Argentina 744 226181867 2008-07-17T05:26:21Z 157.127.124.15 {{dablink|"Argentine" redirects here. For other uses of the names "Argentine" and "Argentina", see [[Argentina (disambiguation)]].}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = ''República Argentina''{{spaces|2}}<small>{{es icon}}</small> |common_name = Argentina |conventional_long_name = Argentine Republic <small></small> |image_flag = Flag_of_Argentina.svg |image_coat = Coat_of_arms_of_Argentina.svg |image_map = LocationArgentina.svg |national_motto = ''En unión y libertad''<br/>"In Union and Liberty"</small> |national_anthem = ''[[Argentine National Anthem|Himno Nacional Argentino]]'' |official_languages = [[Spanish language|Spanish]] |capital = [[Buenos Aires]] |ethnic_groups = [[Spaniards|Spanish]], [[Italians|Italian]], [[German people|German]], [[Jewish people|Jewish]], [[Arab people|Arabs]], [[Armenian people|Armenian]], [[Irish people|Irish]], [[British people|British]], [[French people|French]], [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]], [[African]] |latd=34 |latm=20 |latNS=S |longd=58 |longm=30 |longEW=W |largest_city = [[Buenos Aires]] |government_type = [[Federal republic|Federal]] [[Presidential system|presidential republic]] |leader_title1 = [[President of Argentina|President]] |leader_name1 = [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] |leader_title2 = [[Vice President of Argentina|Vice President]] |leader_name2 = [[Julio Cobos]] |sovereignty_type = [[Independence]] |sovereignty_note = from [[Spain]] |established_event1 = [[May Revolution]] |established_date1 = [[25 May]] [[1810]] |established_event2 = [[Argentine Declaration of Independence|Declared]] |established_date2 = [[9 July]] [[1816]] |established_event3 = |established_date3 = 1821 (by&nbsp;[[Spain]]) |area_rank = 8th |area_magnitude = 1_E12 |area_km2 = 2780403 |area_sq_mi = 1078757 |percent_water = 1.1 |population_estimate = 40,677,348 |population_estimate_year = 2008 |population_estimate = 40,677,348 |population_estimate_rank = 30th |population_census = 36,260,130 |population_census_year = 2001 |population_density_h/km2 = 14 |population_density_h/sq_mi = 72 |population_density_rank = 168th |GDP_PPP_year = 2007 |GDP_PPP = $523.7 billion (2007)<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html#Econ Economy]. Argentina. CIA Factbook</ref> |GDP_PPP_rank = 23rd <!---IMF---> |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $13,307 (2007)<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=57&pr.y=13&sy=2006&ey=2013&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=213%2C273%2C228%2C298%2C299&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= IMF estimates for 2007 GDP PPP per capita</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html#Econ CIA Factbook. Argentina. Economy</ref> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 57th |GDP_nominal = $260.7 billion<ref>[http://www.mecon.gov.ar/download/infoeco/actividad_ied.xls]</ref> |GDP_nominal_rank = 31st |GDP_nominal_year = 2007 |GDP_nominal_per_capita = $6,548 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 66th |Gini = 49<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html CIA World Factbook]Gini listings</ref> |Gini_year = 2006 |HDI_year = 2005 |HDI = {{increase}} 0.869 |HDI_rank = 38th |HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> |currency = [[Argentine peso|Peso]] |currency_code = ARS |time_zone = [[Time in Argentina|ART]] |utc_offset = -3 |time_zone_DST = ART |utc_offset_DST = -2 |demonym = Argentine |cctld = [[.ar]] |calling_code = 54 |footnotes = Argentina also has a [[Sovereignty of the Falkland Islands|territorial dispute]] with the [[United Kingdom]] over an additional {{unit sqkm|1000000|0|lk=on}} of [[Antarctica]], the [[Falkland Islands]] and [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]]. }} '''Argentina''' (officially ''República Argentina'' {{IPAes|reˈpuβlika aɾxenˈtina}}), is a [[South America]]n country, constituted as a [[federation]] of twenty-three provinces and an autonomous city. It is second in size on the South American continent to [[Brazil]] and [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|eighth]] in the world. Argentina occupies a continental surface area of {{unit sqkm|2766890|0|lk=on}} between the [[Andes]] [[mountain range]] in the west and the southern [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the east and south. It is bordered by [[Paraguay]] and [[Bolivia]] in the north, [[Brazil]] and [[Uruguay]] in the northeast, and [[Chile]] in the west and south. The country claims the [[United Kingdom|British]]-administered overseas territories of the [[Falkland Islands]] and [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]]. Argentina also claims {{unit sqkm|969464|0}} of [[Antarctica]], known as [[Argentine Antarctica]], overlapping other claims made by [[Chile]] and the United Kingdom ([[British Antarctic Territory]]). 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]].<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2013&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=213%2C228&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr.x=42&pr.y=9 GDP per capita PPP] April 2008, IMF</ref>. Argentina's nominal GDP is the 31<sup>st</sup> largest in the world;<ref>[http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ARG.html Human Development Report 2007/2008 - Country Fact Sheets - Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> when purchasing power is taken into account, however, its total GDP makes it the 23<sup>rd</sup> largest economy in the world.<ref>http://hdrstats.undp.org/indicators/5.html International GDP ranking</ref><ref>http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ARG.html Argentina Country Fact Sheet] United Nations.</ref> The country is currently classified as an [[Gross National Income|Upper-Middle Income Country]]<ref>[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html#Upper_middle_income Country Classifications by the World Bank]</ref> or as a secondary [[emerging market]] by the [[World Bank]].<ref>[http://emerging.tdctrade.com/content.aspx?data=emergingmkt_content_en&contentid=174018&w_sid=194&w_pid=1403&w_nid=13598&w_cid=1&w_idt=1900-01-01 Emerging Markets - Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.pitt.edu/~ibcmod/gem/ The Global Emerging Markets Database<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == Etymology== {{main|Origin and history of the name of Argentina}} 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).<ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.profesorgentile.com.ar/publi/nombre.html What's our name?]</ref><ref>{{es icon}} [http://www.paisadentro.com.ar/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=20 My name is Argentina]</ref> ==History== [[Image:Toortse Rio de la Plata.png|thumb|left|225px|Río de la Plata aboriginals, as pictured by Hendrick Ottsen (1603).]] [[Image:Cabildo_de_Buenos_Aires _%281864%29.jpg|thumb|225px|Buenos Aires ''[[Buenos Aires Cabildo|Cabildo]]'', scene of the 1810 resolution that led to independence.]] {{main|History of Argentina}} The first signs of human presence in Argentina are located in the [[Patagonia]] ([[Piedra Museo]], [[Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)|Santa Cruz]]), and date from 11,000 BC([[Santa María]], [[Huarpes]], [[Diaguita]]s, [[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 [[nomad]]ic cultures, unified in the [[17th century|seventeenth century]] by the [[Mapuche]]s. [[Image:Smartin.JPG|thumb|left|[[Jose de San Martin|Gen. Jose de San Martin]], Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru.]] 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 people|Spanish]] immigrants and their descendants, known as ''[[Criollo (people)|criollos]]'', some of them gathered in [[Buenos Aires]] and other cities, others living on the ''[[pampas]]'' as [[gaucho]]s. 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]] [[British invasions of the Río de la Plata|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 [[Ferdinand VII of Spain|King Ferdinand VII]] by [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]], citizens of [[Buenos Aires]] created the [[Primera Junta|First Government Junta]] ([[May Revolution]]).Two nations emerged in what is now Argentina [[United Provinces of South America|United Provinces of South America (1810)]] and [[Liga Federal|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. [[Image:Juan_Manuel_de_Rosas.jpg|thumb|[[Juan Manuel de Rosas|Gov. Juan Manuel de Rosas]] during his 1829-52 reign of terror, in which he held the fragile confederacy together.]] [[Image:Aduana_Nueva.jpg|thumb|240px|Buenos Aires Customs House, ca. 1880. Maritime trade had long been central to the city; after 1875 it became a cornerstone of national development.]] 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]] [[Crossing of the Andes|crossed the Andes]] to free [[Chile]] and [[Peru]], thus eliminating the Spanish threat. [[Centralism|Centralist]] and [[Federalism|federalist]] groups (Spanish: ''[[Unitarian Party|Unitarios]]'' and ''[[Federales (Argentina)|Federales]]'') were in conflict until national unity was established and the [[Constitution of Argentina|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. [[Image:Velez_Sarsfield.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield]], whose 1869 ''Civil Code'' lay the foundation for Argentina's statutory laws.]] [[Image:Hip%C3%b3lito_Yrigoyen.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Hipolito Yrigoyen|Pres. Hipolito Yrigoyen]], 1928. Patient activist for universal (male) suffrage and the country's first president so elected.]] Foreign [[investment]] and [[Immigration in Argentina|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.<ref> Carlos A. Floria and César A. García Belsunce, 1971. ''Historia de los Argentinos'' I and II; ISBN 84-599-5081-6.