Buenos Aires
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{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = [[Names of Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires]]
|native_name whopper|image_skyline = Buenos Aires panorama at night.jpg
|imagesize = 260px
|image_caption = Panorama of the city at night.
|imagesize = 260px
|image_flag = Flag of Buenos Aires (City) in Argentina.gif
|image_shield = Buenos_Aires_Coats_of_Arms.gif
|image_map = Mapa de Buenos Aires.svg
|mapsize = 200px
|pushpin_map
|map_caption =
|subdivision_type =
|subdivision_type =
C|subdivision_type1 =
|subdivision_name =
|subdivision_name1 =
|leader_title = [[Chiefs of Government of Buenos Aires|Chief of Government]]
|leader_name = [[Mauricio Macri]]
|leader_title1 = Senators
|leader_name1 = [[María Eugenia Estenssoro]], [[Samuel Cabanchik]], [[Daniel Filmus]]
|established_title = Established
|established_date = 1536, 1580
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi = 78.5
|area_total_km2 = 203
|area_land_sq_mi = 78.5
|area_land_km2 = 203
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 = 4758
|population_as_of = 2007 est.
|population_note =
|population_total = 3034161
|population_metro = 13044800
|population_urban =
|population_density_km2 = 14946.6
|population_density_sq_mi =
|timezone =
|utc_offset =
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|latd= 34|latm=36 |lats=36.00 |latNS=S
|longd= 58|longm= 22|longs= 11.99|longEW=W
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
|blank_name = '''[[Human Development Index|HDI]]''' (2005)
|blank_info = 0.923 – <span style="color:#090">high</span>
|website = http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/ {{es icon}}
}}
'''Buenos Aires''' is the [[capital]] and largest city of [[Argentina]]. Buenos Aires city is located outside of [[Buenos Aires Province]] as it is an autonomous city, hence the name "Autonomous City of Buenos Aires." It is geographically located on the southern shore of the [[Río de la Plata]], on the southeastern coast of the [[South America]]n continent, but is not the capital of the province of Buenos Aires, nor even part of it. [[Greater Buenos Aires]] is the third largest conurbation in [[Latin America]], with a population of about 13 million.
After the internal conflicts of the 19th century, Buenos Aires was [[Federalisation of Buenos Aires|federalised]] and removed from [[Buenos Aires Province]] in 1880. The city limits were enlarged to include the former towns of [[Belgrano, Buenos Aires|Belgrano]] and [[Flores, Buenos Aires|Flores]], which are both now [[Barrios of Buenos Aires|neighbourhoods of the city]].
Buenos Aires ({{lang-en|Fair Winds or Good Air}} (see [[Names of Buenos Aires]]), {{pronounced|ˈbwe̞nɔs ˈai̯ɾɛs}}) was originally named after the sanctuary of "Nostra Signora di Bonaria" ([[Italian language|Italian]] for "Our Lady of Bonaria") in [[Cagliari]], [[Sardinia]]. In the [[1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution|1994 constitution]] the city became [[autonomous entity|autonomous]], hence its formal name: ''Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires''. ''See'' [[Names of Buenos Aires]].
People from Buenos Aires are called ''porteños'' (people of the [[Porteño|port]]).
== History ==
===First Settlement===
[[Image:Garay.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Juan de Garay, founder of Buenos Aires.]]
[[Image:Garay2.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Depiction of the founding of Buenos Aires, 1580.]]
[[Image:Buenos_Aires-Jura_de_la_Constituci%C3%B3n_%281854%29.jpg|thumb|170px|Enactment of the Constitution of Buenos Aires, 1854. From 1820 to 1880, Buenos Aires was almost a nation in itself.]]
Seaman [[Juan Díaz de Solís]], navigating in the name of [[Spain]], was the first European to reach the [[Río de la Plata]] in 1516. His expedition was cut short when he was killed during an attack by the native [[Charrúa]] tribe in what is now [[Uruguay]].
The city of Buenos Aires was first established as ''Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre''<ref name="Short history"/> (literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") on [[February 2]], [[1536]] by a Spanish expedition led by [[Pedro de Mendoza]]. The city founded by Mendoza was located in what is today the [[San Telmo]] district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center.
More attacks by the indigenous peoples forced the settlers away, and in 1541 the site was abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established in 1580 by [[Juan de Garay]], who arrived by sailing down the [[Paraná River]] from [[Asunción]] (now the capital of [[Paraguay]]).
===Colonial History===
From its earliest days, the success of Buenos Aires depended on trade. During most of the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain insisted that all trade to Europe pass through [[Lima, Peru]] so that taxes could be collected. This scheme frustrated the traders of Buenos Aires, and a thriving contraband industry developed. Unsurprisingly, this also instilled a deep resentment in ''[[porteño]]s'' towards Spanish authorities.<ref name="Short history"/>
Sensing these feelings, [[Charles III of Spain]] progressively eased the trade restrictions and finally declared Buenos Aires an open port in the late 1700s. The capture of [[Porto Bello]] by British forces also fueled the need to foster commerce via the Atlantic route, to the detriment of Lima-based trade. Charles's placating actions did not have the desired effect; and the ''porteños'', some of them versed in the ideology of the [[French revolution]], became even more desirous of independence from Spain.
During the [[British invasions of the Río de la Plata]], British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice, in 1806 and 1807, but were repelled both times by local militias. Ultimately, on [[May 25]] [[1810]], while Spain was occupied with the [[Peninsular War]], and after a week of mostly pacific demonstrations, the ''[[Spanish Criollo peoples|criollo]]'' citizens of Buenos Aires successfully ousted the Spanish [[Viceroy]] and established a provisional government. May 25 is now celebrated as a national holiday ([[May Revolution]] Day). Formal independence from Spain was later declared in 1816.
Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina's main venue for liberal and free-trade ideas, while many of the provinces, especially to the Northwest, advocated a more conservative Catholic approach to political and social issues. Much of the internal tension in Argentina's history, starting with the centralist-federalist conflicts of the 19th century, can be traced back to these contrasting views. In the months immediately following the May 25 Revolution, Buenos Aires sent a number of military envoys to the provinces with the intention of obtaining their approval. Many of these missions ended in violent clashes, and the enterprise fueled the tensions between the capital and the provinces.
