾利斯市共1383万人(2001年)。 国旗：阿根廷国旗呈长方形，长与宽之比约为5：3。自上而下由浅蓝、白、浅蓝三个平行相等的横长方形组成，白色长方形中间是一轮“五月的太阳”。太阳本体酷似一张人脸，是阿根廷发行的第一枚硬币的图案，沿太阳本体圆周等距离分布着32根弯直相间的光芒线。浅蓝色象征正义，白色象征信念、纯洁、正直和高尚；“五月的太阳”象征自由和黎明。 每年6月20日为国旗日——1810年，阿根廷爆发了著名的五月革命，推翻了西班牙总督，开始了伟大的独立战争。为了鼓舞士气，指引部队作战，领导独立战争的贝尔格拉诺将军亲自设计并指导制作了一面浅蓝色和白色相间的旗帜。这两种颜色分别象征着纯洁和虔诚。1916年9月9日，阿根廷共和国宣布成立时，升起的就是这面旗帜。从此，它被正式确定为阿根廷国旗。 货币： 比索 国徽：阿根廷国徽为椭圆形。椭圆面上蓝下白，为国旗色，上端有一轮“五月的太阳”，寓意同国旗。椭圆形中有两只紧握着的手，象征团结；手中握有“自由之竿”，象征权利、法令、尊严和主权；竿顶为红色的“自由之帽”。椭圆形图案由绿色的月桂树叶环绕，绿色象征忠诚和友谊，月桂树叶象征胜利和光荣。 国歌：阿根廷的《祖国进行曲》,是拉丁美洲的第一首国歌。 1813年5月11日，阿根廷国会通过决议确定由比森特·洛佩斯·伊普兰内斯（Vicente López y Planes, 1785 - 1856）作词、布拉斯·帕雷拉普（Blas Parera，1777-1820）谱曲的《祖国进行曲》（Marcha Patriótica）为阿根廷国歌。1900年，胡里奥·罗卡（Julio Argentino Roca 1843-1914。1880-1886和1898-1904年为阿根廷总统）总统颁布法令规定每逢在法定节日，学校举行的仪式上需合唱国歌的第一和最后一小节。 歌词大意：大地的生民！听神圣的呼声：自由，自由，自由！奴隶的枷锁被打破，被打破；自由登上宝座。充满尊荣的宝座已经建成，胜利归南方各省联盟！全世界自由人民齐欢呼：祝福伟大国家阿根廷！祝福伟大国家阿根廷！ 新生的英雄们精神抖擞，好象武神一样雄赳赳。他们胸怀里充满豪情，阔步前进使大地发抖。印加人正从坟墓里苏醒，重新燃烧起满腔热情，鼓励他们的儿女去重建往昔祖国的赫赫令名，往昔祖国的赫赫令名！ 山崖崩裂，城墙倒坍，轰隆隆地响声震天；复仇和战争的呼声四起，到处一片狂澜。凶恶的暴君包藏着妒忌心，吐出毒液来恶臭难闻，手昊挥舞着染血的军旗，挑起战争，残酷无人性，挑起战争，残酷无人性！ 阿根廷人，侵略者向你们挑战，他们卑鄙而又傲慢，狂歌狞笑，践踏我们的土地，终将失败，注定无疑。一同慷慨地宣誓的勇士，为了自由而奔赴战场痛打这一群嗜血的虎狼，意志坚强如铁壁铜墙，意志坚强如铁壁铜墙！ 勇敢的阿根廷人奔赴缰场，精神饱满，斗志昂扬；战斗的号角随着炮声隆隆，响彻南方的战场上。布宜诺斯艾利斯是抗战的先锋，带领著名的联盟城市，他们将挥起强壮的手臂，绞死傲慢的伊伯利亚之狮，绞死傲慢的伊伯利亚之狮！ 胜利之神展开光辉的双翅，庇护阿根廷勇士。暴君看见了屁滚尿流，连忙夹着尾巴逃走。他交出军旗和武器来投降，赢得战利品，归功自由。人民鼓舞着光荣的彩翼，气概豪迈，扬眉昂首，气概豪迈，扬眉昂首！ 从南极到期北极响彻号声，传送赫赫声名，它用美洲的名义向人们反复呼唤，生民，请听：充满尊荣的宝座已经建成，胜利归南方各省联盟！全世界自由人民齐欢呼：祝福伟大国家阿根廷！祝福伟大国家阿根廷！ 记住桂冠怎样得来，让它永远存在！我们生得有光彩，死也要死得有光彩。 国树：赛波树 国花：灿若红霞的赛波花。赛波树属木本豆荚科植物，主要分布在中南美地区。在西班牙殖民统治时期，拉普拉塔地区的印第安人不断奋起反抗。传说，在一次战斗中，一位印第安部落酋长不幸阵亡，她的女儿阿娜依挺身而出，指挥战斗，与西班牙殖民者浴血死战，最后她也被俘。西班牙殖民者将阿娜依绑在一棵赛波树上，要用火烧死她。阿娜依在熊熊的大火中慷慨就义。此时，花期未到的树上突然盛开出满枝累串的、如火如血的红花。1942年，阿根廷通过一项法令，正式确定赛波花为阿根廷的国花。 国鸟： 棕灶鸟 独立日： 7月9日（1816年） 国庆日： 5月25日（1910年） 马岛战争老战士日：4月2日（1982年） 国家政要：总统内斯托尔·卡洛斯·基什内尔（Nestor Kirchner），2003年5月任职。 2007年10月，阿根廷执政联盟候选人、第一夫人克里斯蒂娜·费尔南德斯在28日的总统选举中获胜，顺利当选为总统，她将成为阿根廷历史上首位选举产生的女总统。12月10日，克里斯蒂娜将正式接替丈夫基什内尔担任阿根廷总统。 地理 面积278万平方公里，为拉美第二大国，仅次于巴西。位于南美洲东南部、东濒大西洋，南与南极洲隔海相望，西同智利接壤，北界玻利维亚、巴拉圭，东北部与巴西和乌拉圭为邻。地势由西向东逐渐低平。西部是以脉绵延起伏、巍峨壮丽安第斯山为主体的山地，纵贯南北3，000余公里，约占全国面积的30％；东部和中部的潘帕斯草原是著名的农牧区；北部主要是格兰查科平原，多沼泽、森林；南部是巴塔哥尼亚高原。主要山脉有奥霍斯·德萨拉多山、梅希卡纳山，海拔6964米的阿空加瓜山，为南美洲万峰之冠。巴拉那河全长4700公里，为南美第二大河。主要湖泊有奇基塔湖、阿根廷湖和别德马湖。 北部属热带气候，中部属亚热带气候，南部为温带气候，大部分地区年平均温度在16-23℃之间。东北部降水丰沛，在1，000毫米左右，西北部和南部为250毫米；夏季雨水较多。巴拉那-拉普拉塔河全长5，580公里，为南美第二大水系，主要支流有巴拉圭河、乌拉圭河等国际界河，南部安第斯山区多冰蚀湖。著名的乌马瓦卡峡谷，曾是古老的印加文化传到阿根廷的通道，被称为“印加之路”。阿根廷矿产资源丰富，主要有石油、天然气、煤炭、铁和银等。 水力资源比较丰富。森林面积占全国面积22％。沿海渔业资源丰富。 区划 全国划分为24个行政单位。由22个省、1个地区（火地岛行政区）和联邦首都（布宜诺斯艾利斯）组成。各省名称如下：布宜诺斯艾利斯、圣菲、科尔多瓦、门多萨、图库曼、恩特雷里奥斯、查科、科连特斯、萨尔塔、圣地亚哥德埃斯特罗、米西奥内斯、圣胡安、胡胡伊、里奥内格罗、福莫萨、丘布特、圣路易斯、内乌肯、拉潘帕、卡塔马卡、拉里奥哈和圣克鲁斯。 简史 16世纪前居住着印第安人。1535年西班牙在拉普拉塔建立殖民据点。1776年西班牙设立以布宜诺斯艾利斯为首府的拉普拉塔总督区。1810年5月25日布宜诺斯艾利斯人民掀起反对西班牙统治的“五月革命”，成立了第一个政府委员会。1812年起，阿根廷人民在民族英雄圣马丁的领导下，开展了反对西班牙殖民军的大规模武装斗争，终于在1816年7月9日宣告独立。1853年制定第一部宪法，建立了联邦共和国，乌尔基萨当选为第一任总统。1862年巴托洛梅·米特雷担任总统，结束了独立后长期的分裂和动乱。自20世纪30年代起出现军人与文人交替执政的局面。1983年，阿方辛民选政府上台，恢复宪制，大力推进民主化进程。 1982年4月2日阿根廷和英国因马尔维纳斯群岛主权归属问题，爆发了马岛战争，同年6月14日，英军击败了阿军，继续占领马岛。 政治 1853年制定第一部全国统一宪法。1994年8月22日，宪法经第四次修改后实施。修改后的宪法规定，阿根廷为联邦制国家，实行代议制民主，内阁是政府执行机构。总统、副总统由普选产生，总统是国家元首、政府首脑和武装部队总司令，执掌国家最高行政权，任期四年，可连选连任一次；副总统兼任参议院议长。宪法还规定设内阁总理一职。总理、部长和总统府各国务秘书均由总统任命。议会是国家最高立法机构，国会分参、众两院，拥有联邦立法权，参、众议员均由直选产生，可连选连任。 经济 阿根廷物产富饶，气候适宜，土地肥沃,是综合国力较强的拉美国家。工业门类较齐全，主要有钢铁、电力、汽车、石油、化工、纺织、机械、食品等。工业产值占国内生产总值的1／3。核工业发展水平居拉美前列，现拥有3座核电站。钢产量居拉美前列。机器制造业具有相当水平，其生产的飞机已打入国际市场。食品加工业较先进，主要有肉类加工、乳制品、粮食加工、水果加工和酿酒等行业。阿是世界葡萄酒主要生产国之一，年产量30亿公升。矿产资源有石油、天然气、煤炭、铁、银、铀、铅、锡、石膏、硫磺等。现已探明蕴藏量：石油28．8亿桶，天然气7635亿立方米，煤炭6亿吨，铁3亿吨，铀2．94万吨。水力资源丰富。森林面积占全国总面积的1／3左右。沿海渔业资源丰富。国土面积的55％是牧场，农牧业发达，畜牧业占农牧业总产值的40％。全国牲畜的80％集中在潘帕斯大草原。阿是世界粮食和肉类重要生产国和出口国，素有“粮仓肉库”之称。主要种植小麦、玉米、大豆、高粱和葵花籽等。近年来，阿根廷已成为南美最大的旅游国家，主要旅游点有巴里洛切风景区、伊瓜苏大瀑布、莫雷诺冰川等。 农牧业发达，为世界主要的农牧产品生产国和出口国之一。牧场和草原占全国土地面积的55％，耕地占12.7％。畜牧业有牛、羊、猪、马；农产品有小麦、玉米、大豆、高粱、大麦、棉花、亚麻籽等。羊、牛的头数和小麦、玉米、大豆的产量都居世界前列。工业产值超过农业，占国民生产总值的40％左右，工业部门齐全。有食品、纺织、皮革等农牧产品加工工业，近年来钢铁、汽车、化工、石油开采和提炼、电子、电力等部门发展甚速。交通发达，铁路全长约4.4万公里，公路105万公里。出口以农牧产品为主，其中肉类、小麦、玉米、大豆、亚麻籽、羊毛等占出口总值的75-80％，近年来工业品出口亦有大幅度增长。进口多为机器设备、工业原料、化学品等。 军事 总统为武装部队最高统帅，下设国防委员会和军事委员会。国防委员会由副总统、内政部长、外交部长、国防部长和经济部长组成。军事委员会由国防部长、三军联合参谋长和陆、海、空三军种参谋长组成。三军联合参谋长胡安·卡洛斯·穆尼奥洛（Juan Carlos Mugnolo）。实行志愿兵役制，服役期为一年。现总兵力为7.3万人。2000年国防开支为34.4亿美元。 文化 华丽高雅、热烈奔放的“探戈”舞源于阿根廷，被阿根廷人视为国粹。 阿根廷探戈发源于阿根廷首都布宜诺斯艾利斯的港口地区。大批源于非洲、北美甚至欧洲的移民滞留在港口，形成了一个特殊的外来社会群体。他们大多社会地位低下，生活不稳定，在酒吧里靠唱歌、跳舞来消磨时光.阿根廷探戈实际上是这种特殊环境下产生的一种特殊艺术形式，其舞蹈是在米隆加、哈巴涅拉、坎东贝等拉美、非洲等多种民间舞蹈基础上演绎而成的。阿根廷探戈其实非常不同于我们看到国标舞中的探戈表演。它其实是一种唱多于跳的艺术形式。而且它的唱是清一色男性，且都是独唱，偶尔有几个小滑稽剧穿插。激昂的键盘手风琴是伴奏的主旋律，它特有的切分节奏总是给人以心灵的撞击。 阿根廷探戈有着自己的名称Milonga. 阿根廷探戈舞也不像国标舞中的探戈，阿根廷探戈是两个舞伴的身体并行直立，几乎贴在一起（就是因为这个贴身动作，在探戈被引进巴黎时曾引起轩然大波），并且快速旋转、踢腿，非专业人士很难将这些动作连贯起来。或许正因为太过难学和曲高和寡，阿根廷人对于探戈的态度，有些类似中国人对京剧的看法——年纪大的人喜之不尽，而年轻人却敬而远之。 阿根廷的探戈舞演员已经不止一次地把那飘逸、洒脱、典雅、含蓄的舞蹈和以独特切分音为鲜明特征、节奏明快的音乐带给我们，激起了人们的浓厚兴趣。一提起探戈，人们也自然会想到在国内看到的国际标准舞的探戈，那种节奏感极强的舞步，与其他音乐不同的旋律。而国际探戈是从阿根廷融跳、唱及乐曲为一体的探戈发展演变而来的，它们之间有着必然的联系。但是，国际中的探戈已经规范化，而阿根廷的探戈则更加活泼、欢快，花样迭出。阿根廷是探戈的故乡。阿根廷人酷爱探戈。许多人都会跳探戈，平时到处都能听到探戈舞曲。阿根廷人把探戈看作是自己国宝，是民族的骄傲。阿根廷政府宣布探戈是阿根廷民族文化遗产不可分割的一部分。对于外国人来说，探戈只是一种独具魅力的舞步，而对阿根廷人来说，它已是与生活密不可分。融化在血液里的文化。 探戈可唱可跳可演奏，它是一种集音乐、舞蹈、歌唱和诗歌于一身的综合性艺术形式。由于它是拉普拉塔河流域文化的组成部分，所以更确切地说，探戈应该是乌拉圭的蒙得维地亚人和阿根廷的布宜诺斯人共同创造的艺术形式，是他们共同的文化财富。但因为布宜诺斯艾利斯是个港口城市，无论从地理位置、人口及在欧洲的影响等方面，都处于优势，因此探戈后来在蒙特维特亚就逐渐衰落了。 由于布宜诺斯艾利斯当年曾是大量移民流入的门户，所以探戈的音乐、舞蹈、诗歌、唱词等都受到过多种外来文化的影响，尤其是欧洲文化和非洲文化的影响。 音乐方面，探戈最主要受到的是早在1850年左右西班牙水手们带来的安达卢西亚“探吉约”歌舞的影响。其次，是非洲黑人音乐的影响，探戈音乐中使用大量节奏明快的切分音就是这一影响的表现。再就是高乔人“米隆加”音乐的影响，吉他作为演奏探戈不可缺少的乐器之一就是这一影响的标志。到了1920年前后，大量意大利、西班牙等移民的涌入使探戈音乐发生了很大变化，由早期欢快的四二拍逐渐变成了适于表达忧伤情感、节奏较慢的四四拍。 内容方面，探戈音乐和即兴编出的唱词在上世纪末本世纪初完全是欢快、开朗、风趣、诙谐的。随着大批意大利和西班牙移民的到来，它的内容也发生了变化。移民们担着开垦、致富的目的而来，最后只能定居下来，无法返回故土同亲人团聚，这就使探戈增添了表达移民思念故乡和怀念亲人的忧郁、伤感、凄凉的内容。此后，由于歌词作者大多是移民的后裔，因此无论是歌词内容还是在歌词中使用的大量外来俚语，都反映着外来文化的影响。 舞蹈方面，探戈的雏形源于阿根廷牧民男子粗壮有力的独舞，在形成过程中主要是受非洲黑人舞蹈的影响。18世纪末19世纪初，贬卖黑奴在美洲很盛行。当时在拉普拉河流也出现了大量非洲黑奴。他们对探戈舞蹈中的折腰、扭摆等动作都源于非洲舞蹈的动作。此外，也有西班牙安达卢西亚的影响。 阿足球以其自由洒脱的风格而风靡世界，多次获世界杯冠亚军。阿根廷的烤牛肉也是声名远扬。 教育：教育水平较高，实行义务初等教育。2000年文教经费为33.1亿美元。文盲率（10岁以上人口）为3.8％。6岁——14岁儿童入学率为99％。15岁——17岁入学率达80％。阿共有81所高等学府，其中公立大学36所，私立42所。著名大学有布宜诺斯艾利斯大学、拉普拉塔大学、科尔多瓦大学等。 新闻出版：全国发行各类报纸2062种，杂志96种，还有250种外文出版物。首都及各省重要报纸35家。主要报纸有《民族报》，1870年创刊；《号角报》，1945年创刊；《纪事报》，1963年创刊；《新闻报》，1869年创刊。重要周刊有《市场》、《索莫斯》、《人物》等。美洲通讯社属总统府新闻国务秘书处领导。阿根廷新闻社和报联社均为私人通讯社。调幅电台101家，调频电台约1500家。开放式电视台46家，超高频电视台115家，微波电视台61家，有线和闭路电视台866家。 外交 奉行独立自主的对外政策，坚持不结盟立场和各国人民自决、不干涉内政，主权国家一律平等的原则。 与中国关系： 外交关系 中华人民共和国的成立，在阿根廷和其他拉美国家中引起较大反响。中国也很重视开展与拉美国家的关系。20 世纪五六十年代，中阿民间往来较多，促进了两国关系的发展。1972 年2 月19 日，中国与阿根廷正式建立外交关系。阿根廷成为拉美地区与中国较早建交的国家之一。 20 世纪80 年代，中阿在各领域友好合作关系进一步发展。90 年代以来，两国关系的发展又上了一个新的台阶。高层互访不断，加深了相互了解和友谊。两国政府间建立了政治磋商机制，在许多重大国际问题上有着一致或相似的观点和立场，在国际机构中有着良好的合作关系。两国已就建立中阿21 世纪全面合作伙伴关系达成共识。 经贸往来 早在20世纪50 年代，中国、阿根廷之间就有经贸往来，1954 年10 月阿根廷工商界代表团访华，1957 年6 月中国人民银行代表团访阿，1958年10 月中阿代表在北京签署两国银行间支付合约。60年代，中国大量进口阿根廷栲胶和小麦。1972 年两国建交后，双方经贸合作关系有较大的发展。1977 年2 月双方签署中阿政府间贸易合作协定，1978 年5月签署海运协定，1980 年6 月签署经济合作协定等，对两国经贸关系的发展起了较大的推动作用。2003 年中阿贸易总额达30 亿美元左右。阿根廷已成为中国在拉美地区主要贸易伙伴之一。 中阿在科学技术方面也有着良好的合作关系。1980 年6 月，双方签署了中阿政府间科技合作协定。合作领域包括和平利用原子能、南极考察、农牧业研究和航天科学研究及应用等。为了协调和推动合作项目的落实，还成立了科技合作混委会。 中国和阿根廷在经贸和科技合作方面有着很强的互补性，发展前景广阔。 文化交流 阿根廷是拉美国家中较早同新中国进行文化交流的国家。20 世纪五六十年代，中阿间规模较大、有影响的艺术团组互访交流有30 多起。其中1953 年12 月在阿根廷举行的中国著名画家齐白石的画展，1956 年10 月中国大型艺术团访阿和1962 年9 月阿根廷民间艺术团访华等，影响都比较大。 1972 年两国建交后，双方文化交往更加频繁。1980 年6月7 日签署了两国政府间文化交流换文，1984 年8 月9 日签署了两国文化协定，从政府层面上保证和推动了两国间的文化交流。 阿根廷文化中传奇粗犷的高乔传统、优美浪漫的探戈艺术、精湛高超的足球水平以及鲜嫩可口的阿根廷烤肉等，都为中国人所喜爱。而历史悠久、独具特色的中国东方文化，也受到阿根廷人民的青睐和赞美。文化交流已成为中阿人民世代友好的桥梁和纽带。 民间友好 中华人民共和国成立后，中国、阿根廷两国交往主要表现在民间方面。民间友好往来增进了相互了解和友谊，带动了两国间经贸和政治关系的发展。 1972 年中阿两国建交后，民间往来更加频繁，内容更加充实，范围更加广泛，涉及两国工会、妇女、青年、文化、教育、科技、体育等各个领域，为中阿友好关系的发展奠定了坚实的基础。 20 世纪90 年代以来，中阿双边友好合作关系稳步、顺利发展。北京市同布宜诺斯艾利斯市、上海市与罗萨里奥市、河北省与布宜诺斯艾利斯省、吉林省与恩特雷里奥斯省分别签署了友好省、市关系协议。 体育 阿根廷国家足球队是最成功的国家足球队之一，潘帕斯雄鹰们曾夺得2届世界杯，奥运金牌。 阿根廷曾经进入过4次世界杯决赛：包括1930年2-4败于乌拉圭，1978年以3-1击败荷兰首次夺得世界杯，1986年3-2击败西德再登颁奖台，但4年后再遇西德以0-1卫冕失败。 另外阿根廷是夺得最多美洲杯冠军的球队，共14次夺冠，2004年击败巴拉圭赢得奥运金牌，而1928年及1996年得到银牌。 其他锦标包括6次夺得世青杯冠军（1977年、1979年、1995年、1997年、2001年、2005年及2007年），1992年夺得联合会杯。 现任国家队主教练：巴西莱 饮食 阿根廷是一个移民国家，85%以上的居民来自于意大利和西班牙的后裔，所以它的饮食文化也搀杂了欧陆西餐的成分，肉食方面主要以牛、鸡、驴为主，甚少吃猪，而炭烧烤肉是当地的特色。 这里的招牌炭烤王中王牛扒，不需要腌制，只是洒上点盐，直接用炭火烤至七八成熟，外表烤得略有点焦，肉香味飘散开来，吃起来外酥内嫩，里面还保留着肉汁。阿根廷人对烤肉的吃法是，吃一口烤肉，再吃一口蔬菜，所以在每一份烤肉上来的时候，也会配上些新鲜的蔬菜沙拉，这样吃起来不至于肥腻。炭烤牛肋条也是肉质甘香，配上用洋葱、青红椒切细的香料，不肥不腻，香嫩可口。 马黛茶也是阿根廷的特色，据说这种茶是被阿根廷誉为“国宝”、“国茶”，在当地语言中“马黛茶”就是“仙草”、“天赐神茶”，因为它含有多种营养成分，不仅可以清除胆固醇、降低血脂，还能促进血液循环、提神醒脑等等，所以阿根廷人认为“马黛茶”不是一般意义上的茶，他们每人每天都在喝，从小孩到老人，从都市到乡村，甚至有“宁可食无肉不能居无茶”这样的说法。 原来马黛茶的喝法还有一定的讲究，不是像喝一般的茶或咖啡，是要先用特制的吸管、勺子、过滤器三合为一的工具，放进冲了水的茶里先吹一口气，然后再慢慢的吸，可以轻轻拌一下，但不可经常搅拌。喝起来有点像苦丁茶的味道，如果觉得苦，可以加点砂糖。吃烤肉喝马黛茶可以消暑降火，看来这才是真正的“鬼佬凉茶”。 旅游 1、布宜诺斯艾利斯 布宜诺斯艾利斯位于阿根廷东部沿海的拉普拉塔河的河口右岸，全市分1个联邦区、19个城郊区，总面积达3885平方公里，是南美洲最大最繁荣的城市。布宜诺斯艾利斯的建筑风格奇异多彩，几乎包罗了欧洲古今建筑的全部风格与造型，其中有著名的科隆大剧院，其规模居世界第三位。这里还是南美洲最繁华的商业和工业中心，全市工业产值为全国工业产值的70％，对外贸易额为全国的45％，又是全国的交通中心及对外联系的海空港口。 布宜诺斯艾利斯作为西班牙殖民中心近300年之久，1816年阿根廷独立时被定为首都。今日的布宜诺斯艾利斯已经跻身于世界特大城市之列，它集中了全国35％以上的人口，2／3的工业产值，近一半的国民生产总值。这是一座十分欧化的城市，不仅城市居民几乎都是欧洲移民的后裔，而且城市布局、街景以及居民的生活方式、风俗习惯、文化情趣，处处显露出欧洲风情。 多广场、街心花园、纪念碑和雕塑，是布宜诺斯艾利斯城的一大特色。市中心的五月广场，中央矗立着方尖塔形纪念碑，其正面刻有“1810年5月25日”几个醒目大字，这是阿根廷人民推翻殖民统治的起义日。许多著名的大街由广场呈辐射状向四周伸展，颇似巴黎凯旋门的街道布局。 布宜诺斯艾利斯最繁华的佛罗里达大街是一条步行商业街。这条商业街长不足两千米，狭窄而又拥挤，但国内一些著名品牌的老商号全都聚集在这里，还有伦敦、巴黎等世界上许多著名的大公司设立的分号。五光十色的商品琳琅满目，舞厅、夜总会、饭馆、影剧院等随处可见，终日熙熙攘攘、热闹非凡，号称“南美百老汇”。建于布宜诺斯艾利斯郊外的“儿童共和国”，精巧的建筑和街道富有浓郁的欧洲和东南亚情调，建筑内陈列着一些国家的绘画、木刻等工艺品。 2、世界之端乌苏阿亚 乌苏阿亚是坐落在火地岛最南端的小城，一般阿根廷人把它称为“世界之端”。 “迈卜”是乌苏阿亚小城的主干道，这里一边是海水，海鸟们在水边飞翔、觅食；一边是沿山而建的西式小屋，白墙红瓦或白墙黑瓦，房前窗下盛开的鲜花在风中摇曳。 道路与海水之间是一片片的公园，在绿草鲜花中有各式各样的雕塑，所有雕塑都与马尔维纳斯岛有关，迈卜路的尽头便是闻名的“世界之端”博物馆，火地岛的历史就微缩在一张张图片和古老而美丽的实物中。因为每到秋季漫山遍野如火如荼的红叶，此地才被唤做“火之岛屿”，火地岛由此而来。 圣马丁路是乌苏阿亚最热闹的商业街，这里没有豪华的大商场，只有一家挨一家精精致致的小店，家家都是琳琅满目的纪念品，只是物价有些惊人。 在乌苏阿亚东边12公里处，是有名的火地岛国家公园，游人可以在内徒步旅行、露营、烧烤、钓鱼等等。在这个公园里，最有名的是一种叫河狸的动物，为了做窝，它们生生啃倒了成片的大树，所以，游客可常见到成片枯树枝干，银白色的一道道躺倒在绿色的山坡上。 在古老的小火车站，游人可以坐上100年前的小火车到比阿格勒海峡边，海峡对岸就是智利。 3、罗萨里奥 阿根廷第二大城市，巴拉那河最大河港，位于圣菲省东南部，人口100万。1852年始建，19世纪末20世纪初由法国投资修建港口后，这里逐渐成为世界上重要的谷物港口。同时还是一个重要的工业城市，拥有先进的食品加工、制革、造纸、机械工业。该市有发达的公路及铁路网与阿根廷各地相连。 4、科尔多瓦 阿根廷第三大城市，科尔多瓦省省会。阿根廷中部经济中心。1783年建立，人口90万。南美最早的大坝之一普里梅罗河圣罗克水坝就建在这里，为该市的工业发展提供了充足的电力和水源。科尔多瓦为阿根廷中部地区铁路和公路的交通枢纽，又是重要的旅游胜地，该城内造型各异的欧洲古建筑及郊外山区的瑰丽景色和宜人气候吸引了大批外来游客。 5、马德普拉塔 马德普拉塔意为“银海”，位于布宜诺斯艾利斯以南40公里处，是大西洋沿岸的海滨城市，阿根廷人首选的度假地。它是阿根廷惟一的一个允许赌博的城市。所以，市中心最显眼的建筑是赌场。它就建在Bristol海滩上，围绕它的是豪华奢侈的旅馆和饭店。 在马德普拉塔，每一片沙滩都有自己的名字，有不少是私人领地，只对个人或俱乐部成员开放。马德普拉塔的海洋乐园是游客们必去的地方，里面所有的动物都与人近在咫尺。可以买一盒小鱼，看海狮们在手下抢嘴吃；而企鹅们只圈在半米高的隔段里，简直伸手可及；最精彩的是海豚和海狮表演，海豚们跳高、钻圈、悬转、顶球、与人嬉水；海狮们更绝，与训兽员共同表演爱情故事。 马德普拉塔的另一特色是海滨社区。那儿有百年前的古堡，也有近代新建的别墅。走在幽静的社区街道，两边是一座座建筑形态各异的房屋，除了偶而驶过的车外，几乎没有人。让人可以仔细欣赏它们的建筑风格，诱人的绿化，甚至门口一盏小小的精巧别致的门灯。 在马德普拉塔，海鲜的香味充盈在沿岸从高档到低档的各家饭店中，这里的海鲜做法别具风味，极受游客欢迎。 ——景点览胜 1、伊瓜苏瀑布 南美洲的伊瓜苏瀑布是世界五大瀑布之一，该瀑布位于阿根廷和巴西两国边境。1934年，阿根廷在伊瓜苏瀑布区建立了670平方公里的国家公园。1984年，伊瓜苏瀑布被联合国教科文组织列为世界自然遗产。 1542年，一位西班牙传教士在南美巴拉那河流域的热带雨林中，意外地发现了伊瓜苏大瀑布：层层叠叠的瀑布环绕着一个马蹄形峡谷咆哮着倾泻而下，激起的水雾弥漫在密林上空，奔流而下的水流声几公里外都能听见。 “伊瓜苏”在南美洲土著居民瓜拉尼人的语言中，是“大水”的意思。发源于巴西境内的伊瓜苏河在汇入巴拉那河之前，水流渐缓，在阿根廷与巴西边境，河宽1500米，像一个湖泊。水往前流陡然遇到一个峡谷，河水顺着倒U形峡谷的顶部和两边向下直泻，凸出的岩石将奔腾而下的河水切割成大大小小270多个瀑布，形成一个景象壮观的半环形瀑布群，总宽度3000米至4000米，平均落差80米。 伊瓜苏瀑布与众不同之处在于观赏点多。从不同地点、不同方向、不同高度，看到的景象不同。峡谷顶部是瀑布的中心，水流最大最猛，人称“魔鬼喉”。 瀑布分布于峡谷两边，阿根廷与巴西就以此峡谷为界，在阿根廷和巴西观赏到的瀑布景色截然不同。阿根廷这边分上下两条游览路线，下路蜿蜒贯穿在密林之中，可自下而上领略每一段瀑布的宏伟或妩媚，可说是10步一景；上路是自上而下感受瀑布翻滚而下的气势。在巴西那边能够欣赏到阿根廷这边主要瀑布的全景。伊瓜苏瀑布气势最宏伟的“魔鬼喉”，在阿根廷这边是从上往下看，9股水流咆哮而下，惊心动魄，同时还可以望见环形瀑布群的全景；在巴西那边是从下往上看，水幕自天而降，另有一番感受。 以前，游人可免费参观伊瓜苏瀑布。几年前，伊瓜苏瀑布旅游区由一家私人企业经营，这家企业投入了大量资金，修建了约20公里长的游览栈道，铺设了电气铁路，旅游设施焕然一新。