</ref><ref>[http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/alpha/argentina1879.htm Argentina Desert War 1879-1880]</ref> From 1880 to 1929, 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 [[Radical Civic Union|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 country|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. Perón's wife, [[Maria Eva Duarte de Perón]] (better known as [[Evita]]) played an important role as First Lady during both Peronist administrations. She was the driving force of power behind Perón's success among the working class people and quickly became an enigma that is still researched today. Being born into poverty herself, Evita never forgot the hardships her family endured during her childhood. She quickly created the Eva Perón Foundation which provided several services and needs to the working poor of Argentina such as basic items like pots and pans, sewing machines, and even fully furnished houses. The foundation built hundreds of schools, hospitals, orphanages and even Evita City which still stands today as an active neighborhood. [[Image:Juan Peron con banda de presidente.jpg|thumb|left|180px|President [[Juan Perón]] (1946).]] This was the first time the country had seen such a shift in attention to aiding the poor and it did not sit well with the oligarchy. Evita was seen as the "bridge of love" between Perón and the people and she was. She fought for and won the fight for women's suffrage and organized the Perónist Feminist Party. Throughout Perón's first and second term as president, the economy turned to more protectionist policies and the developing of industry. Things began to change; however, and not for the better. After Evita's untimely death at the age of 33 in 1952 from uterine cancer, Perón gradually started to lose his footing among the people and eventually his administration began to fall apart. The [[Revolución Libertadora]] of 1955 deposed him in a coup, and he fled into exile to live in Spain. Little did anyone know at the time he would return to Argentina after several years of exile to become president again. [[Image:Frondizi_y_Kennedy_en_Buenos_Aires_1961.jpg|thumb|210px|[[Arturo Frondizi|Pres. Arturo Frondizi]] (2<sup>nd</sup> from left) hosts Pres. Kennedy, 1961. Frondizi's policies encouraged foreign and local investment in energy and industry, making Argentina nearly self-sufficient in both.]] From the 1950s to 1970s, moderate 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 terrorism|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 Martínez de Perón|Isabel]], the Vice President, succeeded him in office, but the [[coup d'état|military coup]] of [[March 24]], [[1976]] removed her from office. [[Image:Martinez_de_Hoz_y_Videla_-_Telam.jpg|thumb|left|Economist [[Jose Alfredo Martinez de Hoz|Martinez de Hoz]] and [[Jorge Videla|Pres. Videla]], both of whose policies left a traumatic legacy in Argentina.]] [[Image:Galtieri.2.abril.1982.png|thumb|210px|[[Leopoldo Galtieri|Pres. Leopoldo Galtieri]]'s tragic 1982 [[Falklands War|invasion]] of the Falkland Islands cost Argentina lives and prestige.]] The [[armed forces]] took power through a [[Military dictatorship|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 "[[forced disappearance|disappeared]]", while the [[Secretaría de Inteligencia|SIDE]] cooperated with [[DINA]] and other South American [[Intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]], and with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in [[Operation Condor]]. Many of the military leaders that took part in the Dirty War were trained in the [[United States|U.S.]]-financed [[School of the Americas]], among them Argentine dictators [[Leopoldo Galtieri]] and [[Roberto Viola]]. The military dictatorship (1976-1983) built several public facilities but largely 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]]. [[Image:Alfonsin_y_Mart%C3%ADnez.jpg|thumb|left|[[Raul Alfonsin]] (''left'') greets supporters during the 1983 campaign with his trademark salute.]] 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 [[Argentine peso|peso]]-[[United States dollar|dollar]] [[Argentine Currency Board|fixed exchange rate]] in 1991 to stop [[hyperinflation]] and adopted far-reaching [[Market economy|market-based]] policies, dismantling [[protectionism|protectionist]] barriers and business [[deregulation|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 [[Crisis (economic)|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. [[Image:20_A%C3%B1os_del_Mercosur-Iguazu-Sarney-Lula-Kirchner-Alfons%C3%ADn-Bielsa-_30-nov-05-presidencia-govar-2.jpg|thumb|260px|Brazilian Presidents [[Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva|"Lula" da Silva]] (since 2003) and [[Jose Sarney]] (1985-90) reunite with Argentine Presidents [[Nestor Kirchner]] (2003-07) and [[Raul Alfonsin]] (1983-89) to commemorate 20 years of productive trade talks.]] The Menem and [[Fernando de la Rúa|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 [[capital outflow|outflow of capital]] that mushroomed into a [[recession]], and culminated in [[Argentine economic crisis (1999-2002)|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 [[December 2001 riots (Argentina)|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. [[Image:Cristina Fernández de Kirchner - Foto Oficial 2.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Current president [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]], in office since December 2007]] 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 [[default (finance)|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 (currency)|depreciation]] of the peso and a spike in [[inflation]]. Duhalde, a peronist with a center-left economic position, had to cope with several problems inherited from De La Rua´s shaky government. 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 [[Argentine debt restructuring|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]] ([[Support for an Egalitarian Republic|ARI]]) became the first woman to be elected governor of [[Tierra del Fuego]] and first elected female governor in Argentina's history. ==Politics== {{main|Politics of Argentina}} ===Government=== [[Image:Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires.jpg|right|260px|thumb|The [[Casa Rosada]], seat of executive power]] <!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series--> Argentina's political framework is a [[federation|federal]] [[presidential system|presidential]] [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]], in which the [[President of Argentina|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 (government)|executive]], [[legislature|legislative]], and [[judiciary|judicial]] branches at the national and provincial level. [[Executive (government)|Executive]] power resides in the [[President of Argentina|President]] and his or her cabinet. The [[President of Argentina|President of The Argentine Nation]] and Vice President are directly elected to four-year terms, limited to two consecutive terms, and the [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] ministers are appointed by the president. [[Image:Argentine_National_Congress.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The Argentine Legislature, Buenos Aires.]] [[Legislature|Legislative]] power is vested in the bicameral [[National Congress]] or ''[[Argentine National Congress|Congreso de la Nación]]'', consisting of a [[Senate]] (''[[Argentine Senate|Senado]]'') of seventy-two seats, and a [[Chamber of Deputies]] (''[[Argentine 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 [[Operation Uphold Democracy|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 Herzegovina|Bosnia]] and [[Timor Leste]]. In recognition of its contributions to [[international security]], [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]] designated Argentina as a [[major non-NATO ally]] in [[1998|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]]. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the [[Falkland Islands]] (''Islas Malvinas''), the [[South Shetland Islands]], the [[South Sandwich Islands]] and almost 1&nbsp;million&nbsp;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]].<ref>[http://www.ats.aq/ Antarctic Treaty Secretariat<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Military=== [[Image:P1050798.JPG|thumb|300px|''Libertador'' Building (Ministry of Defense and Army Headquarters), Buenos Aires; in front, the flagship ''Sarmiento'' frigate.]] {{main|Military of Argentina}} Argentina's armed forces are controlled by the Defense Ministry, with the country's [[President of Argentina|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),<ref>[http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2002/06/stuff_eng_profile_pulqui.htm Pulqui: Argentina's Jet Adventure]IPMStockholm.org</ref>; but, of late, it's faced sharper expenditure cutbacks than most other armed forces in Latin America. Indeed, since 1981, ''real'' military expenditures have fallen by about half and are today less than US$3 billion.<ref>[http://www.mecon.gov.ar/peconomica/docs/gp_nac.xls]</ref> The age of allowable military service is 18 years; there is no obligatory [[military service]] and currently no [[conscription]]. Recently, Argentina's armed forces have numbered about 70,000 active duty personnel, a reduction of over a third from levels before the return to democracy in 1983.<ref>[http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ar-argentina/mil-military]</ref> The armed forces are composed of a traditional [[Argentine Army|Army]], [[Argentine Navy|Navy]], and [[Argentine Air Force|Air Force]]. Controlled by a separate ministry (the Interior Ministry), Argentine [[territorial waters]] are patrolled by the [[Argentine Naval Prefecture|Naval Prefecture]], and the border regions by the [[Argentine National Gendarmerie|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 [[Peacekeeping|UN mandates]]. == Provinces == [[Image:Argentina - Político 2.png|thumb|300px|Provinces of Argentina. Argentina claims the [[Falkland Islands]] ("''Islas Malvinas''"), a [[British overseas territory|UK overseas territory]], as well as a slice of [[Antarctica]], both of which it assigns to its [[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego Province]] (number 23).]] {{main|Provinces of Argentina}} {{seealso|Governors in Argentina}} Argentina is divided into twenty-three [[province]]s (''provincias''; singular ''provincia''), and one [[autonomous city]] (commonly known as the ''capital federal,'' but officially ''Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires''): {{columns |col1 = 1. [[Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires (autonomous city)]] 2. [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires (province)]] 3. [[Catamarca Province|Catamarca]] 4. [[Chaco Province|Chaco]] 5. [[Chubut Province|Chubut]] 6. [[Córdoba Province (Argentina)|Córdoba]] 7. [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] 8. [[Entre Ríos Province|Entre Ríos]] 9. [[Formosa Province|Formosa]] 10. [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]] 11. [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]] 12. [[La Rioja Province (Argentina)|La Rioja]] |col2 = 13. [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]] 14. [[Misiones Province|Misiones]] 15. [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]] 16. [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]] 17. [[Salta Province|Salta]] 18. [[San Juan Province (Argentina)|San Juan]] 19. [[San Luis Province|San Luis]] 20. [[Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)|Santa Cruz]] 21. [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]] 22. [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]] 23. [[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego]] 24. [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]] }} Though [[Federalisation of Buenos Aires|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 [[Departments of Argentina|376 in total]]. The province of [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] has 134 similar divisions known as ''partidos''. ''Departamentos'' and ''partidos'' are further subdivided into municipalities or districts. <!