In the 19th century the city was [[blockade]]d twice by naval forces: by the [[France|French]] from 1838 to 1840, and later by a joint Anglo-French expedition from 1845 to 1848. Both blockades failed to force the city into submission, and the foreign powers eventually desisted from their demands.
===Modern History===
[[Image:BA1920.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Florida Street, 1920.]]
[[Image:Callealem.jpg|thumb|right|170px|A boulevard in the business district, 1920.]]
During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already capital of [[Buenos Aires Province]], and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded [[Government of Argentina|State of Buenos Aires]]. The issue was debated more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when the city was [[Federalisation of Buenos Aires|federalised]] and became the seat of government, with its Mayor appointed by the President. The [[Casa Rosada]] became the seat of the office of the [[President of Argentina|President]].
In addition to the wealth generated by the fertile ''pampas'', railroad construction in the second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories; Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself with the major European capitals. The [[Colón Theater]] became one of the world's top opera venues. The city's main avenues were built during those years, and the dawn of the 20th century saw the construction of South America's then-tallest buildings and first [[Buenos Aires Metro|underground]] system.
By the 1920s Buenos Aires was a favoured destination for immigrants from Europe, as well as from Argentina's provinces and neighbouring countries. [[Shanty town]]s (''[[villa miseria|villas miseria]]'') started growing around the city's industrial areas, leading to extensive social problems which contrasted sharply with Argentina's image as a country of riches.
[[Image:Avenida_Corrientes_y_Reconquista_SIGEN.jpg|thumb|170px|left|[[Corrientes Avenue]]. A second construction boom from 1945 to 1980 reshaped downtown and much of the city.]]
Buenos Aires was the cradle of [[Peronism]]: the now-mythologized demonstration of [[October 17]] [[1945]] took place in [[Plaza de Mayo]].<ref name="Clarín guide">''Guía visual de Buenos Aires centro histórico'', [[Clarín (newspaper)|''Clarín'']] Viajes, 2001. ISBN -X</ref> Industrial workers of the Greater Buenos Aires industrial belt have been Peronism's main support base ever since, and Plaza de Mayo became the site for demonstrations and many of the country's political events.
On [[June 16]] [[1955]], a splinter faction of the Navy bombed the Plaza de Mayo area, killing 364 civilians (see ''[[Bombing of Plaza de Mayo]]''). This was the only time the city was attacked from the air; this event was followed by a military uprising which deposed President Perón three months later (see ''[[Revolución Libertadora]]'').
In the 1970s, the city suffered from the fighting between left-wing revolutionary movements ([[Montoneros]], [[People's Revolutionary Army (Argentina)|E.R.P.]] and [[F.A.R.]]) and the [[right-wing]] paramilitary group [[Argentine Anticommunist Alliance|Triple A]], supported by [[Isabel Perón]], who became president of Argentina in 1974 after Juan Perón's death.
The military [[coup d'etat|coup]] of 1976, led by [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], only escalated this conflict; the "[[Dirty War]]" resulted in 30,000 ''[[desaparecidos]]'' (people kidnapped and killed by the military during the years of the junta).<ref name="Millions">''We are Millions: Neo-liberalism and new forms of political action in Argentina'', Marcela Lópéz Levy, Latin America Bureau, London, 2004. ISBN -X</ref> The silent marches of their mothers ([[Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo]]) are a well-known image of Argentines suffering during those times.
The [[National Reorganization Process|dictatorship]] also drew up plans for a network of [[freeway]]s intended to relieve the city's acute traffic gridlock. The plan, however, called for a seemingly indiscriminate razing of residential areas and though only three of the seven planned were put up at the time they were, mostly, obtrusive "raised" freeways and continue to saddle a number of formerly comfortable neighborhoods to this day.
[[Image:Puerto_Madero_DLightning.jpg|thumb|260px|left|Nighttime view of ''[[Puerto Madero]]'', a district developed over the old docklands within the last decade.]]
The city was visited by [[Pope John Paul II]] twice: in 1982, due to the outbreak of the [[Falklands War]] ({{lang-es|Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur}}), and a second visit in 1987, which gathered crowds never before seen in the city.
On [[March 17]] [[1992]] a bomb [[Israeli Embassy attack in Buenos Aires|exploded in the Israeli Embassy]], killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion on [[July 18]] [[1994]] [[AMIA bombing|destroyed a building]] housing several [[Jew]]ish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more.
Following a [[Pacto de Olivos|1993 agreement]], the [[Constitution of Argentina|Argentine Constitution]] was amended to give Buenos Aires [[autonomy]] and rescinding, among other things, the president's right to appoint the city's mayor (as had been the case since 1880). On June 30, 1996, voters in Buenos Aires chose their first elected mayor ([[Chiefs of Government of Buenos Aires|''Chief of Government'']]).
On [[December 30]] [[2004]], a [[República Cromagnon nightclub fire|fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub]] killed almost 200 people, one of the greatest non-natural tragedies in Argentine history.
== Government and politics ==
=== Government structure ===
[[Image:Palacio_Legislativo_de_la_Ciudad_de_Buenos_Aires_Diagonal_Julio_A._Roca.jpg|thumb|210px|The Municipal Legislature.]]
The Executive of the [[city]] is held by the Chief of Government ("Jefe de Gobierno"), who is directly elected for a four-year term, together with a Deputy Chief, who presides over the 60-member [[Policy|Legislature]].
Each member of the Legislature is elected for a four year term; half of the Legislature is renewed every two years. Elections use the [[D'Hondt method]]. The Judicial branch is composed of the Supreme Court of Justice (Tribunal Superior de Justicia), the Magistrate's Council (Consejo de la Magistratura), the Public Ministry, and other City Courts.