游人买门票进入公园区后，可以乘坐小列车前往各个景点，还可以乘坐橡皮艇冲进瀑布下面探险。 伊瓜苏瀑布地处亚热带，全年水量变化不大，最佳参观季节是1－3月。 2、阿根廷湖 这是一个坐落于阿根廷南部圣克鲁斯省的冰川湖，面积1414平方公里，这里以著名冰块堆积景观而闻名于世。该湖接纳来自周围150多条冰河的冰流和冰块。巨大的冰块互相撞击，缓缓向前移动，有时形成造型奇特的冰墙，高达80米。最后全部汇集到阿根廷湖，组成了洁白玉立的冰山雕塑。湖畔雪峰环绕，山下林木茂盛，景色迷人，为阿根廷最引人入胜的旅游景点。 3、卡特德拉尔山 阿根廷著名的滑雪中心，位于里奥内格罗省西部的纳韦尔瓦皮国家公园中，每年6月至9月，正当欧美处于盛夏之际，这里大雪纷飞，银装素裹，成为天然的滑雪圣地，大批欧美滑雪爱好者蜂拥而至。为方便滑雪爱好者，这里修有完好的旅店饭店设施，并建有空中缆车，直接把游人载到山顶。 4、科隆大剧院 这是世界上最大而且繁忙的歌剧院演出厅之一。在布宜诺斯艾利斯的7月9曰大街广场上，屹立着科隆大剧院。这是一座典型的文艺复兴式的庞然大物。大理石走廊里有无数根圆柱和一尊尊雕像。一排排晶莹透亮的棱形吊灯，把屋子映照得一片辉煌。巨大的礼堂，四壁金光灿灿，脚下铺着红色天鹅绒地毯，透出一派奢华。在2500个观众席外，还能容纳1000位站着的观众。单是正厅前排就有632个座位，座位之间宽敞舒适。 5 阿根廷火地岛国家公园 乌斯怀亚 (Ushuaia)，是一个小城，也是一个海港，如果你打开世界地图或旋转地球仪要想找到它的所在可能要费一番周折，可我要说出：除南极之外，离我们最远的普通人可以正常生活和居住的地方。你会毫不犹豫地发现它的准确位置——南美大陆的最南端，位于麦哲伦海峡与合恩角之间的火地岛（西语：terra del fuego）上的一个小城，被称为“世界尽头”。乌斯怀亚在印第安语中是“观赏落日的海湾”之意。 火地岛原为印第安人奥那族、扬甘族和阿拉卡卢夫族居住地。1520年10月，航海家麦哲伦发现了并以他的名字命名的麦哲伦海峡时，首先看到的是当地土著居民在岛上燃起的堆堆篝火，遂将此岛命名为“火地岛”。1832—1836年间，自从英国生物学家查理?达尔文考察了火地岛后，该岛便名声大振。 Argentina has the highest Human Development Index level and the second highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in purchasing power parity in Latin America and its total national GDP is the 23rd largest in the world. The country is currently classified as an Upper-Middle Income Country or as a secondary emerging market by the World Bank. Argentina's nominal GDP makes it the 31st largest economy in the world. The name Argentina (from Latin argentum: silver) was first used extensively in the 1612 book Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata) by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, naming the territory Tierra Argentina (Land of Silver). History The first signs of human presence in Argentina are located in the Patagonia (Piedra Museo, Santa Cruz), and date from 11,000 BC(Santa María, Huarpes, Diaguitas, Sanavirones, among others). In 1480, the Inca Empire under the rule of king Pachacutec launched an offensive and conquered present-day northwestern Argentina, integrating it into a region called Collasuyu. In the northeastern area, the Guaraní developed a culture based on yuca and sweet potato. The central and southern areas (Pampas and Patagonia) were dominated by nomadic cultures, unified in the seventeenth century by the Mapuches. Buenos Aires in 1536.European explorers arrived in 1516. Spain established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580; the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was created in 1776. During the early part of this period it was largely a country of Spanish immigrants and their descendants, known as criollos, some of them gathered in Buenos Aires and other cities, others living on the pampas as gauchos. Descendants of African slaves (See:Afro-Argentines) were present in significant numbers. Indigenous peoples inhabited much of the rest of Argentina. In 1806 and 1807 the British Empire launched two invasions to Buenos Aires, but the criollo population repelled both attempts. On May 25, 1810, after confirmation of the rumors about the overthrow of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon, citizens of Buenos Aires created the First Government Junta (May Revolution).Two nations emerged in what is now Argentina United Provinces of South America (1810) and Liga Federal (1815) Other provinces through the reluctance of some factions and the centralist tendencies of the more radical activists delayed a combined State. In the meantime, Paraguay declared its independence in 1811. Military campaigns led by General José de San Martín between 1814 and 1817 made independence increasingly a reality. In 1820 Liga Federal was crushed by forces of the United Provinces of South America and Portugal armies from Brazil and its provinces absorbed into United Provinces of South America. Argentines revere San Martín, who campaigned in Argentina, Chile, and Peru, as the hero of their national independence. On July 9, 1816, a Congress gathered in Tucumán (the Congress of Tucumán) and finally issued a formal declaration of independence from Spain. Bolivia declared itself independent in 1825, and Uruguay was created in 1828 as a result of the Argentina-Brazil War. In 1818, General José de San Martín crossed the Andes to free Chile and Peru, thus eliminating the Spanish threat. Centralist and federalist groups (Spanish: Unitarios and Federales) were in conflict until national unity was established and the constitution promulgated in 1853. The constitution was strongly defended in moving oratory by the patriot and Franciscan Mamerto Esquiú, for whom one of the country's departments is named. From 1865 to 1870, the bloody War of Triple Alliance was fought by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay against Paraguay. Foreign investment and immigration from Europe led to the adoption of modern agricultural techniques. In the 1870s, the "Conquest of the Desert" subdued the remaining indigenous tribes throughout the southern Pampas and Patagonia, leaving 1,300 indigenous dead. From 1880 to 1916, Argentina enjoyed increasing prosperity and prominence while emerging as one of the 10 richest countries in the world, benefiting from an agricultural export-led economy. The population of the country swelled sevenfold. Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics through non-democratic means until 1916, when their traditional rivals, the Radicals, won control of the first free-elected government. The military forced Hipólito Yrigoyen from power in 1930, leading to another decade of Conservative rule. The country was neutral during World War II. Political change led to the presidency of Juan Perón in 1946, who worked to empower the working class and greatly expanded the number of unionized workers. The economy turned to more protectionist policies and the developing of industry. The self-proclamated Revolución Libertadora of 1955 deposed him. President Juan Perón (1946).From the 1950s to 1970s, soft military and weak civilian administrations traded power. During those years the economy grew strongly and poverty declined (to less than 7% in 1975). At the same time political violence continued to escalate, fighting against the military government, demanding the return of Perón from his Spanish exile. In 1973, Perón returned to the presidency, but he died within a year of assuming power. His third wife Isabel, the Vice President, succeeded him in office, but the military coup of March 24, 1976 removed her from office. The armed forces took power through a junta in charge of the self-appointed National Reorganization Process until 1983. The military government repressed opposition and leftist groups using harsh illegal measures (the "Dirty War"); thousands of dissidents "disappeared", while the SIDE cooperated with DINA and other South American intelligence agencies, and with the CIA in Operation Condor. Many of the military leaders that took part in the Dirty War were trained in the U.S.-financed School of the Americas, among them Argentine dictators Leopoldo Galtieri and Roberto Viola. The military dictatorship (1976-1983) greatly increased the extent of the country's foreign debt. From that point the economy of the country began to be controlled more and more by the conditions imposed on it by both its creditors and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) with priority given to servicing the repayment of the foreign debt. These and other economic problems, charges of corruption, public revulsion in the face of human rights abuses and, finally, the country's 1982 defeat by the British in the Falklands War discredited the Argentine military regime. Democracy was restored in 1983. Raúl Alfonsín's government took steps to account for the "disappeared", established civilian control of the armed forces, and consolidated democratic institutions. The members of the three military juntas were prosecuted and sentenced to life terms. Failure to resolve endemic economic problems and an inability to maintain public confidence led to Alfonsín's early departure six months before his term was to be completed. The 1990s began with hyperinflation. President Carlos Menem imposed a peso-dollar fixed exchange rate in 1991 to stop hyperinflation and adopted far-reaching market-based policies, dismantling protectionist barriers and business regulations, and implementing a privatization program. These reforms contributed to significant increases in investment and growth with stable prices through most of the 1990s. However, the peso was tied to the dollar at an artificially high rate that could only be maintained by flooding the market with dollars. As a result the foreign debt increased enormously and state companies and services were privatized. The total opening up of the market to foreign goods, which up until then were produced locally, resulted in the collapse of local industry. So while part of the population was saving in dollars, traveling overseas, and purchasing imported and luxury goods cheaply, the rest of the population was experiencing an increase in both poverty and unemployment. The IMF and the world economists praised the liberalization of the Argentine market, and the country was presented as a “model student”. Toward the end of the 1990s, large fiscal deficits and overvaluation of the pegged peso caused a gradual slide into economic crisis. In 1998 a period of profound economic recession began. This was a direct result of the economic measures which dominated the decade of the 90s and which produced a false sense of stability and well being. By the end of his term in 1999, these accumulating problems and perceived corruption had made Menem unpopular. The Menem and de la Rúa administrations faced diminished competitiveness in exports, massive imports which damaged national industry and reduced employment, chronic fiscal and trade deficits, and the contagion of several economic crises. Unemployment reached as high as 25% of the economically active population, and another 15% had only part-time work. The Asian financial crisis in 1998 precipitated an outflow of capital that mushroomed into a recession, and culminated in economic crisis in November 2001. The governing coalition was forced to undertake a series of measures including the freezing of bank accounts. This was done to halt the flow of capital out of the country and to stem the growing debt crisis. However, a climate of popular discontent was unleashed as a result. On 20 December 2001 Argentina was thrown into its worst institutional and economic crisis for several decades. There were violent street protests, which brought about clashes with the police and resulted in several fatalities. The increasingly chaotic climate, amidst bloody riots, finally resulted in the resignation of President de la Rúa. The economic crisis accentuated the people's lack of trust in their politicians. During this time street protests were accompanied by the cry “they all should go.” The "they" referred to the politicians, especially those involved in many reported acts of corruption. They were also accused of dealing fraudulently with public goods and money, without any judicial sanctions in place to curb the corruption. In two weeks, several presidents