-- to be filled in with table of largest cities--> In descending order by number of inhabitants, the [[List of cities in Argentina#Largest cities|major cities in Argentina]] are [[Buenos Aires]], [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]], [[Tucumán]], [[La Plata]], [[Mar del Plata]], [[Salta]], [[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fe]], [[San Juan, Argentina|San Juan]], [[Resistencia, Chaco|Resistencia]], and [[Neuquén, Argentina|Neuquén]]. ==Geography== [[Image:Argentina topo blank.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Topographic map of Argentina (including some territorial claims).]] {{main|Geography of Argentina}} ===Main features=== The total surface area of Argentina (not including the Antarctic claim) is as follows: * Total: 2,766,891&nbsp;km² * Land: 2,736,691&nbsp;km² * Water: 30,200&nbsp;km² Argentina is about 3,330&nbsp;km (about 2,070 mi) long from north to south, and 1,400&nbsp;km (about 870 mi) from east to west (maximum values). It can roughly be divided into four parts: the fertile plains of the [[Pampa]]s in the center of the country, the source of Argentina's [[agriculture|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 Province|Mendoza]]. Cerro [[Aconcagua]], at 6,962 [[meter]]s (22,834 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]]), is the highest mountain in the [[Americas]], the [[Southern Hemisphere|Southern]],<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~igpl/Mountains.html Mountains of the Earth] The Highest Mountain Peak on Each Continent</ref> and [[Western Hemisphere]].<ref>[http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150197/aconcagua.html Aconcagua, the highest in the Western Hemisphere]</ref> The lowest point is [[Laguna del Carbón]] in [[Santa Cruz Province|Santa Cruz]], −105 meters (−344 ft) below sea level.<ref>[http://home.comcast.net/~igpl/Depressions.html Depressions] The Lowest Surface Point on Each Continent</ref> 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|La Pampa]] province. The country has a territorial claim over a portion of [[Argentine Antarctica|Antarctica]] (unrecognized by any other country), where, from 1904, it has maintained [[Orcadas Base|a constant presence]]. ===Geographic regions=== [[Image:Argentina CIA WFB Map.PNG|225px|thumb|right|Source: CIA<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html CIA - The World Factbook - Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 Province|Buenos Aires]] and [[Córdoba Province (Argentina)|Córdoba]], and big portions of the provinces of [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]] and [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]]. The western part of [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]] and the province [[San Luis 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 Province|Chaco]] and [[Formosa Province|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 Province|Santiago del Estero]] lies in the drier region of the Gran Chaco. ; Mesopotamia: The land between the [[Paraná River|Paraná]] and [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]] rivers is called [[Mesopotamia, Argentina|Mesopotamia]] and it is shared by the provinces of [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] and [[Entre Ríos Province|Entre Ríos]]. It features flatland apt for grazing and plant growing, and the [[Iberá Wetlands]] in central Corrientes. [[Misiones Province|Misiones]] province is more tropical and belongs within the [[Brazilian Highlands]] geographic feature. It features subtropical rainforests and the [[Iguazú Falls]]. ; Patagonia: The [[steppe]]s of [[Patagonia]], in the provinces of [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]], [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]], [[Chubut Province|Chubut]] and [[Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)|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 Province (Argentina)|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, Argentina|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 Province|Mendoza]] and [[San Juan Province (Argentina)|San Juan]] provinces. Further north the region gets hotter and drier with more geographical accidents in [[La Rioja Province (Argentina)|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 <span style="white-space:nowrap">20,000&nbsp;feet&nbsp;(6,000&nbsp;m)</span>, 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 Province|Catamarca]], [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]], and [[Salta Province|Salta]]. Farther north the province of [[Jujuy Province|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 River|Pilcomayo]], [[Paraguay River|Paraguay]], [[Bermejo River|Bermejo]], [[Colorado River (Argentina)|Colorado]], [[Río Negro River (Argentina)|Río Negro]], [[Salado River, Argentina|Salado]], [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]] and the largest river, the [[Paraná River|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 River|Atuel]] and [[Mendoza River|Mendoza]] in the homonymous province, the [[Chubut River|Chubut]] in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and the San Francisco River in Salta. There are several large [[lake]]s in Argentina, many of them in Patagonia. Among these are lakes [[Lake Argentino|Argentino]] and [[Lake Viedma|Viedma]] in Santa Cruz, [[Lake Nahuel Huapi|Nahuel Huapi]] in Río Negro and [[Lake Fagnano|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 [[reservoir (water)|reservoir]]s created by [[dam]]s. Argentina features various [[hot spring]]s, such as those at [[Termas de Río Hondo]] with temperatures between 89 °C and 65 °C.<ref>[http://www.liveargentina.com/SantiagodelEsteroRioHondo.htm About Termas de Río Hondo].</ref> ===Coastal areas and seas=== Argentina has {{unit km|4665|0}} of [[coastline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.natlaw.com/pubs/sparcs1.htm|title=Global Argentina|publisher=National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade|year=1997}}</ref> 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 current]]s 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=== {{main|Climate of Argentina}} [[Image:JUNIN La Oriental 001.jpg|thumb|250px|Rural areas cover the region of Las Pampas.]] [[Image:Lake Argentino northern arm Lago Argentino Brazo Norte Patagonia Argentina Luca Galuzzi 2005.JPG|thumb|250px|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 climate|temperate]] with extremes ranging from [[subtropical climate|subtropical]] in the north to [[Subarctic climate|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 {{unit °C|49.1|1|lk=on}}, was recorded at Villa de María, [[Córdoba Province (Argentina)|Córdoba]] on [[January 2]] [[1920]]. The lowest temperature recorded was {{unit °C|-39.0|1}} at Valle de los Patos Superior, [[San Juan Province|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 wind|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&nbsp;[[kilometre per hour|km/h]], fueling [[wildfire]]s 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|Bernardo de Irigoyen]], [[Misiones Province|Misiones]] ({{coor dm|26|15|S|53|38|W|}}), the westernmost in the Mariano Moreno Range in [[Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)|Santa Cruz]] ({{coor dm|49|33|S|73|35|W|}}). The northernmost point is located at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete rivers, [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]] ({{coor dm|21|46|S|66|13|W|}}), and the southernmost is Cape San Pío in [[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego]] ({{coor dm|55|03|S|66|31|W|}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hcdsc.gov.ar/biblioteca/ISES/geografiaargentina.asp|title=Argentine topography, hydrography, and climate|publisher=Chamber of Deputies of the Province of Santa Cruz|language=Spanish}}</ref> ===Enclaves and exclaves=== There is one Argentine [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]], the [[Martín García Island]] (co-ordinates {{coor dm|34|11|S|58|15|W|}}). It is near the confluence of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, a kilometer (0.62&nbsp;mi) inside [[Uruguay]]an 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&nbsp;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 ''[[Dalbergia|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. [[Image:Erythrina crista-galli2.jpg|thumb|180px|left| The [[ceibo]] is [[National Flower of Argentina|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 [[ombu|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]].{{Fact|date=November 2007}} 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 [[Fitzroya|alerce]] (''Fitzroya cupressoides''), [[Austrocedrus|ciprés de la cordillera]] (''Austrocedrus chilensis''), [[Pilgerodendron|ciprés de las guaitecas]] (''Pilgerodendron uviferum''), [[Podocarpus nubigenus|huililahuán]] (''Podocarpus nubigenus''), [[Prumnopitys andina|lleuque]] (''Prumnopitys andina''), [[Saxegothaea|mañío hembra]] (''Saxegothaea conspicua''), and [[Araucaria araucana|pehuén]] (''Araucaria araucana''), while native broadleaf trees include several species of ''[[Nothofagus]]'' including coigüe or [[coihue]], [[Nothofagus pumilio|lenga]] (''Nothofagus pumilio''), [[ñire]] (''Nothofagus Antarctica''). Other introduced trees present in [[forestry]] [[plantation]]s include [[spruce]], [[Cupressus|cypress]], and [[Pinus|pine]]. Common plants are the [[Lapageria rosea|copihue]] and colihue (''[[Chusquea culeou]]'').<ref name = "flofau">[http://www.adventure-tours-south.com/flofau.htm] Animals in Argentina</ref> 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 vine]]s. In the northwest of Argentina there are many species of [[cactus|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=== {{seealso|List of national parks of Argentina}} [[Image:Florida Panther.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The ''puma'' inhabits the northeast of the country.]] Many species live in the subtropical north. [[Big cat]]s like the [[jaguar]], [[cougar]], and [[ocelot]]; primates ([[howler monkey]]); large reptiles ([[crocodile]]s), 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 [[hummingbird]]s, [[flamingo]]s, [[toucan]]s, and [[parrot]]s. [[Image:Furnarius.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The hornero is one of the [[national emblem]]s of Argentina.]] The central grasslands are populated by the [[giant anteater]], [[armadillo]], [[pampas cat]], [[maned wolf]], [[mara (mammal)|mara]] and the [[rhea (bird)|rhea]] (''ñandú''), a flightless bird. [[Hawks]], [[falcons]], [[herons]], [[tinamou]]s (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]], [[vicuna|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 (zoology)|huemul]], [[pudú]] (the world's smallest deer), and introduced, non-native [[wild boar]].