In [[legal]] terms, the city enjoys less autonomy than the [[province]]s. The national Judiciary determine the autonomy of the city's Judiciary with regards to common law, while the national Executive branch controls the city’s [[police]].
Beginning in 2007, the city has embarked on a new decentralization scheme, creating new communes (comunas) managed by a seven-person elected committee.
[[Image:Congreso_Nacional.jpg|thumb|left|240px|The Parliament of Argentina (Congreso Nacional).]]
Article 61 of the 1996 Constitution of the City of Buenos Aires states that "''Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and non-accumulative. Resident aliens enjoy this same right, with its corresponding obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in the district, under the terms established by law''." <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.legislatura.gov.ar/1legisla/constcba.htm
|title=Constitución de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
|language=Spanish
|date=[[October 1]] [[1996]]
|author=Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
|accessdate=2007-12-13}}</ref>
=== Recent political history ===
In 1996, following the [[1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution]], the city held its first mayoral elections under the new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Chief of Government". The winner was [[Fernando de la Rúa]], who would later become President of Argentina for the period 1999 to 2001.
[[Image:Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires.jpg|right||thumb|260px|[[Casa Rosada]], Buenos Aires city centre. The President's offices are housed here.]]
De la Rúa's successor, [[Aníbal Ibarra]], won two popular elections, but was [[impeachment|impeached]] (and ultimately deposed on [[March 6]], [[2006]]) as a result of the fire at the [[República Cromagnon]] nightclub. [[Jorge Telerman]], who had been the acting mayor, was invested with the office. In the 2007 elections, [[Mauricio Macri]] won the [[Two-round system|second-round]] of voting over [[Daniel Filmus]], and the office on [[December 9]], [[2007]].
=== National representation ===
Buenos Aires is represented in the [[Argentine Senate]] by three senators (as of December 2007: [[María Eugenia Estenssoro]], [[Samuel Cabanchik]] and [[Daniel Filmus]]).<ref>[http://www.senado.gov.ar Senate of the Nation], accessed [[2007-12-25]]</ref> The people of Buenos Aires also elect 25 national deputies to the [[Argentine Chamber of Deputies]].
== Demographics ==
{{seealso|Demographics of Argentina}}
[[Image:HabxbarrioBSAS.jpg|thumb|right|155px|Buenos Aires inhabitants by neighbourhood]]
[[Image:Palermo%27s_neighbourhood_skyline.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A section of ''Palermo'', the city's largest neighborhood. Total population density is now about 15,000/km<sup>2</sup> (37,600/mi<sup>2</sup>).]]
[[Image:Population of Buenos Aires 1740-2010.png|thumb|left|200px|Population growth since 1740]]
=== Census data ===
As of the census of 2001, there are 12,129,819 people residing in the city and [[Greater Buenos Aires|31 surrounding districts]], making Buenos Aires home to one in three [[Culture of Argentina|Argentines]]<ref>[http://www.indec.mecon.ar/nuevaweb/cuadros/2/p020201.xls]</ref>. The population density in Buenos Aires proper was 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (34,800 per mi<sup>2</sup>); but, only about 2,400 per km<sup>2</sup> (6,100 per mi<sup>2</sup>) in the suburbs. The racial makeup of the city is 88.9% [[White]], 7% [[Mestizo]], 2.1% [[Asian]] and 2% [[Afro-Argentine|Black]] .<ref>[http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Buenos_Aires Demographics of Buenos Aires]</ref>
The population of Buenos Aires proper has hovered around 3 million since 1947, due to low birth rates and a slow migration to the suburbs. The surrounding districts have, however, expanded over five-fold (to around 9 million) since then.<ref>[http://www.indec.mecon.ar/nuevaweb/cuadros/2/p020101.xls]</ref>
The 2001 Census showed a relatively aged population, as well; with 17% under the age of fifteen and 22% over sixty, the people of Buenos Aires have an age structure similar to those in most European cities. They are, likewise, a good bit more elderly than Argentines as a whole (of whom, 28% were under 15 and 14%, over 60).<ref>[http://www.indec.mecon.ar?censo2001s2_2/ampliada_index.asp?mode=02]</ref>
===Districts===
[[Image:Buenos_Aires_Jard%C3%ADn_Japon%C3%A9s.jpg|thumb|200px|left|''Divine bridge'' in the Buenos Aires Japanese Gardens, the world's largest outside [[Japan]].<ref>[http://www.judo-do-amici.com.ar/grados/index.php?pag=ficha.php&id=5&cap=28]]</ref>]]
{{main|Barrios of Buenos Aires}}
The city is divided into 48 ''[[barrio]]s'' or, neighborhoods, for administrative purposes (''see list at right'').<ref name="city government">[http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/ Government of Buenos Aires], accessed [[2006-08-07]].</ref> The division was originally based on Catholic ''parroquias'' ([[parish]]es), but has undergone a series of changes since the 1940s. A newer scheme has divided the city into 15 ''comunas'' (communes).<ref>[http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-55934-2005-09-02.html 'Buenos Aires con quince comunas'] by Pedro Lipcovich, [[Página/12|''Página/12'']], [[2005-09-02]]</ref>
===Origin===
{{seealso|Immigration in Argentina}}
The majority of ''[[porteño]]s'' have European origins, with [[Italy|Italian]] and [[Spain|Spanish]] descent being the most common, from and the [[Calabria]]n, [[Liguria]]n, [[Piedmont]], [[Lombardy]] and [[Naples|Neapolitan]] regions of Italy and from the [[Galicia (Spain)|Galician]], [[Asturias|Asturian]], and [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque]] regions of Spain<ref>[http://www.geographia.com/argentina/buenosaires/Index.htm Buenos Aires Introduction]</ref>
Other European origins include [[Germany|German]], [[Ireland|Irish]], [[Portugal|Portuguese]], [[France|French]], [[Croatia]]n, [[England|English]] and [[Wales|Welsh]]. In the 1990s, there was a small wave of immigration from [[Romania]] and [[Ukraine]]<ref>[http://www.casahistoria.net/argentina_immigration.htm#1.%20General European Emigration to Argentina]</ref>
There is a minority of old ''[[Spanish Criollo peoples|criollo]]'' stock, dating back to the Spanish colonial days. The ''Criollo'' and Spanish-aboriginal ([[mestizo]]) population in the city has increased mostly as a result of migration, from countries such as [[Bolivia]], [[Peru]] and [[Paraguay]], since the second half of the 20th century.