followed in quick succession, culminating in Eduardo Duhalde's being appointed interim President of Argentina by the Legislative Assembly on 2 January 2002. Argentina defaulted on its international debt obligations. The peso's near eleven year-old linkage to the United States dollar was abandoned, resulting in major depreciation of the peso and a spike in inflation. With a more competitive and flexible exchange rate, the country implemented new policies based on re-industrialization, import substitution, increased exports, and consistent fiscal and trade surpluses. By the end of 2002 the economy began to stabilize, mainly thanks to the soybean and other cereals' boom and floating of exchange rates. In 2003, Néstor Kirchner was elected president. During Kirchner's presidency, Argentina restructured its defaulted debt with a steep discount (about 66 percent) on most bonds, paid off debts with the International Monetary Fund, renegotiated contracts with utilities, and nationalized some previously privatized enterprises. Currently, Argentina is enjoying a period of economic growth. In 2007 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, was elected president, becoming the first woman to be elected president of Argentina. Also in 2007, Center-left Fabiana Ríos (ARI) became the first woman to be elected governor of Tierra del Fuego and first elected female governor in Argentina's history. Politics Government The Casa Rosada, seat of executive powerArgentina's political framework is a federal presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of The Argentine Nation is both head of state and head of government, complemented by a pluriform multi-party system. The current president (2007) is Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, with Julio Cobos as vice president. The Argentine Constitution of 1853 mandates a separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the national and provincial level. Executive power resides in the President and his or her cabinet. The President of The Argentine Nation and Vice President are directly elected to four-year terms, limited to two consecutive terms, and the cabinet ministers are appointed by the president. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Nación, consisting of a Senate (Senado) of seventy-two seats, and a Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) of 257 members. Senators serve six-year terms, with one-third standing for reelection every two years. Members of the Chamber of Deputies are directly elected to four-year term via a system of proportional representation, with half of the members of the lower house being elected every two years. A third of the candidates presented by the parties must be women. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Argentine Supreme Court of Justice has seven members who are appointed by the President in consultation with the Senate. The rest of the judges are appointed by the Council of Magistrates of the Nation, a secretariat composed of representatives of judges, lawyers, the Congress, and the executive (see Law of Argentina). Argentina is a member of an international block, Mercosur, which has some legislative supranational functions. Mercosur is composed of five full members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. It has five associate members without full voting rights: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Argentina was the only country from Latin America to participate in the 1991 Gulf War under mandate of the United Nations. It was also the only Latin American country involved in every phase of the Haiti operation. Argentina has contributed worldwide to peacekeeping operations, including in El Salvador-Honduras-Nicaragua, Guatemala, Ecuador-Peru, Western Sahara, Angola, Kuwait, Cyprus, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Timor Leste. In recognition of its contributions to international security, U.S. President Bill Clinton designated Argentina as a major non-NATO ally in January 1998. In 2005, it was elected as a temporary member of the UN Security Council. In 1993, Argentina launched the United Nations White Helmets indicative of humanitarian aid. On November 4-November 5, 2005, the Argentine city of Mar del Plata hosted the Fourth Summit of the Americas. This summit was marked by a number of anti-U.S. protests. As of 2006, Argentina has been emphasizing Mercosur as its first international priority; by contrast, during the 1990s, it relied more heavily on its relationship with the United States. Current president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, elected in December 2007Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), the South Shetland Islands, the South Sandwich Islands and almost 1 million km² in Antarctica, between the 25°W and the 74°W meridians and the 60°S parallel. For more than a century, there has been an Argentine presence at the Orcadas Base. Argentina is a founding signatory and permanent consulting member of the Antarctic Treaty System and the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat is established in Buenos Aires. Military Argentina's armed forces are controlled by the Defense Ministry, with the country's President as their Commander-in-Chief. Historically, Argentina's military has been one of the best equipped in the region (for example, developing its own advanced jet fighters as early as the 1950s), but has faced expenditure cutbacks in comparison to other regional militaries. The age of allowable military service is 18 years; there is no obligatory military service and currently no conscription. The armed forces are composed of a traditional Army, Navy, and Air Force. Controlled by a separate ministry (the Interior Ministry), Argentine territorial waters are patrolled by the Naval Prefecture, and the border regions by the National Gendarmerie; both arms however maintain liaison with the Defense Ministry. Argentina's Armed Forces are currently undertaking major operations in Haiti and Cyprus, in accordance with UN mandates. Provinces Argentina is divided into twenty-three provinces (provincias; singular provincia), and one autonomous city (commonly known as the capital federal, but officially Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires): 1. Buenos Aires (autonomous city) 2. Buenos Aires (province) 3. Catamarca 4. Chaco 5. Chubut 6. Córdoba 7. Corrientes 8. Entre Ríos 9. Formosa 10. Jujuy 11. La Pampa 12. La Rioja 13. Mendoza 14. Misiones 15. Neuquén 16. Río Negro 17. Salta 18. San Juan 19. San Luis 20. Santa Cruz 21. Santa Fe 22. Santiago del Estero 23. Tierra del Fuego 24. Tucumán Though declared the capital in 1853, Buenos Aires didn't become the capital of the country until 1880. There have been moves to relocate the administrative centre elsewhere. During the presidency of Raúl Alfonsín, a law was passed ordering the transfer of the federal capital to Viedma, a city in the Patagonian province of Río Negro. Studies were underway when economic problems halted the project in 1989. Though the law was never formally repealed, it is now treated as a relic. Provinces are divided into smaller secondary units called departamentos ("departments"), of which there are 376 in total. The province of Buenos Aires has 134 similar divisions known as partidos. Departamentos and partidos are further subdivided into municipalities or districts. In descending order by number of inhabitants, the major cities in Argentina are Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Tucumán, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Salta, Santa Fe, San Juan, Resistencia, and Neuquén. Geography Main features The total surface area of Argentina (not including the Antarctic claim),is as the following: Total: 2,766,891 km² Land: 2,736,691 km² Water: 30,200 km² Argentina is about 3,330 km (about 2,070 mi) long from north to south, and 1,400 km (about 870 mi) from east to west (maximum values). It can roughly be divided into four parts: the fertile plains of the Pampas in the center of the country, the source of Argentina's agricultural wealth; the flat to rolling, oil-rich plateau of Patagonia in the southern half down to Tierra del Fuego; the subtropical flats of the Gran Chaco in the north, and the rugged Andes mountain range along the western border with Chile. The highest point above sea level in Argentina is located in Mendoza. Cerro Aconcagua, at 6,962 meters (22,834 feet), is the highest mountain in the Americas, the Southern, and Western Hemisphere. The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón in Santa Cruz, −105 meters (−344 ft) below sea level. This is also the lowest point on the South American continent. The geographic center of the country is located in south-central La Pampa province. The country has a territorial claim over a portion of Antarctica (unrecognized by any other country), where, from 1904, it has maintained a constant presence. Geographic regions Source: CIA Political map of Argentina showing the area it controls. The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are controlled by the United Kingdom but are claimed by Argentina.The country is traditionally divided into several major geographically distinct regions: Pampas The plains west and south from Buenos Aires. Called the Humid Pampa, they cover most of the provinces of Buenos Aires and Córdoba, and big portions of the provinces of Santa Fe and La Pampa. The western part of La Pampa and the province San Luis also have plains (the Dry Pampa), but they are drier and used mainly for grazing. The Sierra de Córdoba in the homonymous province (extending into San Luis), is the most important geographical feature of the pampas. Gran Chaco The Gran Chaco region in the north of the country is seasonal dry/wet, mainly cotton growing and livestock raising. It covers the provinces of Chaco and Formosa. It is dotted with subtropical forests, scrubland, and some wetlands, home to a large number of plant and animal species. The province of Santiago del Estero lies in the drier region of the Gran Chaco. Mesopotamia The land between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers is called Mesopotamia and it is shared by the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Ríos. It features flatland apt for grazing and plant growing, and the Iberá Wetlands in central Corrientes. Misiones province is more tropical and belongs within the Brazilian Highlands geographic feature. It features subtropical rainforests and the Iguazú Falls. Patagonia The steppes of Patagonia, in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz, are of Tertiary origin. Most of the region is semiarid in the north to cold and arid in the far south, but forests grow in its western fringes which are dotted with several large lakes. Tierra del Fuego is cool and wet, moderated by oceanic influences. Northern Patagonia (roughly Río Negro south of the homonymous river, and Neuquén) can also be referred as the Comahue region. Cuyo West-central Argentina is dominated by the imposing Andes Mountains. To their east is the arid region known as Cuyo. Melting waters from high in the mountains form the backbone of irrigated lowland oasis, at the center of a rich fruit and wine growing region in Mendoza and San Juan provinces. Further north the region gets hotter and drier with more geographical accidents in La Rioja province. NOA or Northwest This region is the highest in average elevation. Several parallel mountain ranges, several of which have peaks higher than 20,000 feet (6,000 m), dominate the area. These ranges grow wider in geographic extent towards the north. They are cut by fertile river valleys, the most important being the Calchaquí Valleys in the provinces of Catamarca, Tucumán, and Salta. Farther north the province of Jujuy near Bolivia lies mainly within the Altiplano plateau of the Central Andes. The Tropic of Capricorn goes through the far north of the region. Rivers and lakes Major rivers in Argentina include the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado, Uruguay and the largest river, the Paraná. The latter two flow together before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, forming the estuary of the Río de la Plata. Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and the San Francisco River in Salta. There are several large lakes in Argentina, many of them in Patagonia. Among these are lakes Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi in Río Negro and Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Buenos Aires and O'Higgins/San Martín Lake are shared with Chile. Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water lake in the country. There are numerous reservoirs created by dams. Argentina features various hot springs, such as those at Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 89 °C and 65 °C. Coastal areas and seas Argentina has 4,665 km (2,899 mi) of coastline. The continental platform is unusually wide; in Argentina this shallow area of the Atlantic Ocean is called Mar Argentino. The waters are rich in fisheries and suspected of holding important hydrocarbon energy resources. Argentina's coastline varies between areas of sand dunes and cliffs. The two major ocean currents affecting the coast are the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falkland Current (Spanish: corriente antártica or corriente de las Malvinas). Because of the uneveness of the coastal landmass, the two currents alternate in their influence on climate and do not allow temperatures to fall evenly with higher latitude. The southern coast of Tierra del Fuego forms the north shore of the Drake Passage. Climate Rural areas cover the region of Las Pampas. The Andean range over the southern province of Chubut.Because of longitudinal and elevation amplitudes, Argentina is subject to a variety of climates. As a rule, the climate is predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from subtropical in the north to subpolar in the far south. The north of the country is characterized by very hot, humid summers with mild drier winters, and is subject to periodic droughts. Central Argentina has hot summers with thunderstorms (in western Argentina producing some of the world's largest hail), and cool winters. The southern regions have warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall, especially in mountainous zones. Higher elevations at all latitudes experience cooler conditions. The hottest and coldest temperature extremes recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina. A record high temperature of 49.1 °C (120.4 °F), was recorded at Villa de María, Córdoba on January 2, 1920. The lowest temperature recorded was −39 °C (−38.2 °F) at Valle de los Patos Superior, San Juan, July 17, 1972. Major winds in Argentina include the cool Pampero blowing on the flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas after a cold front; the Viento Norte, a warm wind that can blow from the north in mid and late winter creating mild conditions; and the Zonda, a hot and dry wind (see also foehn wind), affecting west-central Argentina. Squeezed of all moisture during the 6,000 meter descent from the Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to 120 km/h, fueling wildfires and causing damage. When the Zonda blows (June-November), snowstorms and blizzard (viento blanco) conditions usually affect the higher elevations. The Sudestada (literally “southeastern”) could be considered similar to the Noreaster, though snowfall is rarely involved (but is not unprecedented). Both are associated with a deep winter low pressure system. The sudestada usually moderates cold temperatures but brings very heavy rains, rough seas, and coastal flooding. It is most common in late autumn and winter along the coasts of central Argentina and in the Río de la Plata estuary. The southern regions, particularly the far south, experience long periods of daylight from November to February (up to nineteen hours), and extended nights from May to August. All of Argentina uses UTC-3 time zone. The country does observe daylight saving time occasionally, the last summertime being started at 0:00 December 30, 2007 and being finished at 0:00 March 16, 2008. Extremities Argentina's eastermost continental point is northeast of the town of Bernardo de Irigoyen, Misiones (26°15′S, 53°38′W), the westernmost in the Mariano Moreno Range in Santa Cruz (49°33′S, 73°35′W). The northernmost point is located at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete rivers, Jujuy (21°46′S, 66°13′W), and the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra del Fuego (55°03′S, 66°31′W). Enclaves and exclaves There is one Argentine exclave, the Martín García Island (co-ordinates 34°11′S, 58°15′W). It is near the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, a kilometer (0.62 mi) inside Uruguayan waters, and 3.5 kilometres (2.1 mi) from the Uruguayan coastline near the small town of Martín Chico (itself halfway between Nueva Palmira and Colonia del Sacramento). An agreement reached by Argentina and Uruguay in 1973 reaffirmed Argentine jurisdiction over the island, ending a century-old dispute. Under the terms of the agreement, Martín García is to be devoted exclusively as a natural preserve. Its area is about 2 square kilometres (500 acres), and its population is about 200 people. Flora Subtropical plants dominate the north, part of the Gran Chaco region of South America. The genus Dalbergia of trees is well disseminated with representatives like the Brazilian Rosewood and the quebracho tree; also predominant are white and black algarrobo trees (prosopis alba and prosopis nigra). Savannah-like areas exist in the drier regions nearer the Andes. Aquatic plants thrive in the wetlands dotting the region. The ceibo is Argentina's national flower.In central Argentina the humid pampas are a true tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The original pampa had virtually no trees; today along roads or in towns and country estates (estancias), some imported species like the American sycamore or eucalyptus are present. The only tree-like plant native to the pampa is the ombú, an evergreen. The surface soils of the pampa are a deep black color, primarily humus, known commonly as compost. It is this which makes the region one of the most agriculturaly productive on Earth. However, this is also responsible for decimating much of the original ecosystem, to make way for commercial agriculture. The western pampas receive less rainfall, this dry pampa is a plain of short grasses or steppe.[citation needed] Most of Patagonia in the south lies within the rain shadow of the Andes. The flora, shrubby bushes and plants, is well suited to withstand dry conditions. The soil is hard and rocky, making large-scale farming impossible except along river valleys. Coniferous forests grow in far western Patagonia and on the island of Tierra del Fuego. Conifers native to the region include alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), ciprés de la cordillera (Austrocedrus chilensis), ciprés de las guaitecas (Pilgerodendron uviferum), huililahuán (Podocarpus nubigenus), lleuque (Prumnopitys andina), mañío hembra (Saxegothaea conspicua), and pehuén (Araucaria araucana), while native broadleaf trees include several species of Nothofagus including coigüe or coihue, lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), ñire (Nothofagus Antarctica). Other introduced trees present in forestry plantations include spruce, cypress, and pine. Common plants are the copihue and colihue (Chusquea culeou). In Cuyo, semiarid thorny bushes and other xerophile plants abound. Along the many river oasis, grasses and trees grow in significant numbers. The area presents optimal conditions for the large scale growth of grape vines. In the northwest of Argentina there are many species of cacti. In the highest elevations (often above 4,000mts), no vegetation grows because of the extreme altitude, and the soils are virtually devoid of any plant life. The ceibo flower, of the tree Erythrina crista-galli, is the national flower of Argentina. Fauna The puma inhabits the northeast of the country.Many species live in the subtropical north. Big cats like the jaguar, cougar, and ocelot; primates (howler monkey); large reptiles (crocodiles), and a species of caiman. Other animals include the tapir, capybara, peccary, bush dog, raccoon, and various species of turtle and tortoise. There are many birds, notably hummingbirds, flamingos, toucans, and parrots. The hornero is one of the national emblems of Argentina.The central grasslands are populated by the giant anteater, armadillo, pampas cat, maned wolf, mara and the rhea (ñandú), a flightless bird. Hawks, falcons, herons, tinamous (Argentine "partridges" or "perdiz") inhabit the region. There are also deer and foxes. Some of these species extend into Patagonia. The western mountains are home to different animals. These include the llama, guanaco, vicuña, among the most recognizable species of South America. Also in this region are the fox, viscacha, Andean Mountain Cat, kodkod and the largest flying bird in the New World, the Andean Condor. Southern Argentina is home to the cougar, huemul, pudú (the world's smallest deer), and introduced, non-native wild boar. The coast of Patagonia is rich in animal life: elephant seals, fur seals, sea lions, and species of penguin. The far south is populated by cormorant birds. The territorial waters of Argentina have abundant ocean life; mammals such as dolphins, orcas, and whales like the southern right whale, a major tourist draw for naturalists. Sea fish include sardines, argentine hakes, dolphinfish, salmon, and sharks; also present are squid and spider crab (centolla) in Tierra del Fuego. Rivers and streams in Argentina have many species of trout and the South American dorado fish. Outstanding snake species inhabiting Argentina include boa constrictors, and the very venomous yarará pit viper and South American rattle snake. The Hornero was elected the National Bird after a survey in 1928. Economy Argentina benefits from abundant natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base, that was once one of the wealthiest nations with a large middle class but this segment of the population has suffered by