<ref name = "flofau"/> 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]], [[orca]]s, and whales like the southern [[right whale]], a major tourist draw for naturalists. Sea fish include [[sardines]], [[hake|argentine hakes]], [[pompano dolphinfish|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 [[Dourado (Salminus)|dorado]] fish. Outstanding snake species inhabiting Argentina include [[boa (genus)|boa constrictors]], and the very [[venomous]] [[yarara|yarará]] [[pit viper]] and South American [[rattle snake]]. The [[Hornero]] was elected the National Bird after a survey in 1928.<ref>[http://www.redargentina.com/Faunayflora/Aves/hornero.asp] Info about Hornero</ref> ==Economy== {{main|Economy of Argentina}} Argentina benefits from abundant [[natural resource]]s, a highly [[Literacy|literate]] population, an export-oriented [[Agriculture|agricultural sector]], and a diversified [[industry|industrial]] base, that was once one of the wealthiest nations<ref>http://www.heritage.org/Research/LatinAmerica/BG1432.cfm</ref> 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<ref>http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/argent1.htm</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Argentina.html</ref> The economy further declined during the military dictatorship that lasted from 1976 to 1983.<ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Argentina-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT.html Argentina - Economic development<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 23% by 2007, down from the peak observed in 2003, but is still above the level prior to the recession.<ref>[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/LACEXT/ARGENTINAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20187088~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:316024,00.html "Argentina Country Brief,"] World Bank</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html CIA - The World Factbook - Argentina</ref> From the late 1970s the country piled up public debt and was plagued by bouts of high [[inflation]]. In 1991, the government [[fixed exchange rate|pegged]] the peso to the [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] and limited the growth in the [[monetary base|money supply]]. It then embarked on a path of [[free trade|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 [[Argentine economic crisis (1999-2002)|collapse in 2001]]. [[Image:Aeroparque_Jorge_Newberry-Overview_%28by_Dar%C3%ADo_Crusaf%C3%B3n%29.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Aeroparque Jorge Newbery|Newbery Airfield]], Buenos Aires. One of two international airports in Buenos Aires, it's helped link Argentina to the world as well as the vast nation to its capital.]] By 2002, Argentina had [[default (finance)|defaulted]] on its debt, its GDP had shrunk, [[unemployment]] was more than 25%, and the peso had [[depreciation (currency)|depreciated]] 75% after being [[devaluation|devalued]] and [[floating exchange rate|floated]]. However, careful spending control and heavy [[tax]]es on then-soaring exports allowed the state to regain resources and conduct [[monetary policy]]. In 2003, [[import substitution]] policies and soaring [[export]]s, 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.<ref>International Monetary Fund. {{PDFlink|[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2006/01/pdf/c1.pdf Economic Prospects and Policy Issues]|567&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 581446 bytes -->}}.</ref><ref>InfoBAE, [[20 September]] [[2006]]. [http://www.infobae.com/notas/nota.php?Idx=276924&IdxSeccion=100895 ''Para los bancos la Argentina seguirá creciendo en 2006''].</ref> ===Sectors=== {{seealso|Tourism in Argentina}} 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, [[Agriculture|agricultural]] output accounted for 10% of [[GDP]], and nearly one third of all exports. [[Soy]] and [[vegetable oils]] are major export [[commodity|commodities]] at 32% of exports. [[Wheat]], [[maize]], [[oats]], [[sorghum]], and [[sunflower seeds]] totalled 7%.<ref name = "indec">[http://www.indec.gov.ar INDEC]</ref> [[Cattle]] is also a major industry. [[Beef]], [[milk]], [[leather]] products, and [[cheese]] were 6% of total exports.<ref name = "indec"/> [[Sheep]] and [[wool]] industries are important in [[Patagonia]], [[pigs]] and [[caprine]]s elsewhere. [[Image:Sembrado_de_soja_en_argentina.jpg|thumb|260px|View of soy fields. Though Argentina's is now an industrial and service economy, agriculture still earns more than half the foreign exchange.]] [[Fruits]] and [[vegetables]] made up 4% of exports: [[apples]] and [[pears]] in the [[Río Negro (Argentina)|Río Negro]] valley; [[oranges]] and other [[citrus]] in the [[argentine Northwest|northwest]] and [[Mesopotamia, Argentina|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. [[Banana]]s ([[Formosa Province|Formosa]]), [[tomatoes]] ([[Salta Province|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 Province|Mendoza]] is the largest wine region, followed by [[San Juan Province|San Juan]].<ref>[http://www.francoargentine.com/Espanol/PArg/vinos.htm La Franco Argentine](Spanish)</ref> As a [[strike]] by [[farmer]]s, who are protesting an increase in [[export]] [[tax]]es for their products, continued for a 13th day [[March 25]] [[2008]] with no solution in sight, butchers and supermarkets were among the first hit.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/03/25/argentina.strike/index.html Store shelves grow bare as Argentine farmers continue strike]</ref> Industrial [[petrochemicals]], [[petroleum|oil]], and [[natural gas]] are Argentina's second group of exports, 20% of totals. The most important [[oil field]]s lie in [[Patagonia]] and [[Cuyo]]. An impressive network of [[pipeline transport|pipelines]] send raw product to [[Bahia Blanca]], center of the petrochemical industry, and to the [[La Plata, Argentina|La Plata]]-[[Rosario, Argentina|Rosario]] industrial belt. [[Coal]] is also mined. [[Mining]] is a growing industry. The [[Argentine Northwest|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.<ref> {{PDFlink|[http://www.inversiones.gov.ar/documentos/mineria.pdf Investing in Argentina: Mining]}}Economy Ministry of Argentina {{es icon}}</ref> Estimates for 2006 are US$ 2bn, a 10 fold rise from 1996. In [[fisheries]], [[hake|argentine hake]] accounts for 50% of catches, [[pollack]] and [[squid]] follow. [[Forestry]] has expanded in [[Mesopotamia, Argentina|Mesopotamia]]; [[elm]] for [[cellulose]], [[pine]] and [[eucalyptus]] for furniture, [[timber]], and [[paper]] products. Both sectors each account for 2% of exports. [[Image:Central vista externa en gris.jpg|thumb|left|225px|The [[Yacyretá Dam]] hydroelectric complex is the second largest in the world.]] [[Manufacturing]] is the nation's largest single sector in the economy, with 22% of GDP.<ref name = "indec"/> Leading sectors are [[automobile|motor vehicle]]s, [[auto part]]s, and [[transportation]] and [[tractor|farming]] equipment (7% of exports), [[iron]] and [[steel]] (3%), [[food processing|foodstuffs]] and [[textiles]] (2%). Other manufactures include [[cement]], industrial [[chemicals]], [[major appliance|home appliances]], and processed [[wood]]. The biggest industrial centers are [[Buenos Aires]], Rosario and [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]]. The [[telecommunication]] sector has been growing at a fast pace, with an important penetration of [[mobile telephony]] (More than 75% of the population)<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/02/01/elpais/p-01301.htm Explosive Growth: 3 of 4 Argentines hav a a cell phone (01-02-2006)]Clarin.com [[1 February]] [[2006]] (Spanish)</ref>[[internet]] (with more than 16 million people online),<ref>[http://www.internetworldstats.com/sa/ar.htm Internet Usage Stats and Market Reports]</ref> and [[broadband]] services (4.1%). Regular [[telephone]] (with 9.5 million lines)<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html#Comm Communications. Argentina] CIA Factbook</ref> and [[mail]] are robust. Argentina produces energy in large part through well developed [[hydroelectric]] resources; [[nuclear energy]] is also of high importance.<ref>[http://www.cnea.gov.ar/xxi/divulgacion/reactores/c_reactores_fii.html Themes in Nuclear Energy and Physics]www.cnea.gov.ar</ref> 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 6% of GDP. [[Image:Puerto-madero-night.jpg|thumb|260px|Well-known for its productive agriculture, Argentina also benefits from a well-developed services sector.]] The [[Service (economics)|service sector]] is the biggest contributor to total GDP, accounting for 58%. Argentina enjoys a diversified service sector, which includes well-developed social, corporate, financial, insurance, real-estate, transport and communication services, as well as vigorous commercial and tourist trades. [[Tourism]] is increasingly important, now providing 7% of economic output.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Argentines are traveling more within their borders, and foreigners are flocking to a country seen as affordable, safe, and incredibly diverse:{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Cosmopolitan [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]]; the [[Iguazu Falls]] and colonial [[Salta, Argentina|Salta]]; the South American indigenous [[Jujuy Province]] and fun-filled [[Córdoba Province (Argentina)|Córdoba]]; the [[wineries]] of [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]]; the ski-suitable scenic [[Bariloche]] to the beaches of [[Pinamar]]; and [[Perito Moreno Glacier]] to [[Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)|Tierra del Fuego]]. 3.7 million tourists visited in 2005.<ref>[http://www.hostnews.com.ar/2006/prin/mar/020401.htm www.hostnews.com.ar]</ref> ===Transportation=== {{main|Transportation in Argentina}} [[Image:Puente Rosario-Victoria 2.jpg|thumb|190px|left|A cargo ship in front of the [[Rosario-Victoria Bridge]].]] [[Image:TDESTE1.jpg|190px|right|thumb|[[Tranvía del Este|Light rail]] in Buenos Aires]] Argentina's infrastructure is advanced compared to other countries in Latin America.<ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/Argentina-INFRASTRUCTURE-POWER-AND-COMMUNICATIONS.html Infrasturcture. Argentina]. National Economies Encyclopedia</ref> There are over 230,000 km (144,000 mi) of roads (not including private rural roads) of which nearly 70,000 km (45,000 mi) are paved<ref name=adefa>[http://adefa.com.ar/anuarios/anuario_2006/7_datos_complementarios-complementary_data.pdf]</ref> and 1,575 km (980 mi) are expressways,<ref>[http://www.grupopayne.com.ar/archivo/01/0112/011211/institucionales/institucionales.html]</ref> many of which are privatized tollways. Having doubled in length in recent years, multilane expressways now connect several main cities and more are now under construction.<ref name="cc83">{{cite web | author = La república digital | title = Se dará inicio a las obras de la Autopista Mesopotámica | url = http://www.larepublicadigital.com.ar/spip.php?article3058 | accessmonthday=14 February | accessyear = 2008 }}</ref> The [[railway]] network has a total length of 31,902 km.