Important [[Syria]]n-[[Lebanon|Lebanese]] and [[Armenians|Armenian]] communities have had a significant presence in commerce and civic life since the beginning of the 20th century.
The [[Jewish]] community in [[Greater Buenos Aires]] numbers around 250,000, and is the largest in [[Latin America]]. Most are of Northern and Eastern European [[Ashkenazi]] origin, primarily Russian and Polish Jews, with a significant [[Sephardic]] minority, mostly made up of [[Syrian Jews]]<ref name=vjht>{{cite web|title=The Virtual Jewish History Tour - Argentina|last=Weiner|first=Rebecca|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Argentina.html|accessdate=2008-01-09}}</ref>
[[Image:20060128 - Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The Metropolitan Cathedral.]]
The first major [[Asia|East Asian]] community in Buenos Aires was the [[Japan]]ese, mainly from [[Okinawa]]. Traditionally, Japanese-Argentines were noted as [[flower]] growers; in the city proper, there was a Japanese near-monopoly in [[dry cleaning]]. Later generations have branched out into all fields of economic activity. Starting in the 1970s there has been an important influx of immigration from [[China]] and [[Korea]], the latter known mostly for small, family-owned supermarkets.
=== Religion ===
Most inhabitants are [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], though a number of studies over the past few decades suggest that fewer than 20% are actively practicing. Buenos Aires is the seat of a Roman Catholic [[metropolitan archbishop]] (the Catholic [[primate (religion)|''primate'']] of Argentina), currently [[Jorge Bergoglio|Jorge ''Cardinal'' Bergoglio]].
== Geography ==
[[Image:River Plate.jpg|thumb|240px|Satellite image of Río de la Plata]]
[[Image:Map of Buenos Aires.jpg|thumb|left|161px|1888 German map of Buenos Aires.]]
The limits of Buenos Aires proper are determined in the eastern part and north-east by the [[Rio de la Plata]], in the southern part and southeast by the [[Riachuelo]] and to the northwest, west and Southwest by [[Avenida General Paz]], [[highway]] of 24 km from extension that separates the [[province of Buenos Aires]] from the city.
The city of Buenos Aires lies in the [[Pampa|pampa region]], except some zones like the [[Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve]], the [[Club Atlético Boca Juniors|Boca Juniors (football) Club]] "sports city", [[Jorge Newbery Airport]], the [[Puerto Madero]] neighborhood and the main port itself; these were all built on reclaimed land along the coasts of the [[Rio de la Plata]] (the world's largest [[estuary]]).
The region was formerly crossed by different [[creek]]s and [[lagoon]]s, some of which were refilled and other tubed. Among the most important creeks are: Maldonado, Vega, Medrano, Cildañez and White. In [[1908]] many creeks were channeled and rectified, as floods were damaging the city's infrastructure. Starting in [[1919]], most creeks were enclosed. Notably, the Maldonado was tubed in [[1954]], and currently runs below Juan B. Justo avenue.
== Climate ==
{{See|Climate of Argentina}}
[[Image:Callerivadavia.jpg|thumb|240px|Rivadavia Avenue in winter.]]
The city has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ("Cfa" by [[Köppen classification]]). The average year temperature is {{convert|17.6|°C|°F}}. The city gets {{convert|1147|mm|in|0|lk=on|abbr=on}} of [[rainfall]] per year. The average high temperatures ranges from {{convert|30.4|°C|°F}} in January, to {{convert|14.9|°C|°F}} in Winter (1981-1990 period)<ref>[http://www.smn.gov.ar/?mod=clima&id=30&provincia=Capital%20Federal&ciudad=Buenos%20Aires]SMN </ref>. Rain can be expected at any time of year and hailstorms are not unusual.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in central Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Central Observatory) was {{convert|-5.4|°C|°F}} on [[July 9]] [[1918]]<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-01-23|title=Monthly Information of the city of Buenos Aires, July in the city of Buenos Aires, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentine National Meterological Service)|language=Spanish|url=http://www.smn.gov.ar/?mod=clima&id=14}}</ref>. The highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|43.3|°C|°F}} on [[January 29]] [[1957]]<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-01-23|title=Monthly Information of the city of Buenos Aires, January in the city of Buenos Aires, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Argentine National Meterological Service)|language=Spanish|url=http://www.smn.gov.ar/?mod=clima&id=8}}</ref>.
The [[July 2007 Argentine winterstorm|last snowfall]] (see [[July 2007 Argentine winterstorm]]) occurred recently on [[July 9]], [[2007]] when the entry of a massive polar [[cold snap]] made as a result the worst [[winter]] of Argentina in almost thirty years, where severe [[snowfall]]s and [[blizzard]]s affected the country. It was the first major snowfall in the city in 89 years<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-01-24|title=Buenos Aires sees rare snowfall|language=English|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6286484.stm}}</ref> (since [[June 22]] [[1918]]<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-01-24|title=Buenos Aires gets first snow since 1918|language=English|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-07-09-argentina-snow_N.htm}}</ref>).
Many locals leave Buenos Aires during the hot summer months (December, January and February) and head for seaside resorts on the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] coast.