a succession of economic crises. Argentina's economy started to slowly lose ground after 1945 when it went from a wealthy nation with a strong and prosperous economy to a deep recession in the mid 50s, losing its place in the position of prosperous industrialized nations. The economy further declined during the military dictatorship that lasted from 1976 to 1983. During this period, the government took out large loans with high interest rates from the IMF and private banking institutions. The country engaged in a disorganized and corrupt rapid liberalization that marked the end of its industrial hegemony in Latin America. During the military dictatorship over 400,000 companies of all sizes went bankrupt. The economic decisions made from 1983 till 2001 failed to revert the situation. Finally, in 2001, after 3 years of recession, the economy broke down and reached its worst point in history. Although significant since then, the result is that, today, while a significant segment of the population is still financially well-off, they stand in sharp contrast with the millions who have seen their purchasing power drastically reduced. Since 2002, there has been an improvement in the situation of the poorer sectors and a strong rebound of the middle class. The urban poverty rate dropped to 26.9% by 2007, down from 48 percent observed in 2003, but is still above the level prior to the recession. From the late 1970s the country piled up public debt and was plagued by bouts of high inflation. In 1991, the government pegged the peso to the U.S. dollar and limited the growth in the money supply. It then embarked on a path of trade liberalization, deregulation and privatization. Inflation dropped and gross domestic product grew, but external economic shocks and failures of the system diluted benefits, causing the economy to crumble slowly from 1995 until the collapse in 2001. By 2002, Argentina had defaulted on its debt, its GDP had shrunk, unemployment was more than 25%, and the peso had depreciated 75% after being devalued and floated. However, careful spending control and heavy taxes on then-soaring exports allowed the state to regain resources and conduct monetary policy. In 2003, import substitution policies and soaring exports, coupled with lower inflation and expansive economic measures, triggered a surge in the GDP. This was repeated in 2004 and 2005, creating millions of jobs and encouraging internal consumption. Capital flight decreased, and foreign investment slowly returned. An influx of foreign currency from exports created a huge trade surplus. The Central Bank was forced to buy dollars from the market, and continues to do so from time to time to prevent the Argentine peso from appreciating significantly and cutting competitiveness. The situation by 2006 was further improved. The economy grew 8.8% in 2003, 9.0% in 2004, 9.2% in 2005, 8.5% in 2006, and 8.7% in 2007, though inflation, estimated at around 12 to 15% (official numbers are 9.8% for 2006), has become an issue again, and income distribution is still considerably unequal. Sectors Argentina is one of the world's major agricultural producers, ranking third worldwide in production of soybeans, fifth in maize, and eleventh in wheat. In 2007, agricultural output accounted for 10% of GDP, and nearly one third of all exports. Soy and vegetable oils are major export commodities at 32% of exports. Wheat, maize, oats, sorghum, and sunflower seeds totalled 7%. Cattle is also a major industry. Beef, milk, leather products, and cheese were 6% of total exports. Sheep and wool industries are important in Patagonia, pigs and caprines elsewhere. Fruits and vegetables made up 4% of exports: apples and pears in the Río Negro valley; oranges and other citrus in the northwest and Mesopotamia; grapes and strawberries in Cuyo, and berries in the far south. Cotton and yerba mate are major crops in the Gran Chaco, sugarcane and tobacco in the northwest, and olives and garlic in Cuyo. Bananas (Formosa), tomatoes (Salta), and peaches (Mendoza) are grown for domestic consumption. Argentina is the world's fifth-largest wine producer, and fine wine production has taken major leaps in quality. A growing export, total viticulture potential is far from met. Mendoza is the largest wine region, followed by San Juan. As a strike by farmers, who are protesting an increase in export taxes for their products, continued for a 13th day March 25, 2008 with no solution in sight, butchers and supermarkets were among the first hit. Industrial petrochemicals, oil, and natural gas are Argentina's second group of exports, 20% of totals. The most important oil fields lie in Patagonia and Cuyo. An impressive network of pipelines send raw product to Bahia Blanca, center of the petrochemical industry, and to the La Plata-Rosario industrial belt. Coal is also mined. Mining is a rising industry. The northwest and San Juan Province are main regions of activity. Metals mined include gold, silver, zinc, magnesium, copper, sulfur, tungsten and uranium. In only ten years exports soared from US$ 200 million to 1.2 billion in 2004, 3% of total. Estimates for 2006 are US$ 2bn, a 10 fold rise from 1996. In fisheries, argentine hake accounts for 50% of catches, pollack and squid follow. Forestry has expanded in Mesopotamia; elm for cellulose, pine and eucalyptus for furniture, timber, and paper products. Both sectors each account for 2% of exports. The Yacyretá Dam hydroelectric complex is the second largest in the world.Manufacturing is the nation's leading single sector in GDP output, with 35% of the share. Leading sectors are motor vehicles, auto parts, and transportation and farming equipment (7% of exports), iron and steel (3%), foodstuffs and textiles (2%). Other manufactures include cement, industrial chemicals, home appliances, and processed wood. The biggest industrial centers are Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba. The telecommunication sector has been growing at a fast pace, with an important penetration of mobile telephony (More than 75% of the population)internet (with more than 16 million people online), and broadband services (4.1%). Regular telephone (with 9.5 million lines) and mail are robust. The service sector is the biggest contributor to total GDP. Argentina produces energy in large part through well developed hydroelectric resources; nuclear energy is also of high importance. The country is one of the largest producers and exporters (with Canada and Russia) of Cobalt-60, a radioactive isotope widely used in cancer therapy. Construction has led employment creation in the current economic expansion, and is 5% of GDP. Tourism is increasingly important, now providing 7% of economic output.[citation needed] Argentines are traveling more within their borders, and foreigners are flocking to a country seen as affordable, safe, and incredibly diverse:[citation needed] Cosmopolitan Buenos Aires and Rosario; the Iguazu Falls and colonial Salta; the South American indigenous Jujuy Province and fun-filled Córdoba; the wineries of Mendoza; the ski-suitable scenic Bariloche to the beaches of Pinamar; and Perito Moreno Glacier to Tierra del Fuego. 3.7 million tourists visited in 2005. Transportation A cargo ship in front of the Rosario-Victoria Bridge. Light rail in Buenos AiresArgentina's infrastructure is advanced compared to other countries in Latin America. There are nearly 215,471 km (133,887 mi) of roads of which 68,809 km are paved, and 734 km are expressways, many of which are privatized. Multilane highways now connect several main cities and more are now under construction. The railway network has a total length of 31,902 km. After decades of decaying service and lack of maintenance, most passenger services shut down in 1992 when the rail company was privatized, and thousands of kilometers of track are now in disrepair. Railway services are currently being reactivated among several cities. The country has around 3,000 kilometers of waterways, the most significant among these being the Río de la Plata, Paraná, Uruguay, Río Negro and Paraguay rivers. Water supply and sanitation Water supply and sanitation in Argentina faces five key challenges: (i) low coverage with higher levels of service provision for its income level; (ii) poor service quality; and (iii) high levels of pollution; (iv) low cost recovery; and (v) unclear allocation of responsibilities between institutions in the sector. Population The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) 2001 census showed the population of Argentina was 36,260,130. It ranks third in South America in total population and 30th globally. The 2007 estimate is 40,927,301. Argentina's population density is 14 inhabitants per square kilometer. However, the population is not evenly distributed: areas of the city of Buenos Aires have a population density of over 14,000 inhab./km², while Santa Cruz province has less than 1 inhab./km². Argentina is the only nation in South America with a net positive migration rate, of about +0.4 persons. Cities and metropolitan areas As of 2005, Argentina's 20th largest metropolitan areas are: Cordoba city centre Puerto Madero Docklands, Buenos Aires Monument to the Argentine flag in RosarioRank City Province Population Region 1 Buenos Aires City + 24 partidos in Buenos Aires Province 11,453,725 Pampean 2 Córdoba Córdoba 1,513,200 Pampean 3 Rosario Santa Fe 1,295,100 Pampean 4 Mendoza Mendoza 1,009,100 Cuyo 5 La Plata Buenos Aires 857,800 Pampean 6 San Miguel de Tucumán Tucumán 833,100 NOA (northwest) 7 Mar del Plata Buenos Aires 699,600 Pampean 8 Salta Salta 530,400 NOA (northwest) 9 Santa Fe Santa Fe 525,300 Pampean 10 San Juan San Juan 456,400 Cuyo 11 San Salvador Jujuy 400,000 NOA (northwest) 12 Resistencia Chaco 399,800 Gran Chaco 13 Neuquén Neuquén 391,600 Patagonian 14 Santiago del Estero Santiago del Estero 389,200 Gran Chaco 15 Corrientes Corrientes 332,400 Mesopotamia 16 Bahía Blanca Buenos Aires 310,200 Pampean 17 Río Cuarto Cordoba 144,021 Pampean 18 Comodoro Rivadavia Chubut 140,628 Patagonia 19 Santa Rosa La Pampa 110,640 Pampean 20 Zárate Buenos Aires 101,271 Pampean 21 Tandil Buenos Aires 101,010 Pampean Demographics Ethnicity Argentina is a melting pot of different peoples, both autochthonous and immigrants. Citizens of European descent make up the great majority of the population, with estimates varying from white 89.7% to 97% of the total population. The last national census, based on self-ascription, showed a similar figure, in that only 2% of the population identified as Argentine Amerindian or a first-generation Mestizo. Nonetheless, a genetic study conducted by Argentine, Swedish and North American institutions, established that the genetic average structure of the Argentine population, contains 79.9% of European contribution, whereas, on a study conducted by the University of Buenos Aires, the Amerindian admixture, though not fully visible in physical appearance, was estimated to be present in a high percentage of the Argentine population, close to 56%, on either paternal or maternal lineages, and 10% were shown to have Amerindian ancestors on both lineages. After the Spanish colonists, waves of European settlers migrated to Argentina from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. Major contributors included Italy (initially from Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy, later from Campania and Calabria), Spain (foremost among them Galicians and Basques, and France (mostly to Buenos Aires and Mendoza).