<ref name=cia/> After decades of decaying service and lack of maintenance, most intercity passenger services shut down in 1992 when the rail company was privatized and thousands of kilometers of track are now in disuse. Intercity rail services are currently being reactivated among several cities and, though also privatized, metro rail services in Buenos Aires have continued; in part thanks to their easy access to the Buenos Aires subways, these continue to be in great demand. Inaugurated in 1913, the [[Buenos Aires Metro|Buenos Aires Subway]] was the first built in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere.<ref>[http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Argentina/Buenos-Aires-Transport--Subway/26 Buenos Aires Transport Subway]</ref> It is no longer the most extensive in Latin America; but, its 33 miles of track carry nearly 800,000 passengers, daily.<ref name=mecon>[http://www.mecon.gov.ar/peconomica/basehome/infoeco.html]</ref> Argentina has around 11,000 kilometers of navigable [[waterways]] and these carry more cargo than do the country's reknown freight railways.<ref>Encyclopedia Britannica, Book of the Year (various issues): statistical appendix.</ref> Though this includes an extensive network of canals, Argentina is blessed with ample natural waterways, as well; the most significant among these being the [[Río de la Plata]], [[Paraná River|Paraná]], [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]], [[Rio Negro (Argentina)|Río Negro]] and [[Paraguay River|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. The 2001 Census revealed that, since 1980, very little progress had been made in reducing the prevalence of those without indoor running water or indoor plumbing (about 20% of the population, as of 2001).<ref name=censo>[http://www.indec.mecon.ar/censo2001s2/ampliada_index.asp?mode=01]</ref> Great regional disparities continued to exist, moreover, as the problem affected 2% of those in the city of [[Buenos Aires]]; but, in the historically underdeveloped provinces of [[Formosa Province|Formosa]] and [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]], a little over ''half'' lacked these amenities.<ref name=censo/> ==Population== ===Contemporary figures=== 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 2008 estimate is 40,677,348. Argentina's [[population density]] is 15 inhabitants per square kilometer of land area; however, the population is not evenly distributed: areas of the city of Buenos Aires have a population density of over 14,000&nbsp;inhab./km², while Santa Cruz province has fewer than 1&nbsp;inhab./km². Argentina is the only nation in South America with a net positive [[Human migration|migration]] rate; about +0.4 net immigrants per 1000 locals, yearly.<ref>[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html]</ref> ===Cities and metropolitan areas=== {{main|List of cities in Argentina by population}} [[As of 2005]], Argentina's 20th largest metropolitan areas are: [[Image:CBA.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cordoba city centre]] [[Image:BA1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Puerto Madero Docklands, Buenos Aires]] [[Image:Monumento-bandera.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Monument to the Argentine flag in Rosario]] {| class="wikitable" style="margin-right:60px" ! Rank !! City !! Province ! Population !! Region |- |align="center"| 1 || '''[[Buenos Aires]]''' || City + 24 ''partidos'' in [[Buenos Aires Province]] |align="right"| 13,052,177 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 2 || '''[[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]]''' || [[Cordoba Province|Córdoba]] |align="right"| 1,513,200 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 3 || '''[[Rosario, Argentina|Rosario]]''' || [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]] |align="right"| 1,295,100 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 4 || '''[[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]]''' || [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]] |align="right"| 1,009,100 ||align="center"| Cuyo |- |align="center"| 5 || '''[[La Plata]]''' || [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] |align="right"| 857,800 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 6 || [[Tucumán|San Miguel de Tucumán]]&nbsp; || [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]] |align="right"| 833,100 ||align="center"| &nbsp;NOA&nbsp;(northwest)&nbsp; |- |align="center"| 7 || [[Mar del Plata]] || [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] |align="right"| 699,600 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 8 || [[Salta, Argentina|Salta]] || [[Salta Province|Salta]] |align="right"| 530,400 ||align="center"| NOA (northwest) |- |align="center"| 9 || [[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fe]] || [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]] |align="right"| 525,300 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |align="center"| 10 || [[San Juan, Argentina|San Juan]] || [[San Juan Province|San Juan]] |align="right"| 456,400 ||align="center"| Cuyo |- |align="center"| 11 || [[Jujuy, Argentina|San Salvador]] || [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]] |align="right"| 400,000 ||align="center"| NOA (northwest) |- |align="center"| 12 || [[Resistencia, Chaco|Resistencia]] || [[Chaco Province|Chaco]] |align="right"| 399,800 ||align="center"| Gran Chaco |- |align="center"| 13 || [[Neuquén, Argentina|Neuquén]] || [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]] |align="right"| 391,600 ||align="center"| Patagonian |- |align="center"| 14 || [[Santiago del Estero]] || [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]&nbsp; |align="right"| 389,200 ||align="center"| Gran Chaco |- |align="center"| 15 || [[Corrientes]] || [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] |align="right"| 332,400 ||align="center"| Mesopotamia |- |align="center"| 16 || [[Bahía Blanca]] || [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] |align="right"| 310,200 ||align="center"| Pampean |- | align="center"| 17 || [[Río Cuarto, Córdoba|Río Cuarto]] || [[Cordoba Province|Cordoba]] | align="right"| 144,021 ||align="center"| Pampean |- | align="center"| 18 || [[Comodoro Rivadavia]] || [[Chubut Province|Chubut]] | align="right"| 140,628 ||align="center"| Patagonia |- | align="center"| 19 || [[Santa Rosa, La Pampa|Santa Rosa]] || [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]] | align="right"| 110,640 ||align="center"| Pampean |- | align="center"| 20 || [[Zárate, Buenos Aires Province|Zárate]] || [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] | align="right"| 101,271 ||align="center"| Pampean |- | align="center"| 21 || [[Tandil]] || [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]] | align="right"| 101,010 ||align="center"| Pampean |- |} ==Demographics== {{main|Demographics of Argentina|Immigration to Argentina}} [[Image:Fiestadelinmigrante.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Fiesta del Inmigrante or "Immigrants' Festival" celebrates the immigration to Argentina during the 19th and 20th century in the town of Oberá, Misiones]] ===Ethnicity=== [[Demographics of Argentina|Argentina]], along with other areas of new settlement like [[Demography of Canada|Canada]], [[Demography of Australia|Australia]], [[Demography of the United States|the United States]], or [[Demography of New Zealand|New Zealand]] is considered a country of immigrants<ref>[[Enrique Oteiza]] y [[Susana Novick]] sostienen que «''la Argentina desde el siglo XIX, al igual que Australia, Canadá o Estados Unidos, se convierte en un '''''país de inmigración''''', entendiendo por esto una sociedad que ha sido conformada por un fenómeno inmigratorio masivo, a partir de una población local muy pequeña.»'' [http://www.iigg.fsoc.uba.ar/pobmigra/archivos/rc31.pdf (Oteiza, Enrique; Novick, Susana. Inmigración y derechos humanos. Política y discursos en el tramo final del menemismo. [en línea]. Buenos Aires: Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires,2000 [Citado FECHA]. (IIGG Documentos de Trabajo, Nº 14). Disponible en la World Wide Web:http://www.iigg.fsoc.uba.ar/docs/dt/dt14.pdf)]; El antropólogo brasileño [[Darcy Ribeiro]] incluye a la Argentina dentro de los ''«pueblos trasplantados»'' de América, junto con [[Uruguay]], [[Canadá]] y [[Estados Unidos]] (Ribeiro, Darcy. ''Las Américas y la Civilización'' (1985). Buenos Aires:EUDEBA, pp. 449 ss.); El historiador argentino [[José Luis Romero (historiador)|José Luis Romero]] define a la Argentina como un ''«país aluvial» (Romero, José Luis. «Indicación sobre la situación de las masas en Argentina (1951)», en ''La experiencia argentina y otros ensayos'', Buenos Aires: Universidad de Belgrano,1980, p. 64).</ref> and a melting pot of different peoples, both autochthonous and immigrants. Most Argentines are descendents of colonial-era settlers and of the 19th and 20th century immigrants from [[Europe]], with almost 90% of the population being of [[European ethnic groups|European]] descent.<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Argentina.html Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ar.html CIA - The World Factbook - Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For generations the majority of these immigrants came mainly from [[Italy]] and [[Spain]] as well as other European countries. The last national census, based on self-identification, showed that only 2% of the population identified as Amerindian,<ref name=encuesta>[http://www.indec.gov.ar/webcenso/ECPI/index_ecpi.asp Encuesta Complementaria de Pueblos Indígenas]</ref> and the [[mestizo]] population makes up over 8.6%.<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Argentina.html Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A study conducted by the [[University of Buenos Aires]] showed that over 56% of the population has some degree of [[Amerindian]] admixture on either paternal or maternal lineages, and about 10% were shown to have Amerindian ancestors on both lineages.<ref>[http://coleccion.educ.ar/coleccion/CD9/contenidos/sobre/pon3/index.html]''Estructura genética de la Argentina, Impacto de contribuciones genéticas - Ministerio de Educación de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Nación</ref> After the Spanish colonists, waves of European [[immigration in Argentina|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]]),<ref>[http://www.feditalia.org.ar/arg/federaciones/feditalia_org_fed_regionales.html Federaciones Regionales] www.feditalia.org.ar</ref> [[Spain]] (foremost among them [[Galicians]] and [[Basques]],<ref>[http://www.cdtradition.net/historical-references.php Historical references<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and [[France]] (mostly to Buenos Aires and Mendoza).