{{Infobox Weather
|location = Buenos Aires, Argentina (1981-1990 period)
|single_line =Yes
|metric_first =Yes
|Jan_Hi_°C = 30.4
|Feb_Hi_°C = 28.7
|Mar_Hi_°C = 26.4
|Apr_Hi_°C = 22.7
|May_Hi_°C = 19.0
|Jun_Hi_°C = 15.6
|Jul_Hi_°C = 14.9
|Aug_Hi_°C = 17.3
|Sep_Hi_°C = 18.9
|Oct_Hi_°C = 22.5
|Nov_Hi_°C = 25.3
|Dec_Hi_°C = 28.1
|Year_Hi_°C = 22.4
|Jan_Lo_°C = 20.4
|Feb_Lo_°C = 19.4
|Mar_Lo_°C = 17.0
|Apr_Lo_°C = 13.7
|May_Lo_°C = 10.3
|Jun_Lo_°C = 7.6
|Jul_Lo_°C = 7.4
|Aug_Lo_°C = 8.9
|Sep_Lo_°C = 9.9
|Oct_Lo_°C = 13.0
|Nov_Lo_°C = 15.9
|Dec_Lo_°C = 18.4
|Year_Lo_°C = 13.5
|Jan_Precip_cm = |Jan_Precip_mm = 119
|Feb_Precip_cm = |Feb_Precip_mm = 118
|Mar_Precip_cm = |Mar_Precip_mm = 134
|Apr_Precip_cm = |Apr_Precip_mm = 97
|May_Precip_cm = |May_Precip_mm = 74
|Jun_Precip_cm = |Jun_Precip_mm = 63
|Jul_Precip_cm = |Jul_Precip_mm = 66
|Aug_Precip_cm = |Aug_Precip_mm = 70
|Sep_Precip_cm = |Sep_Precip_mm = 73
|Oct_Precip_cm = |Oct_Precip_mm = 119
|Nov_Precip_cm = |Nov_Precip_mm = 109
|Dec_Precip_cm = |Dec_Precip_mm = 105
|Year_Precip_cm = |Year_Precip_mm = 1147
|source =The World Meteorological Organization<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| url =http://www.worldweather.org|title = {{en icon}} Weather Information for Buenos Aires
| accessmonthday = Dec 12
|accessyear =2006
| language = }}</ref>
|accessdate = Nov 2006
}}
{{wide image|Buenos Aires waterfront.jpg|800px|Panorama of Buenos Aires Waterfront seen from the [[River Plate]].}}
== Economy ==
[[Image:Buenos Aires - Bolsa de Comercio.jpg|thumb|right|230px|[[Buenos Aires Stock Exchange]]]]
Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial, commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina. Its [[port]] is one of the busiest in South America; navigable rivers by way of the Rio de la Plata connect the port to north-east Argentina, [[Brazil]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Paraguay]]. As a result it serves as the distribution hub for a vast area of the south-eastern region of the South American continent. Tax collection related to the port has caused many political problems in the [[History of Argentina|past]].
The economy in the city proper alone, measured by Gross Geographic Product (excluding taxes and ''not'' adjusted for purchasing parity), totalled US$ 50.2 billion (US$ 16,580 per capita) in 2006 <ref name=bue>[http://buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/hacienda/sis_estadistico/anuario_2006/tomo1/09.pdf]</ref> and amounts to nearly a fourth of Argentina's as a whole.<ref>[http://mecon.gov.ar/secpro/dir_cn/documentos/producto_bruto_geografico.xls]</ref> Metro Buenos Aires, according to one well-quoted study, constitutes the 13th largest economy among the world's cities.<ref>[http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/richest-cities-2005.html]</ref> The Buenos Aires [[Human Development Index]] (0.923 in 1998) is likewise high by international standards.<ref>[http://www.desarrollohumano.org.ar/IDHArgentina/98_nac/98_nac.html 'Informe Argentino Sobre Desarrollo Humano']</ref>
The city's services sector is diversified and well-developed by international standards and accounts for 78% of its economy (compared to 58% for all of Argentina's);<ref name=bue/> advertising, in particular, plays a prominent role in the export of services at home and abroad. Manufacturing is, nevertheless, still prominent in the city's economy (17%) and, concentrated mainly in the [[southside]], it benefits as much from high local purchasing power and a large local supply of skilled labor as it does from its relationship to massive agriculture and industry just outside the city limits themselves.
To the west of Buenos Aires is the ''[[Pampa Húmeda]]'', the most productive agricultural region of Argentina (as opposed to the dry southern [[Pampa]], mostly used for [[cattle]] farming). Meat, dairy, grain, tobacco, wool and leather products are processed or manufactured in the [[Greater Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires metro area]]. Other leading industries are automobile manufacturing, oil refining, metalworking, machine building and the production of textiles, chemicals, clothing and beverages.
== Culture ==
[[Image:TeatroColon.JPG|thumb|left|280px|Teatro Colón (''Colón Theatre'')]]
Strongly influenced by [[European culture]], Buenos Aires is sometimes referred to as the "Paris of [[South America]]".<ref>[http://travel.canoe.ca/Travel/SouthAmerica/2005/03/06/953104-sun.html 'Paris of the South'] by Kenneth Bagnell, [[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe]] travel, [[2005-03-07]], accessed [[2006-08-07]].</ref><ref name="Short history">''Argentina: A Short History'' by Colin M. Lewis, Oneworld Publications, Oxford, 2002. ISBN 1-85168-300-3</ref>
Buenos Aires is the site of the [[Colon Theater|Teatro Colón]], one of the world's greatest [[opera]] houses.<ref name="Time Out">''Time Out Guide: Buenos Aires'', Cathy Runciman & Leticia Saharrea (eds), Penguin Books, London, 2001. ISBN 0-14-029398-1</ref> It is closed for renovations until at least 2010. There are several [[symphony orchestra]]s and choral societies. The city has numerous museums related to history, fine arts, modern arts, decorative arts, popular arts, sacred art, arts and crafts, theatre and popular music, as well as the preserved homes of noted art collectors, writers, composers and artists. It has many public libraries and cultural associations as well as the largest concentration of active theatres in Latin America{{Fact|date=July 2007}}.
It has a world-famous [[Buenos Aires Zoo|zoo]] and [[Buenos Aires Botanical Garden|Botanical Garden]], a large number of landscaped parks and squares, as well as churches and places of worship of many denominations, many of which are architecturally noteworthy.<ref name="Time Out"/>
=== Language ===
[[Image:Jorge_Luis_Borges_Hotel.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Poet and Novelist Jorge Luis Borges, 1969; as influential to Hispanic literature as [[William Faulkner]] was to American literature.]]