[citation needed] Smaller but significant numbers of immigrants came from Germany and Switzerland (to the Lakes Region of Patagonia; and to Córdoba), Scandinavia, (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Greece, Lebanon, the United Kingdom and Ireland (to Buenos Aires, Santa Fé, and Patagonia; see also English settlement in Argentina), and Portugal. Eastern Europeans were also numerous from Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania and from Central Europe (Croatia (ex. President of Argentina Néstor Kirchner is of Croatian descent), Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Romania), as well as Balkan countries (Serbia and Montenegro, particularly in Chaco)[citation needed]. There is a large Armenian community, and the Patagonian Chubut Valley has a significant Welsh-descended population! Minorities An Argentine gaucho.Small but growing numbers of people from East Asia have also settled in Argentina, mainly in Buenos Aires. The first Asian-Argentines were of Japanese descent; Koreans, Vietnamese, and Chinese followed, now at over 60,000. The majority of Argentina's Jewish community derive from immigrants of north and eastern European origin (Ashkenazi Jews), and about 15–20% from Sephardic groups from Syria.[citation needed] Argentina is home to the fifth largest Ashkenazi Jewish community in the world. (See also History of the Jews in Argentina) Argentina has a large Arab community, made up mostly of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon. Many have gained prominent status in national business and politics, including former president Carlos Menem, the son of Syrian settlers from the province of La Rioja. Most of the Arab Argentines are Christian of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. The officially recognized indigenous population in the country, according to the "Complementary Survey of Indigenous Peoples" based on 2001 Census data, stands at approximately 402,921 people (about 1 percent of the total population) Illegal immigrants Illegal immigration has been a recent factor in Argentine demographics. Most illegal immigrants come from Bolivia and Paraguay, countries which border Argentina to the north. Smaller numbers arrive from Peru, Ecuador, and Romania. The Argentine government estimates that 750,000 inhabitants lack official documents and has launched a program called Patria Grande ("Big Homeland"), to encourage illegal immigrants to regularize their status; so far over 670,000 applications have been processed under the program. Urbanization Argentina's population is very highly urbanized. About 3 million people live in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, and 12.4 million in Greater Buenos Aires (2007), making it one of the largest conurbations in the world. Together with their respective metropolitan areas, the second- and third-largest cities in Argentina, Córdoba and Rosario, comprise about 1.3 and 1.1 million inhabitants respectively. Most European immigrants to Argentina settled in the cities, which offered jobs, education, and other opportunities which enabled newcomers to enter the middle class. Many also settled in the growing small towns along the expanding railway system. Since the 1930s, many rural workers have moved to the big cities. The 1990s saw many rural towns become ghost towns when train services ceased and local products manufactured on a small scale were replaced by massive amounts of cheap imported goods. Many slums (villas miserias) sprouted in the outskirts of the largest cities, inhabited by impoverished lower-class urban dwellers, migrants from smaller towns in the interior, and also a large number of immigrants from neighbouring countries that came during the time of the convertibility and did not leave after the 2001 crisis. Some urban areas appear European, reflecting the influence of European settlers. Many cities are built in a Spanish-grid style around a main square (plaza). A cathedral and important government buildings often face the plaza. The general layout of the cities is called damero (checkerboard), since it is based on a pattern of square blocks, though modern developments sometimes depart from it (the city of La Plata, built at the end of the nineteenth century, is organized as a checkerboard plus diagonal avenues at fixed intervals). The city of La Plata was the first in South America with electric street illumination. Largest metropolitan areas of Argentina view • talk • edit Core City Province Population Core City Province Population 1 Buenos Aires Buenos Aires 15,052,177 Buenos Aires Córdoba 7 Mar del Plata Buenos Aires 452,800 2 Córdoba Córdoba 1,613,211 8 Salta Salta 556,400 3 Rosario Tucumán 1,325,090 9 Santa Fe Santa Fe 534,300 4 Mendoza Mendoza 1,109,104 10 San Juan San Juan 498,400 5 La Plata Buenos Aires 957,800 11 Resistencia Chaco 452,800 6 Tucumán Tucumán 903,100 12 Neuquén Neuquén 400,600 Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas y Censos (Estimates for 2006) Culture Argentine culture has significant European influences. Buenos Aires, considered by many its cultural capital, is often said to be the most European city in South America, as a result both of the prevalence of people of European descent and of conscious imitation of European styles in architecture. The other big influence is the gauchos and their traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Finally, indigenous American traditions (like mate tea drinking) have been absorbed into the general cultural milieu. Literature Argentina has a rich history of world-class literature, including one of the twentieth century's most critically acclaimed writers, Jorge Luis Borges. The country has been a leader in Latin American literature since becoming a fully united entity in the 1850s, with a strong constitution and a defined nation-building plan. The struggle between the Federalists (who favored a loose confederation of provinces based on rural conservatism) and the Unitarians (pro-liberalism and advocates of a strong central government that would encourage European immigration), set the tone for Argentine literature of the time. The ideological divide between gaucho epic Martín Fierro by José Hernández, and Facundo by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, is a great example. Hernández, although a federalist, opposed to the centralizing, modernizing, and Europeanizing tendencies. Sarmiento wrote immigration was the only way to save Argentina from becoming subject to the rule of a small number of dictatorial caudillo families, arguing such immigrants would make Argentina more modern and open to Western European influences, and therefore a more prosperous society. Argentine literature of that period was fiercely nationalist. It was followed by the modernist movement, which emerged in France in the late nineteenth century, and this period in turn was followed by vanguardism, with Ricardo Güiraldes as an important reference. Jorge Luis Borges, its most acclaimed writer, found new ways of looking at the modern world in metaphor and philosophical debate, and his influence has extended to writers all over the globe. Borges is most famous for his works in short stories such as Ficciones and The Aleph. Argentina has produced many more internationally noted writers, poets, and intellectuals: Juan Bautista Alberdi, Roberto Arlt, Enrique Banchs, Adolfo Bioy Cásares, Eugenio Cambaceres, Julio Cortázar, Esteban Echeverría, Leopoldo Lugones, Eduardo Mallea, Ezequiel Martínez Estrada, Tomás Eloy Martínez, Victoria Ocampo, Manuel Puig, Ernesto Sabato, Osvaldo Soriano, Alfonsina Storni, and María Elena Walsh. Quino (born Joaquin Salvador Lavado), has entertained readers the world over, while dipping into the events of modern times, with soup-hating Mafalda and her comic strip gang. Film and theatre Argentina is a major producer of motion pictures. The world's first animated feature films were made and released in Argentina, by cartoonist Quirino Cristiani, in 1917 and 1918. Argentine cinema enjoyed a 'golden age' in the 1930s through the 1950s with scores of productions, many now considered classics of Spanish-language film. The industry produced actors who became the first movie stars of Argentine cinema, often tango performers such as Libertad Lamarque, Floren Delbene, Tito Lusiardo, Tita Merello, Roberto Escalada, and Hugo del Carril. More recent films from the "New Wave" of cinema since the 1980s have achieved worldwide recognition, such as The Official Story (La historia official), Nine Queens (Nueve reinas), Man Facing Southeast (Hombre mirando al sudeste), Son of the Bride (El hijo de la novia), The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta), or Iluminados por el fuego. Although rarely rivaling Hollywood-type movies in popularity, local films are released weekly and widely followed in Argentina and internationally. Even low-budget films have earned prizes in cinema festivals (such as Cannes). The city of Mar del Plata organizes its own film festival, while Buenos Aires has its independent cinema counterpart. The per capita number of screens is one of the highest in Latin America, and viewing per capita is the highest in the region. A new generation of Argentine directors has caught the attention of critics worldwide. Additionally, Argentina is a major center of cinema, it is compared to European countries in terms of people who attend movie theaters. An example of this was Spider-Man 3 which took in 466,586 the first day a record in Argentina. In Italy it took in 400,000 and Germany 486,571, breaking all records for first day release. Buenos Aires is one of the great capitals of theater. The Teatro Colon is a national landmark for opera and classical performances. Built at the ending of XIX century, Teatro Colon's acoustic is considered the best in the world. Currently it is undergoing major refurbishment, in order to preserve its outstanding sound characteristics, the French-romantic style, the impressive Golden Room (a minor auditorium targeted to Chamber Music performances), and the museum at the entrance. Enrico Caruso, B.Gigli, Félix Weingartner, Artur Nikisch, Richard Strauss, Arturo Toscanini, Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Camille Saint-Saëns, Manuel de Falla, Aaron Copland, Krzysztof Penderecki, Gian-Carlo Menotti, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Tullio Serafin, Gino Marinuzzi, Albert Wolff, Víctor De Sabata, Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Karl Böhm, Fernando Previtali, Sir Thomas Beecham, Ferdinand Leitner, Lorin Maazel, Igor Markevitch, Bernard Haitink, Zubin Mehta, Marek Janowsky, Aldo Ceccato, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, Michel Corboz, Franz-Paul Decker, Riccardo