{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Smaller but significant numbers of immigrants came from [[Germany]] and [[Switzerland]] (to the ''Lakes Region'' of Patagonia; and to Córdoba), [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Greece]], [[Lebanon]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Republic of Ireland|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]]<ref>[http://www.monografias.com/trabajos14/inmg-fotografos/inmg-fotografos.shtml#RUMAN "Inmigración a la Argentina: Daguerrotipistas y fotógrafos"] - Monografías.com {{es icon}}</ref>, [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]]), as well as [[Balkan]] countries ([[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]], particularly in Chaco){{Fact|date=May 2008}}. There is a large [[Armenians|Armenian]] community, and the Patagonian Chubut Valley has a significant [[Wales|Welsh]]-descended population. <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1163503</ref> ===Minorities=== {{see also|Welsh settlement in Argentina|Asian-Argentines}} [[Image:GauchoArgen.jpg|thumb|250px|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 [[Japan]]ese descent; [[Korea]]ns, [[Vietnam]]ese, and [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] followed, now at over 60,000.<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/09/22/conexiones/t-01276347.htm Jóvenes Argenchinos] Clarin.com [[22 September]] [[2006]]</ref> The majority of Argentina's [[Jewish]] community are [[Ashkenazi Jews]] while about 15–20% from [[Sephardic]] groups from [[Syrian Jews|Syria]].{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Argentina is home to the fifth largest Ashkenazi Jewish community in the world. (See also [[History of the Jews in Argentina]]) <!--see Discussion for rationale of removal of 2% figure--> Argentina has a large [[Arab people|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 [[Syria]]n settlers from the province of La Rioja. Most of the Arab Argentines are [[Christianity|Christian]] of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic]] Churches. The officially recognized [[indigenous peoples of the Americas|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)<ref>[http://www.indec.mecon.ar/nuevaweb/cuadros/2/ECPI_res_generales_junio2006.pdf INDEC: Encuesta Complementaria de Pueblos Indígenas (ECPI) 2004 - 2005] (in Spanish).</ref> ===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]].<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/03/04/sociedad/s-01373795.htm "El varieté de la calle Florida"] (Editorial) - [[Clarín (newspaper)|Clarín]] {{es icon}}</ref> The Argentine government estimates that 750,000 inhabitants lack official documents and has launched a program called ''Patria Grande'' ("Big Homeland"),<ref>;[http://www.patriagrande.gov.ar ''Patria Grande'']</ref> to encourage illegal immigrants to regularize their status; so far over 670,000 applications have been processed under the program.<ref>http://www.perfil.com/contenidos/2007/07/21/noticia_0035.html</ref> ===Urbanization=== [[Image:Tucumán-Casa-Gobierno-1.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Government house of Tucumán.]] [[Image:Mar-del-plata.JPG|thumb|180px|right|Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, [[Mar del Plata]].]] {{main|List of cities in Argentina}} Argentina's population is very highly urbanized. About 3 million people live in the autonomous city of [[Buenos Aires]], and 12.4 million in [[Gran Buenos Aires|Greater Buenos Aires]] (2007), making it one of the largest conurbations in the world. Together with their respective [[metropolitan area]]s, the second- and third-largest cities in Argentina, [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]] and [[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]], comprise about 1.3 and 1.1 million inhabitants respectively. Most European [[immigration in Argentina|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 town]]s when train services ceased and local products manufactured on a small scale were replaced by massive amounts of cheap imported goods. Many slums (''[[villa miseria|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. <!-- to be filled in with middle-class home data --> 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, Argentina|La Plata]] was the first in South America with electric street illumination.<ref>[http://www.edelap.com.ar/120/llego.htm - EDELAP - 120 años de alumbrado público]</ref> {{-}} {{Infobox largest cities <!--- Table title ---> | title = Largest metropolitan areas of Argentina <!--- List header ---> | city_type = Core City | subdivision_type = Province <!--- Central images ---> | image1 = Puerto-madero-night.jpg | image2 = CBA.jpg <!--- List ---> | city1 = Buenos Aires | city1_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city1_pop = 13,052,177 | city2 = Córdoba, Argentina{{!}}Córdoba | city2_div = Córdoba Province (Argentina){{!}}Córdoba | city2_pop = 1,613,211 | city3 = Rosario, Santa Fe{{!}}Rosario | city3_div = Santa Fe Province{{!}}Santa Fe | city3_pop = 1,325,090 | city4 = Mendoza, Argentina{{!}}Mendoza | city4_div = Mendoza Province{{!}}Mendoza | city4_pop = 1,109,104 | city5 = La Plata | city5_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city5_pop = 957,800 | city6 = Tucumán | city6_div = Tucumán Province{{!}}Tucumán | city6_pop = 903,100 | city7 = Mar del Plata | city7_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city7_pop = 706,600 | city8 = Salta | city8_div = Salta Province{{!}}Salta | city8_pop = 556,400 | city9 = Santa Fe, Argentina{{!}}Santa Fe | city9_div = Santa Fe Province{{!}}Santa Fe | city9_pop = 534,300 | city10 = San Juan, Argentina{{!}}San Juan | city10_div = San Juan Province (Argentina){{!}}San Juan | city10_pop = 498,400 | city11 = Resistencia, Chaco{{!}}Resistencia | city11_div = Chaco Province{{!}}Chaco | city11_pop = 452,800 | city12 = Neuquén, Argentina{{!}}Neuquén | city12_div = Neuquén Province{{!}}Neuquén | city12_pop = 400,600 | city13 = San Salvador de Jujuy | city13_div = Jujuy Province{{!}}San Salvador de Jujuy | city13_pop = 400,000 | city13 = Santiago del Estero | city13_div = Santiago del Estero Province{{!}}Santiago del Estero | city13_pop = 397,200 | city14 = Corrientes | city14_div = Corrientes Province{{!}}Corrientes | city14_pop = 342,400 | city15 = Avellaneda | city15_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city15_pop = 328,980 | city16 = Bahía Blanca | city16_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city16_pop = 310,200 | city17 = Río Cuarto, Córdoba{{!}}Río Cuarto | city17_div = Córdoba Province (Argentina){{!}}Córdoba | city17_pop = 144,021 | city18 = Comodoro Rivadavia | city18_div = Chubut Province{{!}}Chubut | city18_pop = 140,628 | city19 = Santa Rosa, La Pampa{{!}}Santa Rosa | city19_div = La Pampa Province{{!}}La Pampa | city19_pop = 110,640 | city20 = Zárate, Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Zárate | city20_div = Buenos Aires Province{{!}}Buenos Aires | city20_pop = 101,271 <!--- Footnotes ---> | source = [http://www.indec.gov.ar/ Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas y Censos] (Estimates for 2006) }} ==Culture== [[Image:Buenos Aires-Center-P3050007.JPG|thumb|180px|European and modern styles in Buenos Aires.]] [[Image:Argentina buenos-aires 34.jpg|thumb|180px|Street in Buenos Aires [[CBD]].]] [[Image:Calleba2.jpg|thumb|180px|Neoclassical architecture, downtown.]] {{main|Culture of Argentina}} 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 of Argentina|architecture]]. The other big influence is the [[gaucho]]s and their traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Finally, indigenous American traditions (like [[yerba mate|mate tea]] drinking) have been absorbed into the general cultural milieu. ===Literature=== {{main|Argentine 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''<ref>e-libro.net. Free digital books. {{PDFlink|[http://www.e-libro.net/E-libro-viejo/gratis/facundo.pdf ''Facundo'']|638&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 653312 bytes -->}}.</ref> 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 literature|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 (short story collection)|The Aleph]]''. Argentina has produced many more internationally noted writers, poets, and intellectuals: [[Juan Bautista Alberdi]], [[Roberto Arlt]], [[Enrique Banchs]], [[Adolfo Bioy Casares|Adolfo Bioy Cásares]], [[Eugenio Cambaceres]], [[Julio Cortazar|Julio Cortázar]], [[Esteban Echeverría]], [[Leopoldo Lugones]], [[Eduardo Mallea]], [[Ezequiel Martinez Estrada|Ezequiel Martínez Estrada]], [[Tomás Eloy Martínez]], [[Victoria Ocampo]], [[Manuel Puig]], [[Ernesto Sabato]], [[Osvaldo Soriano]], [[Alfonsina Storni]], and [[Maria Elena Walsh|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=== {{main|Cinema of Argentina}} [[Image:Teatro_Gran_Rex_Avenida_Corrientes.jpg|thumb|250px|''Gran Rex'' Cinema, Buenos Aires.]] Argentina is a major producer of [[motion pictures]]. The world's first [[list of animated feature films|animated feature films]] were made and released in Argentina, by cartoonist [[Quirino Cristiani]], in 1917 and 1918. [[Cinema of Argentina|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 (film)|The Motorcycle Diaries]] (Diarios de motocicleta)'', or ''[[Iluminados por el fuego]]''. Argentine composer [[Gustavo Santaolalla]], [[Eugenio Zanetti]] and [[Luis Enrique Bacalov]] all are [[Academy Award]] winners. 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 [[Mar del Plata Film Festival|own film festival]], while Buenos Aires has its [[Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema|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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4862388.stm About Gavin Esler's Argentina diary]news.bbc.co.uk [[3 April]] [[2006]].</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964127.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 'Spider-Man 3' breaks Euro records - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 (Manhattan)|Broadway]] of Buenos Aires.<ref name="Adams" >{{cite book |author=Adams, Fiona. |title=Culture Shock Argentina |publisher=Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company |location=Portland, OR |id=ISBN 1-55868-529-4 |year=2001}}</ref> 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, Argentina|Mendoza]]. Florencio Sanchez and [[Griselda Gambaro]] are famous Argentine playwrights. [[Julio Bocca]] is one of the great [[ballet dancers]] of the modern era. <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:BQM Dia de Sol (1958).jpg|thumb|180px|right|'''Día de Sol''' (''Sunny Day'', 1958) by [[Benito Quinquela Martín]].]] --> ===Painting and sculpture=== [[Image:Buenos_Aires_-_Las_Nereidas.jpg|thumb|''Font of the Nereids'' (1903) by [[Lola Mora]], a student of [[Auguste Rodin]]'s.]] 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 [[sculpture|sculptors]] and [[conceptual art]]ists. [[Ciruelo]] is a world-wide famous fantasy artist and sculptor and Eduardo MacIntyre's geometric designs have influenced advertisers worldwide since the 1970s. ===Food and drink=== [[Cuisine of Argentina|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 ''[[empanada]]s'', 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 cuisine|Viennese-style]] [[pastry]]), [[Dulce de Leche]] and [[Mate (beverage)|mate]], Argentina's national beverage. [[Image:Mate_calabaza_fondo_blanco.jpg|thumb|''Yerba mate'' (an invigorating green tea) in its traditional gourd.]] [[Image:Asado argentino.