Known as ''[[Rioplatense Spanish]]'', Buenos Aires' [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (and also in other cities like [[Rosario]] and [[Montevideo]], [[Uruguay]]) is characterised by ''[[voseo]]'', ''[[yeísmo]]'' and aspiration of ''s'' in various contexts. It is heavily influenced by the dialects of Spanish spoken in [[Andalusia]] and [[Murcia]]. A phonetic study conducted by the Laboratory for Sensory Investigations of [[CONICET]] and the [[University of Toronto]] showed that the ''[[porteño]]'' accent is closer to the [[Neapolitan]] dialect of [[Italian language|Italian]] than any other spoken language.
In the early 20th century, Argentina absorbed millions of immigrants, many of them Italians, who spoke mostly in their local dialects (mainly Neapolitan, [[Sicilian language|Sicilian]] and [[Genoa]]n). Their adoption of [[Spanish language|Spanish]] was gradual, creating a [[pidgin]] of Italian dialects and Spanish that was called ''[[cocoliche]]''. Its usage declined around the 1950s.
Many Spanish immigrants were from [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], to the extent that Spaniards are still generically referred to in Argentina as ''gallegos'' ([[Galician people|Galicians]]). [[Galician language]], cuisine and culture had a major presence in the city for most of the 20th century. In recent years, descendants of Galician immigrants have led a mini-boom in [[Celtic music]] (which also highlighted the [[Welsh settlement in Argentina|Welsh traditions of Patagonia]]).
[[Yiddish]] was commonly heard in Buenos Aires, especially in the [[Balvanera]] garment district and in [[Villa Crespo]] until the 1960s. [[Korean language|Korean]] and [[Chinese language|Chinese]] have become significant since the 1970s. Most of the newer immigrants learn Spanish quickly and assimilate into city life.
The ''[[Lunfardo]]'' [[argot]] originated within the prison population, and in time spread to all ''porteños''. Lunfardo uses words from Italian dialects, from [[Brazil]]ian [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], from African and Caribbean languages and even from English. Lunfardo employs humorous tricks such as inverting the syllables within a word ([[vesre]]). Today, Lunfardo is mostly heard in tango lyrics <ref>[http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~tango/Articles/2001_Economist.pdf Lunfardo & Tango lyrics]</ref>; the slang of the younger generations has been evolving away from it.
See also: [[Belgranodeutsch]].
=== Tango ===
{{main|Tango music}}
{{seealso|History of Tango}}
[[Image:TangoCouple.jpg|thumb|170px|left|Tango dance]]
Tango music was born in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, notably in the brothels of the ''Junín y Lavalle'' district and in the ''arrabales'' (poorer suburbs). Its sensual dance moves were not seen as respectable until adopted by the [[Paris]]ian high society in the 1920s, and then all over the world. In Buenos Aires, tango-dancing schools (known as ''academias'') were usually men-only establishments.
Tango consists of a variety of styles that developed in different regions and eras of [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]] as well as in other locations around the world. The dance developed in response to many cultural elements, such as the crowding of the venue and even the fashions in clothing. The styles are mostly danced in either open embrace, where lead and follow connect at arms length, or close embrace, where the lead and follow connect chest-to-chest.
Early tango was known as ''tango criollo,'' or simply ''tango''. Today, there are many tango dance styles, including [[Argentine Tango]], [[Uruguayan tango|Uruguayan Tango]], Ballroom tango (American and International styles), [[Finnish tango]] and vintage tangos.
[[Image:VillafaneImage.jpg|thumb|195px|Actresses [[Chunchuna Villafañe]] and [[Norma Aleandro]] share a painful memory in the Oscar-winning [[The Official Story]] (1985).]]
=== Cinema ===
{{main|Cinema of Argentina}}
{{seealso|Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema}}
The cinema first appeared in Buenos Aires in 1896. The city has been the centre of the [[Argentine cinema]] industry in [[Argentina]] for over 100 years since French camera operator [[Eugene Py]] directed the pioneering film ''[[La Bandera Argentina]]'' in 1897. Since then, over 2000 films have been directed and produced within the city, many of them referring to the city in their titles, such as ''[[Buenos Aires Plateada]]'', and ''[[Buenos Aires a la vista]]''. The culture of [[tango music]] has been incorporated into many films produced in the city, especially since the 1930s. Many films have starred tango performers such as [[Hugo del Carril]], [[Tita Merello]], [[Carlos Gardel]] and [[Edmundo Rivero]].
== Architecture ==
{{main|Architecture of Argentina}}
[[Image:Galeria pacifico.jpg|thumb|left|170px|[[Galerías Pacífico]] on Florida St]]
[[Image:Argentina buenos-aires 34.jpg|thumb|right|195px|Modern buildings in the Buenos Aires [[CBD]]]]
[[Image:Buenos Aires Décembre 2007 - Avenida 5 de Mayo.jpg|thumb|195px|Art-deco and neoclassical syles converge at ''Diagonal Norte''.]]
Buenos Aires architecture is characterized by its individuality and uniqueness, with elements resembling [[Barcelona]], [[Paris]] and [[Madrid]].
Italian and [[France|French]] influences increased after the [[Declaration of Independence of Argentina|declaration of independence]] at the beginning of the 19th century, though the academic style persisted until the first decades of the 20th century.
Attempts at renovation took place during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, when European influences penetrated into the country, reflected by several buildings of Buenos Aires such as the Iglesia Santa Felicitas by [[man|Ernesto Bunge]]; the Palace of Justice, the [[Argentine Congress|National Congress]], and the [[Teatro Colón]], all of them by [[Vittorio Meano]].
The simplicity of the ''[[Río de la Plata|Rioplatense]]'' [[baroque style]] can be clearly seen in Buenos Aires through the works of [[Italy|Italian]] architects such as André Blanqui and Antonio Masella, in the churches of [[San Ignacio Miní|San Ignacio]], [[Nuestra Señora del Pilar]], the [[Buenos Aires Cathedral|Cathedral]] and the [[Buenos Aires Cabildo|Cabildo]].