Chailly, Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, René Jacobs are among the artists, composers and conductors who performed in this opera house. Besides the Teatro Colón (one of the great opera houses of the world), with its program of national and international caliber, Calle Corrientes, or Corrientes Avenue, is synonymous with the art. It is dubbed 'the street that never sleeps', and sometimes referred to as the Broadway of Buenos Aires. Many great careers in acting, music, and film have begun in its many theaters. The Teatro General San Martín is one of the most prestigious along Corrientes Avenue; the Teatro Nacional Cervantes is designated the national theater of Argentina. Another important theater is the Independencia in Mendoza. Florencio Sanchez and Griselda Gambaro are famous Argentine playwrights. Julio Bocca is one of the great ballet dancers of the modern era. Painting and sculpture Perhaps one of the most enigmatic figures of Argentine culture is Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, aka Xul Solar, whose watercolor style and unorthodox painting media draws large crowds at museums worldwide; he also 'invented' two imaginary languages. The works of Candido Lopez (in Naïve art style), Emilio Pettoruti (cubist), Antonio Berni (neo-figurative style), Fernando Fader, and Guillermo Kuitca are appreciated internationally. Benito Quinquela Martín is considered to be the quintesennial 'port' painter, to which the city of Buenos Aires and particularly the working class and immigrant-bound La Boca neighborhood, was excellently suited for. Lucio Fontana and Leon Ferrari are acclaimed sculptors and conceptual artists. Ciruelo is a world-wide famous fantasy artist and sculptor. Food and drink Argentine food is influenced by cuisine from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and other European countries, and many foods from those countries such as pasta, sausages, and desserts are common in the nation's diet. Argentina has a wide variety of staple foods, which include empanadas, a stuffed pastry; locro, a mixture of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd; and chorizo, a spicy sausage. Other popular items include facturas (Viennese-style pastry), Dulce de Leche and mate, Argentina's national beverage. AsadoThe Argentine barbecue, asado as well as a parrillada, is one of the most famous in the world and includes various types of meats, among them chorizo, sweetbread, chitterlings, and morcilla (blood sausage). Thin sandwiches, sandwiches de miga, are also popular. Argentines have the highest consumption of red meat in the world. Since 1992, Argentina has invested over 650 million dollars to modernize the wine industry. The country is an important wine producer, rated fifth in the world, with the annual per capita consumption of wine amongst the highest in the world. (Malbec has become a representative variety from Argentina). Malbec grape, a discardable varietal in France (country of origin), has found in Province of Mendoza an ideal environment to successfully develop and turn itself into the world's best Malbec. The city of Mendoza is one of the eight wine capitals of the world, and Mendoza accounts for 70% of the country total production (all varietals considered). "Wine tourism" is important in the Province of Mendoza, with the impressive landscape of Cordillera de Los Andes and the highest peak in America, Mount Aconcagua, 6952 meters high, providing a very desirable destination for international tourism. Sports Ignacio Corleto of Los Pumas on his way to score a try against France in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They beat France 34 - 10. Argentina reached third place in the tournamentFootball (soccer) is the most popular sport in Argentina, whose national team is twice FIFA World Cup Champion and one-time Olympic Gold medalist (also fourteen-time Copa América winners). Also widespread are volleyball and basketball; a number of basketball players participate in the NBA and European leagues. Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Carlos Delfino, and Fabricio Oberto are a few, and the national team won Olympic Gold in the Athens Olympics. Argentina has an important rugby union football team, "Los Pumas" (see Argentina national rugby union team), with many of its players playing in Europe. Argentina beat host nation France twice in the Rugby World Cup 2007, placing them third in the competition. The Pumas currently sit at third spot in the International Rugby Board's official world rankings. Argentine tennis is very competitive on the world stage, with dozens of players, male and female, in active tour. Other popular sports include field hockey (the top female sport, see Las Leonas), golf, and sailing. Argentina has the highest number of highly-ranked polo players in the world and the national squad has been the uninterrupted world champion ever since 1949. The Open Polo Championship of Buenos Aires is the most important polo-related event in the world. Cricket is growing in popularity due to the National Team's recent successes where they came as the underdogs and finished runner's up of the Inaugural World Cricket League Division 3. Baseball is played in a most limited fashion, as well as the Gridiron. Motorsports are well represented in Argentina, with Turismo Carretera and TC 2000 being the most popular car racing formats. People all over the country enjoy the races, but it is most fervently followed in small towns and rural Argentina, attracting a rather similar demographic as NASCAR in the United States. The Rally Argentina is part of the World Rally Championship (currently held in Córdoba Province). In Formula 1 racing, the country produced one world champion (Juan Manuel Fangio, five times) and two runners-up (Froilán González and Carlos Reutemann, once each) The official national sport of the country is pato, played with a six-handle ball on horseback. Music Tango, the music and lyrics (often sung in a form of slang called lunfardo), is Argentina's musical symbol. The Milonga dance was a predecessor, slowly evolving into modern tango. By the 1930s, tango had changed from a dance-focused music to one of lyric and poetry, with singers like Carlos Gardel, Roberto Goyeneche, Hugo del Carril, Tita Merello, and Edmundo Rivero. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid-1950s) mirrored that of Jazz and Swing in the United States, featuring large orchestral groups too, like the bands of Osvaldo Pugliese, Anibal Troilo, Francisco Canaro, and Juan D'Arienzo. After 1955 tango turned more intellectual and listener-oriented, led by Astor Piazzolla. Today tango has worldwide popularity, and the rise of neo-tango is a global phenomenon with groups like Tanghetto, Bajofondo and Gotan Project. Argentine rock, called rock nacional, is the most popular music among youth. Arguably the most listened form of Spanish-language rock, its influence and success internationally owes to a rich, uninterrupted development. Bands such as Soda Stereo or Sumo, and composers like Charly García, Luis Alberto Spinetta, and Fito Páez are referents of national culture. Mid 1960s Buenos Aires and Rosario were cradles of the music, and by 1970 Argentine rock was established among middle class youth (see Almendra, Sui Generis, Pappo, Crucis). Seru Giran bridged the gap into the 1980s, when Argentine bands became popular across Latin America and elsewhere (Enanitos Verdes, Fabulosos Cadillacs, Virus, Andres Calamaro). There are many sub-genres: underground, pop oriented, and some associated with the working class (La Renga, Attaque 77, Divididos, Los Redonditos). Current popular bands include: Babasonicos, Rata Blanca, El Otro Yo, Attaque 77, Bersuit, Los Piojos, Intoxicados, Catupecu Machu, and Miranda!. European classical music is well represented in Argentina. Buenos Aires is home to the world-renowned Colón Theater. Classical musicians, such as Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, Eduardo Delgado, Lalo Schiffrin, and classical composers such as Alberto Ginastera, are internationally acclaimed. All major cities in Argentina have impressive theaters or opera houses, and provincial or city orchestras. Some cities have annual events and important classical music festivals like Semana Musical Llao Llao in San Carlos de Bariloche and the multitudinous Amadeus in Buenos Aires. Argentine folk music is uniquely vast. Beyond dozens of regional dances, a national folk style emerged in the 1930s. Perón's Argentina would give rise to Nueva Canción, as artists began expressing in their music objections to political themes. Atahualpa Yupanqui, the greatest Argentine folk musician, and Mercedes Sosa would be defining figures in shaping Nueva Canción, gaining worldwide popularity in the process. The style found a huge reception in Chile, where it took off in the 1970s and went on to influence the entirety of Latin American music. Today, Chango Spasiuk and Soledad Pastorutti have brought folk back to younger generations. Leon Gieco's folk-rock bridged the gap between argentine folklore and argentine rock, introducing both styles to millions overseas in successive tours. Other notable musicians include Gato Barbieri with his seductive saxophone and free jazz compositions, and Jaime Torres and his spacious andean music. Religion Argentines are predominantly Roman Catholic. Around 93% declare themselves Roman Catholic according to different surveys; the Church estimates an affiliation of 70%. According to the Constitution, the Argentine government should support Roman Catholicism. However, this does not imply that it is the official religion of the Argentine Republic, nor does it imply that people working in the government should have this faith. Evangelical churches have gained a foothold in Argentina since the 1980s, and their followers now number more than 3.5 million, about 10% of the total population. Traditional Protestant communities are present in most communities. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) numbering over 330,300, the seventh-largest concentration in the world, are also present. The country also hosts the largest Jewish population in all of Latin America, about 2 percent of the population. Islam in Argentina constitutes approximately 1.5% of the population, or an estimated 500,000-600,000 (93% Sunni). Argentina is also home to one of the largest mosques in Latin America, serving Argentina's Muslim community. Approximately 12% of Argentines can be considered agnostic, and 4% are atheists. Language A phonetic study conducted by the Laboratory for Sensory Investigations of CONICET and the University of Toronto showed that the accent of the inhabitants of Buenos Aires (known as porteños) is closer to the Neapolitan dialect of Italian than any other spoken language. Italian immigration and other European immigrations influenced Lunfardo, the slang spoken in the Río de la Plata region, permeating the vernacular vocabulary of other regions as well. Argentines are the largest Spanish-speaking society that universally employs what is known as voseo (the use of the pronoun vos instead of tú (you), which occasions the use of alternate verb forms as well). The most prevalent dialect is Rioplatense, whose speakers are primarily located in the basin of the Río de la Plata. Standard German is spoken by between 400,000 and 500,000 Argentines of German ancestry, though it has also been stated that the there could be as much as 1,800,000. German today, is the third or fourth most spoken language in Argentina. According to one survey, there are around 1,500,000 Italian speakers (which makes it the second most spoken language in the country) and 1,000,000 speakers of Levantine Arabic, but these numbers are probably no longer current, as the newer generations mostly switch to Spanish and do not speak the ancestral language in the home. The same phenomenon applies to the Galician language that was used by many Spanish immigrants, Yiddish, and Japanese. The usage of these languages is in decline, as the respective immigration waves ended in the first half of the 20th century. Some indigenous communities have retained their original languages. Guaraní is spoken by some in the northeast, especially in Corrientes (where it enjoys official status) and Misiones. Quechua is spoken by some in the northwest, and has a local variant in Santiago del Estero. Aymara is spoken by members of the Bolivian community who migrated to Argentina from Bolivia. In Patagonia there are several Welsh-speaking communities. More recent immigrants have brought Chinese and Korean, mostly to Buenos Aires. English, Brazilian Portuguese and French are also spoken. English is commonly taught at schools, with Portuguese and French behind. Education After independence, Argentina constructed a national public education system in comparison to other nations, placing the country high up in the global rankings of literacy. Today the country has a literacy rate of 97% (2003 Est.) The ubiquitous white uniform of Argentine school children; it is a national symbol of learning.School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 17. The Argentine school system consists of a primary or lower school level lasting six or seven years, and a secondary or high school level lasting between five to six years. In the 1990s, the system was split into different types of high school instruction, called Educacion Secundaria and the Polimodal. Some provinces adopted the Polimodal while others did not. A project in the Executive to repeal this measure and return to a more traditional secondary level system was approved in 2006. President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento is overwhelmingly credited in pushing and implementing a free, modern education system in Argentina. The 1918 University reform shaped the current tripartite representation of most public universities. Education is funded by tax payers at all levels except for the majority of graduate studies. There are many private school institutions in the primary, secondary and university levels. Around 11.1 million people were enrolled in formal education of some kind: 9,551,728 people attended either kindergarten, primary (lower school), or secondary (high school) establishments; 494,461 people attended non-university level establishments (such as training or technical schools); 1,125,257 people attended colleges or universities. Education in public schools (primary, secondary and tertiary) is free. Public education, which was perceived to be of the best quality during the mid 20th century,[citation needed] is now often perceived to be bad and in continuous decline because of lack of funding.[citation needed] This has helped private education to flourish, albeit it has also caused an imbalance in terms of who can afford it (usually middle and upper classes), as often private schools have no scholarship systems in place. There are thirty-eight public universities across the country, as well as several private. The Universities of Buenos Aires (the largest one, has 300,000 students), Córdoba (110,000 students and one of the oldest in the continent), Rosario (75,000 students), La Plata (75,000 students) and UTN (National Technological University, 70,000 students) are among the most important. Public universities faced cutbacks in spending during the 1980s and 1990s, which led to a decline in overall quality. Holidays Public holidays include most of the Catholic holidays, though holidays of other faiths are respected. The main historic holidays include the anniversaries of the May Revolution (May 25), the Independence Day (July 9), National Flag day (June 20), and the death of the hero José de San Martín (August 17). On Christmas Eve, the extended family gathers around 9 p.m. for dinner, music, and often dancing. Candies are served just before midnight, when fireworks displays begin. The evening also includes opening gifts from Papá Noel (Father Christmas or "Santa Claus"). New Year's Day is marked with fireworks as well. Other holidays include Good Friday and Easter; Labor Day (1 May), and sovereignty Day (former Malvinas Day) (2 April). Science and technology Argentina has contributed many distinguished doctors, scientists, and inventors to the world, including three Nobel Prize laureates in sciences. Luis Federico Leloir won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1970.Argentines have been responsible for major breakthroughs in world medicine. Domingo Liotta designed and developed the first artificial heart successfully implanted in a human being in 1969. René Favaloro developed the techniques and performed the world's first ever coronary bypass surgery, and Francisco de Pedro invented a more reliable artificial cardiac pacemaker. Medicine's Nobel laureate Bernardo Houssay, the first Latin American awarded with a Nobel Prize, discovered the role of pituitary hormones in regulating glucose in animals; Medicine's Nobel laureate César Milstein did extensive research in antibodies; and Chemistry's Nobel laureate Luis Leloir discovered how organisms store energy converting glucose into glycogen, and the compounds which are fundamental in metabolizing carbohydrates. Luis Agote performed one of the first two blood transfusions with pre-stored blood in history. Enrique Finochietto designed operating table tools such as the surgical scissors that bear his name ("Finochietto scissors"), and a rib-spreader. Roberto Zaldívar is a pioneer in laser-eye procedures and research. Argentine research has led to advancement in wound-healing therapies, heart disease, and in several forms of cancer. Argentina's nuclear program is highly advanced. Argentina developed its nuclear program without being overly dependent on foreign technology. Nuclear facilities with Argentine technology have been built in Peru, Algeria, Australia, and Egypt. In 1983, the country admitted having the capability of producing weapon-grade uranium, a major step to assemble nuclear weapons. Since then Argentina has pledged to use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes. In other areas, Juan Vucetich, a Croatian immigrant, was the father of modern fingerprinting (dactiloscopy). (see fingerprint), Raúl Pateras de Pescara demonstrated the world's first flight of a helicopter, Hungarian-Argentine László Bíró mass-produced the first modern ball point pens, and Eduardo Taurozzi developed the more efficient pendular combustion engine. Juan Maldacena, an Argentine-American scientist, is a leading figure in string theory. An Argentine satellite, the PEHUENSAT-1 was successfully launched on January 10, 2007 using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Communications and media The printed media in Argentina is highly developed and independent. There are over two hundred newspapers in the country, influential in their home cities and regions. The major national newspapers are from Buenos Aires, including the centrist Clarín, one of the best selling daily in the Spanish speaking world.[citation needed] Other national papers are La Nación (center-right) in the streets since 1870, Página/12 (left), Ámbito Financiero (business conservative), Argentinisches Tageblatt in German, Le Monde Diplomatique in Spanish and French and Crónica (populist). Regional papers of importance include La Capital (Rosario), Los Andes (Mendoza), La Voz del Interior (Córdoba), and El Tribuno (Salta). The Buenos Aires Herald is a well-respected English language daily. The Argentine publishing industry is together with those in Spain and Mexico the most important in the Spanish-speaking world. Argentina features the largest bookstore chains in Latin America, the El Ateneo and Yenny bookstores; numerous well-stocked independent stores abound. A number carry titles in English and other languages. There are hundreds of magazine publications covering a plethora of issues and hobbies, which are sold in kiosks on city sidewalks and in bookstores. Radio and television Argentina was a pioneering nation in radio broadcasting. At 9 pm on August 27, 1920, Sociedad Radio Argentina announced: "We now bring to your homes a live performance of Richard Wagner's Parsifal opera from the Coliseo Theater in downtown Buenos Aires"; only about twenty homes in the city had a receiver to tune in. The world's first radio station was the only one in the country until 1922, when Radio Cultura went on the air. By 1925, there were twelve stations in Buenos Aires and ten in other cities. The 1930s were the "golden age" of radio in Argentina, with live variety, news, soap opera, and sport shows. At present there are more than 1,500 radio stations licensed in Argentina; 260 are AM broadcasting and 1150 FM broadcasting.[citation needed] Radio remains an important medium in Argentina. Music and youth variety programs dominate FM formats; news, debate, and sports are AM radio's primary broadcasts. Amateur radio is widespread in the country. Radio still serves a vital service of information, entertainment and even life saving in the most remote communities. The Argentine television industry is large and diverse, widely viewed in Latin America, and its productions seen around the world. Many local programs are broadcast by networks in other countries, and others have their rights purchased by foreign producers for adaptations in their own markets. Argentina has five major networks. All provincial capitals and other large cities have at least one local station. Argentina boasts the highest penetration of cable and satellite television in Latin America, similar to percentages in North America. Many cable networks operate from Argentina and serve the Spanish-speaking world, including Utilísima Satelital, TyC Sports, Fox Sports en Español (with the United States and México), MTV Argentina, Cosmopolitan TV, and the news network Todo Noticias. International rankings Organization Survey Ranking Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom 107 out of 157 The Economist Worldwide Quality-of-life Index, 2005 40 out of 111 Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index 76 out of 167 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 105 out of 163 United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index 38 out of 177 |
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