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Asado]] The 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.<ref>[http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2006-2/tilling/2006-2-12.htm Choices Article - Modern Beef Production in Brazil and Argentina]</ref> Since 1992, Argentina has invested over 650 million dollars to modernize the wine industry. The country is an important [[Argentine wine|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, Argentina|Mendoza]] is one of the eight wine capitals of the world,<ref>[http://www.amazingmendoza.com/capital.html Amazing Mendoza Tours: Mendoza Global Wine Capital]</ref> 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=== {{seealso|List of Argentines|Sport in Argentina}} [[Image:2007 Corleto Paris.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Ignacio Corleto]] of [[Argentina national rugby union team|Los Pumas]] on his way to score a try against [[France national rugby union team|France]] in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]. That day they beat France 17 - 12. Argentina reached third place in the tournament]] [[Football in Argentina|Football]] ([[Association football|soccer]]) is the most popular [[sport in Argentina]], whose [[Argentina national football team|national team]] is twice [[FIFA World Cup]] Champion and one-time Olympic Gold medalist (also fourteen-time [[Copa América]] winners).<ref>http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/team/profile.html?team=ARG</ref> Also widespread are [[volleyball]] and [[basketball]]; a number of basketball players participate in the [[National Basketball Association|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 [[Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Athens Olympics]]. Argentina has an important [[Rugby union in Argentina|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 fourth spot in the [[International Rugby Board|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.<ref>[http://www.consumosculturales.gov.ar/ About the culture]</ref> [[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]]<!--about [pato] as the "national sport": this character[ization] was put in force by the government, but pato is only played by Army Cavalry officers, cattle breeders and the like, for, like polo, it is an expensive sport-->, played with a six-handle ball on horseback. ===Music=== {{main|Music of Argentina}} [[Image:Gardel_color.jpg|thumb|[[Carlos Gardel]], still the standard among [[Tango]] vocalists.]] ''[[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 music|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 [[Tango music#Neo-tango|''neo-tango'']] is a global phenomenon with groups like [[Tanghetto]], [[Bajofondo Tango Club|Bajofondo]] and [[Gotan Project]]. [[Argentine rock]], called ''rock nacional'', is the most popular music among youth. Arguably the most listened form of [[Spanish language|Spanish]]-language rock, its influence and success internationally owes to a rich, uninterrupted development. Bands such as [[Soda Stereo]] or [[Sumo (band)|Sumo]], and composers like [[Charly García]], [[Luis Alberto Spinetta]], and [[Fito Páez]] are referents of national culture. Mid 1960s [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Rosario, Santa Fe|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 (Argentine band)|Virus]], [[Andrés Calamaro]]). There are many sub-genres: underground, pop oriented, and some associated with the working class ([[La Renga]], [[Attaque 77]], [[Divididos]], [[Hermética]], [[V8]], [[Tren Loco]],[[Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota|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]]. [[Image:Charly_Garc%C3%ADa_-_Argentina_-_En_Casa_Rosada_-_3JUN05_-presidenciagovar_%282%29.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''[[Progressive rock]]'' musician [[Charly Garcia]].]] Argentine folk music is uniquely vast. Beyond dozens of regional dances, a national folk style emerged in the 1930s. [[Juan Peron|Perón]]'s Argentina would give rise to [[nueva cancion|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 America]]n music.<ref>[http://www.myfavouritemusic.info/tovar42303030303938594c50.html Music: 'El Derecho de vivir en paz'] from http://www.msu.edu/~chapmanb/jara/enueva.html</ref> Today, [[Chango Spasiuk]] and [[Soledad Pastorutti]] have brought folk back to younger generations. [[Leon Gieco]]'s ''folk-rock'' bridged the gap between [[music of Argentina|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=== [[Image:Catedral de Córdoba, Argentina.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Cathedral of [[Córdoba (Argentina)|Córdoba]], dating back to the seventeenth century.]] {{main|Religion in Argentina}} {{seealso|State-Church relations in Argentina}} Argentines are predominantly [[Roman Catholic]]. Around 93% declare themselves Roman Catholic according to different surveys; the Church estimates an affiliation of 70%.<ref>Marita Carballo. ''Valores culturales al cambio del milenio'' (ISBN 950-794-064-2). [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/702434 Cited] in [[La Nación]], [[8 May]] [[2005]].</ref><ref>U.S. Department of State. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71446.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006].</ref> According to the [[Constitution of Argentina|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. [[Protestantism|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.<ref>[http://www.lds.org.ar/noticias2005/noti_ene2005/info_noti_ene2005_05.htm Number of Mormons in Argentina]</ref> The country also hosts the largest [[Judaism|Jewish]] population in all of [[Latin America]], about 2 percent of the population.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html#People Number of Jews in Argentina]</ref> [[Islam in Argentina]] constitutes approximately 1.5% of the population, or an estimated 500,000-600,000 (93% [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71446.htm Argentina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Argentina is also home to one of the largest [[mosque]]s in Latin America, serving Argentina's [[Islam in Argentina|Muslim]] community. Approximately 12% of Argentines can be considered [[agnostic]], and 4% are [[atheists]]. ===Language=== [[Image:Cafe_de_los_angelitos.jpg|thumb|left|210px|''Cafe de los Angelitos'', like many Argentine coffee houses, a meeting point for musical and literary talent.]] {{seealso|Languages of Argentina|List of indigenous languages in Argentina}} The official language of Argentina is [[Spanish language|Spanish]], usually called "Castellano" ([[Castilian]]) by Argentines. 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 ''[[porteño]]s'') is closer to the [[Neapolitan language|Neapolitan]] dialect of [[Italian language|Italian]] than any other spoken language. [[Italy|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 language|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 Spanish|Rioplatense]], whose speakers are primarily located in the basin of the [[Río de la Plata]].<!-- There are *other* large societies, ''e.g.'' Maracaibo and Costa Rica--> [[Standard German]] is spoken by between 400,000 and 500,000<ref>WorldLanguage [http://www.worldlanguage.com/Italian/Countries/Argentina.htm website]. Retrieved on [[2007-01-29]]</ref> Argentines of [[Germany|German]] ancestry, though it has also been stated that the there could be as much as 1,800,000.<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.org/spa/swissinfo.html?siteSect=43&sid=7080052 swissinfo - La rápida recuperación económica tras la crisis argentina es un argumento para conseguir inversiones<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> German today, is the third or fourth most spoken language in Argentina. According to one survey, there are around 1,500,000 [[Italian language|Italian]] speakers<ref name="Ethno">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=AR Languages of Argentina]</ref> (which makes it the second most spoken language in the country) and 1,000,000 speakers of Levantine [[Arabic language|Arabic]],<ref name="Ethno"/> 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 language|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 [[List of Native American languages in Argentina|original languages]]. [[Guaraní language|Guaraní]] is spoken by some in the northeast, especially in [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]] (where it enjoys official status) and [[Misiones Province|Misiones]]. [[Quechua language|Quechua]] is spoken by some in the northwest, and has a local variant in [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]. [[Aymara language|Aymara]] is spoken by members of the Bolivian community who migrated to Argentina from [[Bolivia]]. In [[Patagonia]] there are several [[Welsh language|Welsh]]-speaking [[Welsh settlement in Argentina|communities]]. More recent immigrants have brought [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Korean language|Korean]], mostly to Buenos Aires. [[English Language|English]], [[Brazilian Portuguese]] and [[French Language|French]] are also spoken. English is commonly taught at schools, with Portuguese and French behind. ===Education=== [[Image:Delantales blancos 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The ubiquitous white uniform of Argentine school children; it is a national symbol of learning.]] 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 [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] of 97% (2003 Est.)<ref>http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/countryfacts/argentina.html</ref> 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.<ref> [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/07/20/sociedad/s-03901.htm La Iglesia salió a defender la ley de Educación que el Gobierno quiere modificar] Clarin.com [[20 July]] [[2006]] (Spanish)</ref> President [[Domingo Faustino Sarmiento]] is overwhelmingly credited in pushing and implementing a free, modern education system in Argentina. The [[University reform in Argentina|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.<ref> [http://www.indec.gov.ar INDEC] 2001 - [[National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina]] (Spanish)</ref> 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,{{Fact|date=November 2007}} is now often perceived to be bad and in continuous decline because of lack of funding.