The architecture of the second half of the 20th century continued to reproduce French neoclassic models, such as the headquarters of the Banco de la Nacion Argentina built by [[Alejandro Bustillo]], and the Museo Hispanoamericano de Buenos Aires|Museo Hispanoamericano of Martín Noel.
However, since the 1930s the influence of [[Le Corbusier]] and European [[rationalism]] consolidated in a group of young architects from the [[Universidad Nacional de Tucumán|University of Tucumán]], among whom [[architecture|Amancio Williams]] stands out. The construction of [[skyscraper]]s proliferated in Buenos Aires until the 1950s.
Newer modern high-technology buildings by Argentine architects in the last years of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st include the Le Parc Tower by Mario Álvarez, the Torre Fortabat by Sánchez Elía and the [[Repsol-YPF_tower|Repsol-YPF Tower]] by [[César Pelli]].
==Notable residents==
[[Image:Daniel Barenboim.jpg|thumb|195px|left|Symphony conductor [[Daniel Barenboim]].]]
[[Image:Ernesto_S%C3%A1bato_circa_1972.jpg|thumb|195px|left|Novelist [[Ernesto Sabato]].]]
[[Image:Gustavo_Santaolalla_-_9MAR07_-presidencia-govar.jpg|thumb|left|195px|Composer [[Gustavo Santaolalla]], twice honored with an ''Oscar''.]]
[[Image:Geniol .jpg|thumb|150px|Argentine cultural icon Geniol head in vintage advertising [[poster]] by [[Achille Mauzan|Lucien-Achille Mauzan]].]]
'''Buenos Aires was home to these Argentine writers:'''
*[[Roberto Arlt]]
*[[Leopoldo Lugones]]
*[[Jorge Luis Borges]]
*[[Andrés Rivera]]
*[[Paul Groussac]]
*[[Manuel Mujica Laínez]]
*[[Adolfo Bioy Casares]]
*[[Ernesto Sabato]]
*[[Leopoldo Marechal]]
*[[Tomas Eloy Martinez]]
*[[Victoria Ocampo]]
*[[Julio Cortázar]]
*[[Manuel Puig]]
'''International figures who have lived in Buenos Aires include:'''
*[[René Goscinny]]
*[[Marcel Duchamp]]
*[[Witold Gombrowicz]]
*[[Jerry Masucci]]
*[[Pablo Neruda]]
*[[Rubén Darío]]
*[[Lucas Gelardi]]
*[[Romola Nijinska]]
*[[Rosa Chacel]]
*[[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]]
*[[Eugene O' Neill]]
*[[Federico Garcia Lorca]]
*[[José Ortega y Gasset]]
*[[Robert Duvall]]
*[[Viggo Mortensen]]
*[[Indra Devi]]
*[[Hugo Pratt]]
*[[Guy Williams]]
Others include businesspeople [[Aristotle Onassis]], [[Fritz Thyssen]], [[John S. Reed]] and advertising greats [[Gino Boccasile]] and [[Achille Mauzan|Lucien-Achille Mauzan]], who was considered to be Argentina's “father of the advertising [[poster]]”. During the [[Spanish Civil War]] and its aftermath, Buenos Aires provided refuge for many expatriate Spaniards, including philosopher [[José Ortega y Gasset]] and composer [[Manuel de Falla]], who later moved to [[Córdoba (Argentina)|Córdoba]]. [[Luca Prodan]] arrived from [[England]] in the 1980s and became an icon of Argentine rock.
Musicians [[Daniel Barenboim]], [[Alberto Ginastera]], [[Gustavo Santaolalla]] and [[Martha Argerich]] among others, are Buenos Aires natives.
Fiction author [[W.E.B. Griffin]] spends half the year at his wife's family home in Buenos Aires and the other half in his native US.
==Education==
{{seealso|Education in Argentina}}
===Primary education===
[[Image:Delantales blancos 2.jpg|thumb|225px|right|The ubiquitous white uniform of children at public schools is a national symbol of learning.]]
Primary education comprises the first two EGB cycles (grades 1–6). Because of the system that was in place until [[1995]] (7 years of primary school plus 5 or 6 of secondary school), primary schools used to offer grades 1–7. Although most schools have already converted to teach the 8th and 9th grades, others chose to eliminate 7th grade altogether, forcing the students to complete the 3rd cycle in another institution.
===Secondary education===
Secondary education in Argentina is called ''Polimodal'' ("polymodal", that is, having multiple modes), since it allows the student to choose his/her orientation. Polimodal is not yet obligatory but its completion is a requirement to enter colleges across the nation. Polimodal is usually 3 years of schooling, although some schools have a fourth year.
Conversely to what happened on primary schools, most secondary schools in Argentina contained grades 8th and 9th, plus Polimodal (old secondary) but then started converting to accept also 7th grade students, thus allowing them to keep their same classmates for the whole EGB III cycle.
[[Image:Facultad_de_Derecho_-_Hall_central_-_UBA.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Main hall, University of Buenos Aires Law School.]]
In December 2006 the [[Argentine Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]] of the [[Argentine Congress]] passed a new National Education Law restoring the old system of primary followed by secondary education, making secondary education obligatory and a right, and increasing the length of compulsory education to 13 years. The government vowed to put the law in effect gradually, starting in 2007. <ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/12/14/um/m-01327811.htm Clarín article]</ref>
===College education===
There are many state-run, taxpayer-funded universities in Argentina, as well as a number of private universities. See [[University reform in Argentina]] and [[List of Argentine universities]].
The [[University of Buenos Aires]], one of the top learning institutions in South America, has produced five [[Nobel Prize]] winners and provides taxpayer-funded education for students from all around the globe.
Buenos Aires is a major center for [[psychoanalysis]], particularly the [[Lacanian]] school.
== Tourism ==
[[Image:San Telmo1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bohemian-chic San Telmo.]]