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} 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 [[List of Argentine universities|universities across the country]],<ref>[http://spuweb.siu.edu.ar/studyinargentina/StudyinArgentina.htm Argentine Higher Education Official Site]</ref> as well as several private. The Universities of [[University of Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]] (the largest one, has 300,000 students), [[Universidad Nacional de Córdoba|Córdoba]] (110,000 students and one of the oldest in the continent), [[Universidad Nacional de Rosario|Rosario]] (75,000 students), [[Universidad Nacional de La Plata|La Plata]] (75,000 students) and [[National Technological University|UTN]] (National Technological University, 70,000 students) are among the most important.<!--Rephrase: Tertiary (university) attendance is very high for global standards.--> Public universities faced cutbacks in spending during the 1980s and 1990s, which led to a decline in overall quality. [[Image:Buenos Aires-Av. 9 de julio.jpg|thumb|right|260px|The [[9 de Julio Avenue|Nueve de Julio Avenue]], sometimes referred to as "the world's widest street". Its name honors Argentine Independence Day ([[July 9]] [[1816]]).]] ===Holidays=== {{main|Public holidays in Argentina}} 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 [[Argentine Declaration of Independence|Independence Day]] ([[July 9]]), [[Flag of Argentina|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. [[Image:Luis Federico Leloir - young.jpg|thumb|right|140px|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 gland|pituitary hormones]] in regulating [[glucose]] in animals; Medicine's [[Nobel laureate]] [[César Milstein]] did extensive research in [[antibody|antibodies]]; and Chemistry's [[Nobel laureate]] [[Luis Leloir]] discovered how organisms store energy converting glucose into [[glycogen]], and the compounds which are fundamental in [[metabolism|metabolizing]] [[carbohydrate]]s. [[Luis Agote|Dr. Luis Agote]] devised the first safe method of blood transfusion and [[Domingo Liotta|Dr. Domingo Liotta]] the first purely artificial heart. [[Enrique Finochietto]] designed operating table tools such as the surgical scissors that bear his name ("Finochietto scissors"), and a rib-spreader.<ref>[http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/372127 Enrique Finochietto]</ref> [[Roberto Zaldivar|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]]. [[Image:Agote_1a_transfusi%C3%B3n.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Dr. Luis Agote (''2<sup>nd</sup> from right'') overseeing history's first safe and effective blood transfusion, 1914.]] Argentina's [[Nuclear power|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 weapon]]s. Since then Argentina has pledged to use nuclear power only for peaceful purposes.<ref>[http://www.ceip.org/programs/npp/nppargn.htm Argentina] Non-Proliferation</ref> In other areas, [[Juan Vucetich]], a Croatian immigrant, was the father of modern fingerprinting (dactiloscopy).<ref>Julia Rodríguez, Columbia University. [http://www.trincoll.edu/events/diaspora/sympapers.htm The Argentine Fingerprint System].</ref> (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 pen]]s and Eduardo Taurozzi developed the more efficient pendular combustion engine.<ref>[http://www.argentinaahora.com/extranjero/ingles/bot_servicios/infoutil/infonews_.asp?id_noticia=930 Argentine Talent Without Frontiers]</ref> [[Juan Maldacena]], an Argentine-American scientist, is a leading figure in [[string theory]]. An Argentine satellite, the PEHUENSAT-1<ref>[http://www.aate.org/pehuensat.html PEHUENSAT-1]</ref> was successfully launched on [[January 10]] [[2007]] using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle ([[PSLV]]). </sub> ==Communications and media== ===Print=== [[Image:Clarin_30_07_52.jpg|thumb|210px|Funeral of famed first lady [[Evita Peron]], as covered by [[Clarin (newspaper)|''Clarin'']], today the most circulated daily in the Spanish-speaking world.]] 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 (newspaper)|Clarín]]'', one of the best selling daily in the Spanish speaking world.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} 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 (newspaper)|Crónica]]'' (populist). Regional papers of importance include ''[[La Capital]]'' ([[Rosario, Santa Fe|Rosario]]), ''[[Los Andes (Mendoza)|Los Andes]]'' ([[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]]), ''[[La Voz del Interior]]'' ([[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]]), and ''[[El Tribuno]]'' ([[Salta]]). [[Buenos Aires Herald|''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 (bookstore)|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&nbsp;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.<ref>[http://www.swl.net/patepluma/south/misc/argendx.html Radio With a Past in Argentina] Don Moore</ref> [[Image:Canal_7_Argentina.JPG|thumb|left|210px|Public television, Buenos Aires. On the air since 1951, Argentine t.v. broadcasting was the first in Latin America.]] At present there are more than 1,500 radio stations licensed in Argentina; 260 are [[AM broadcasting]] and 1150 [[FM broadcasting]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} 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.<ref>[http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/tilan/statistics/cable_table.html Homes with Cable TV in Latin America] Trends in Latin American networking</ref> Many cable networks operate from Argentina and serve the Spanish-speaking world, including [[Utilísima Satelital]], [[Torneos y Competencias|TyC Sports]], [[Fox Sports en Español]] (with the United States and México), MTV Argentina, Cosmopolitan TV, and the news network Todo Noticias. ==International rankings== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Organization ! Survey ! Ranking |- | [[Heritage Foundation]]/''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' | [[Index of Economic Freedom#Current ratings|Index of Economic Freedom]] | 107 out of 157 |- | ''[[The Economist]]'' | [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 Worldwide Quality-of-life Index, 2005] | 40 out of 111 |- | [[Reporters Without Borders]] | [[Reporters Without Borders#Worldwide press freedom index|Worldwide Press Freedom Index]] | 76 out of 167 |- | [[Transparency International]] | [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] | 105 out of 163 |- | [[United Nations Development Programme]] | [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] | 38 out of 177 |} ==See also== * [[Southern Cone]] * [[Buenos Aires]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ===Bibliography=== {{wikisource|CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Argentina}} <!--Alphabetical order:--> * {{es icon}} [http://www.csjn.gov.ar Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina] * {{es icon}} [http://www.presidencia.gov.ar Presidency of Argentina] * {{es icon}} [http://www.cancilleria.gov.ar/ ''Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto''] (official website of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations, International Trade and Worship) * [http://www.resdal.org/producciones-miembros/art-flemes4.html The Special Relationship between Argentina and Brazil] * {{es icon}} [http://www.argentina-rree.com/historia_indice00.htm ''Historia de las Relaciones Exteriores Argentinas''. History of Argentine foreign relations.] ==External links== {{portal|Argentina|Flag of Argentina.svg}} {{sisterlinks}} * [http://www.argentina.ar Official website] * [http://www.argentina.gov.ar Government of Argentina] {{es icon}} * [http://www.casarosada.gov.ar/index.php?lang=en The President of Argentina] * {{wikiatlas|Argentina}} * {{wikitravel}} * {{dmoz|Regional/South_America/Argentina}} ; Country Data * {{CIA World Factbook link|ar|Argentina}} *[http://devdata.worldbank.org/external/CPProfile.asp?SelectedCountry=ARG&CCODE=ARG&CNAME=Argentina&PTYPE=CP World Bank's country data profile] for Argentina. * [http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ipworldwide/pdf/ar.pdf World Intellectual Property Handbook: Argentina] {{Argentina topics}} {{Template group |title = [[Image:Gnome-globe.svg|25lpx]]&nbsp;Geographic locale |list = {{Provinces of Argentina}} {{CinemaofArgentina}} {{Countries of South America}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Latin Union}} {{G15 nations}} {{South American Community of Nations (CSN)}} {{Mercosur/Mercosul (Southern Common Market)}} {{Organization of American States (OAS)}} {{South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone}} }} <!--As featured article--> <!--Categories--> [[Category:Argentina| ]] [[Category:1816 establishments]] [[Category:Federal countries]] [[Category:Former Spanish colonies]] [[Category:G15 nations]] [[Category:Spanish-speaking countries]] {{Link FA|af}} {{Link FA|de}} <!--Other languages--> [[af:Argentinië]] [[als:Argentinien]] [[ar:الأرجنتين]] [[an:Archentina]] [[frp:Argentena]] [[ast:Arxentina]] [[gn:Argentina]] [[ay:Arxintina]] [[az:Argentina]] [[bn:আর্জেন্টিনা]] [[zh-min-nan:Argentina]] [[be:Аргенціна]] [[be-x-old:Аргентына]] [[bo:ཨར་གེན་ཐིན]] [[bs:Argentina]] [[br:Arc'hantina]] [[bg:Аржентина]] [[ca:Argentina]] [[cv:Аргентина]] [[ceb:Argentina]] [[cs:Argentina]] [[cy:Yr Ariannin]] [[da:Argentina]] [[pdc:Artschenti]] [[de:Argentinien]] [[dv:އާޖެންޓީނާ]] [[dsb:Argentinska]] [[dz:ཨར་ཇེན་ཊི་ན་]] [[et:Argentina]] [[el:Αργεντινή]] [[es:Argentina]] [[eo:Argentino]] [[ext:Arhentina]] [[eu:Argentina]] [[fa:آرژانتین]] [[fo:Argentina]] [[fr:Argentine]] [[fy:Argentynje]] [[fur:Argjentine]] [[ga:An Airgintín]] [[gv:Yn Argenteen]] [[gd:An Argantain]] [[gl:Arxentina - Argentina]] [[hak:Â-kîn-thìn]] [[ko:아르헨티나]] [[hy:Արգենտինա]] [[hi:अर्जेन्टीना]] [[hsb:Argentinska]] [[hr:Argentina]] [[io:Arjentinia]] [[ilo:Argentina]] [[bpy:আর্জেন্টিনা]] [[id:Argentina]] [[ia:Argentina]] [[os:Аргентинæ]] [[is:Argentína]] [[it:Argentina]] [[he:ארגנטינה]] [[jv:Argentina]] [[pam:Argentina]] [[kn:ಅರ್ಜೆಂಟೀನ]] [[ka:არგენტინა]] [[kk:Архентина]] [[kw:Arghantina]] [[ky:Аргентина]] [[sw:Argentina]] [[ht:Ajantin]] [[ku:Arjentîn]] [[lad:Arjentina]] [[la:Argentina]] [[lv:Argentīna]] [[lb:Argentinien]] [[lt:Argentina]] [[lij:Argentinn-a]] [[li:Argentinië]] [[jbo:getygu'e]] [[hu:Argentína]] [[mk:Аргентина]] [[ml:അര്‍ജന്റീന]] [[mr:आर्जेन्टीना]] [[ms:Argentina]] [[mn:Аргентин]] [[nah:Arxentitlān]] [[na:Argentina]] [[nl:Argentinië]] [[ne:अर्जेन्टिना]] [[ja:アルゼンチン]] [[nap:Argentina]] [[no:Argentina]] [[nn:Argentina]] [[nov:Argentina]] [[oc:Argentina]] [[ug:ئارگېنتىنا]] [[uz:Argentina]] [[pag:Argentina]] [[pap:Argentina]] [[ps:ارجنټاين]] [[km:អារហ្សង់ទីន]] [[pms:Argentin-a]] [[nds:Argentinien]] [[pl:Argentyna]] [[pt:Argentina]] [[ro:Argentina]] [[rm:Argentinia]] [[qu:Arhintina]] [[ru:Аргентина]] [[se:Argentina]] [[sa:अर्जन्टीना]] [[sq:Argjentina]] [[scn:Argintina]] [[simple:Argentina]] [[sk:Argentína]] [[sl:Argentina]] [[szl:Argyntyna]] [[sr:Аргентина]] [[sh:Argentina]] [[fi:Argentiina]] [[sv:Argentina]] [[tl:Arhentina]] [[ta:அர்ஜென்டினா]] [[tet:Arjentina]] [[th:ประเทศอาร์เจนตินา]] [[vi:Argentina]] [[tg:Аргентина]] [[tr:Arjantin]] [[uk:Аргентина]] [[ur:ارجنٹائن]] [[vec:Argentina]] [[vo:Largäntän]] [[fiu-vro:Argentina]] [[wo:Arsantin]] [[wuu:阿情梯娜]] [[yi:ארגענטינע]] [[yo:Argentina]] [[zh-yue:亞根廷]] [[cbk-zam:Argentina]] [[diq:Arcantin]] [[zea:Arhentinië]] [[bat-smg:Argentėna]] [[zh:阿根廷]]