[[Image:Buenos_Aires_-_Club_de_Pescadores.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Fishermen's Club and pier on the [[Rio de la Plata]], actually the world's biggest [[estuary]].]]
{{main|Tourism in Buenos Aires}}
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council,<ref name=rgi0708>[http://www.wttc.travel/ www.wttc.travel] Retrieved on 10 March 2008</ref> tourism has been growing in the Argentine capital since 2002. In a survey by the travel and tourism publication [[Travel + Leisure]] Magazine in 2008, travelers voted Buenos Aires the second most desirable city to visit after [[Bangkok|Bangkok, Thailand]].<ref>[http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2008/results.cfm?cat=cities ''Travel + Leisure'' Magazine worldsbest/2008] Retrieved on 09 July 2008</ref>
The city offers a variety of cultural activities. Visitors may choose to visit a tango show, an [[estancia]] in the [[Province of Buenos Aires]], or enjoy the traditional [[asado]]. New tourist circuits have recently evolved, devoted to famous Argentines such as [[Carlos Gardel]], [[Eva Perón]] or [[Jorge Luis Borges]]. Due to the favourable exchange rate, its [[shopping centers|shopping centres]] such as Alto Palermo, Paseo Alcorta, Patio Bullrich, Abasto de Buenos Aires and [[Galerías Pacífico]] are frequently visited by tourists.
[[San Telmo]] is a frequently visited area south of city, with its [[cobblestone]]d streets and buildings from the colonial era that attest to its long history. There are churches, museums, antique shops and "Antique Fairs" ('Ferias de Antigüedades') in historic [[Dorrego Square]], where the streets on weekends are filled with performers such as [[tango (dance)|tango]] dancers.
The city also plays host to musical festivals, the largest of which is [[Quilmes Rock]].
=== Landmarks ===
[[Image:Obelisco3.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Obelisk.]]
[[Image:Avenida de Mayo Hotel Castelar iluminado.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Coffee shops on Avenida de Mayo.]]
*[[Obelisk of Buenos Aires|The Obelisk]] (Is one of the main icons of the city, and a venue for various cultural activities and other events)
*[[Casa Rosada]] (Is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina)
*[[Avenida Corrientes]] (Is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the Tango and Porteño culture.)
*[[Buenos Aires Cabildo|Cabildo]] (Is the public building in Buenos Aires that was used as the government house during the colonial times)
*[[Florida Street]] (Is an elegant street at Buenos Aires city centre,)
*[[Nueve de Julio Avenue]] (Its name honors Argentina's Independence Day. It was the widest avenue in the world)
*[[Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral|Metropolitan Cathedral]] (It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires)
*[[Teatro Colón]] (Opened in 1908 it is one of the world's major opera houses)
*[[Plaza de Mayo]] (Is the main square in Buenos Aires, site of many protests and historical events)
*[[San Telmo]] (Is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and also one of the best preserved areas and is characterized with a number of European style buildings)
*[[Avenida de Mayo]] (The avenue is often compared with those of Madrid, Barcelona and Paris due of its sophisticated buildings of art Nouveau, neoclassic and eclectic styles)
*[[Biblioteca Nacional de la Republica Argentina|National Library]] (is the largest library in Argentina and one of the most important in the Americas)
*[[La Boca]] (It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early European settlers being from Italy and Spain)
*[[Caminito]]
*[[Cementerio de la Recoleta]] (The Cemetery includes graves of some of the most influential and important persons of Argentina, including several presidents, scientists, and wealthy characters)
*[[Argentine National Congress|National Congress]] (Argentine Parliament)
==Transportation ==
=== Street network ===
[[Image:Panamericana3.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Pan-American Highway|Autopista Panamericana]] in Buenos Aires]]
[[Image:Taxiba.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Taxi in Buenos Aires]]
[[Image:Colectivo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bus Line 114]]
Buenos Aires is based on a rectangular [[Grid plan|grid]] pattern, save for natural barriers or the relatively rare developments explicitly designed otherwise (notably, the neighbourhood of [[Parque Chas|Parque Chas]]). The rectangular grid provides for [[Square (geometry)|square]] blocks named ''manzanas'', with a length of roughly 110 meters. Pedestrian zones in the [[Central business district|city centre]] are partially [[Auto-free zone|car-free]] and always bustling, access provided by bus and the [[Line C (Buenos Aires)|Metro (subte) Line C]]. Buenos Aires, for the most part, is a very walkable city and the majority of residents in Buenos Aires use [[public transport]].
Two diagonal [[avenues]] in the city centre alleviate [[traffic]] and provide better access to [[Plaza de Mayo]]. Most avenues running into and out of the city centre are one-way and feature six or more lanes, with computer-controlled [[green wave]]s that ensure fast traffic outside of peak times.
Main avenues of the city include the {{convert|140|m|ft|0|sing=on}}-wide [[9 de Julio Avenue]], the over-{{convert|35|km|mi|0|abbr=on|sing=on}}-long [[Rivadavia|Rivadavia Avenue]],<ref>[http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/02/26/laciudad/h-05615.htm 'Avenida Rivadavia:Un largo recorrido de contrastes'] by Nora Sánchez, [[Clarín (newspaper)|''Clarín'']], [[2006-02-26]]</ref> and [[Corrientes Avenue]], the main thoroughfare of culture and entertainment.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the [[Avenida General Paz]] beltway that surrounds the city along its border with [[Buenos Aires Province]] and freeways leading to the new [[Ministro Pistarini International Airport|international airport]] and to the northern suburbs heralded a new era in Buenos Aires traffic. Encouraged by pro-automaker policies pursued towards the end of [[Juan Peron|Pres. Peron]]'s term ([[1955]]) and during Pres. [[Arturo Frondizi]]'s term (1958-62) in particular, auto sales nationally leapt from an average of 30,000 during the 1920s through the '50s to about 250,000 in the 1970s and over 560,000 in [[2007]]<ref>[http://www.adefa.com.ar]</ref> and today, 1.7 million vehicles (nearly one-fifth of Argentina's total) are registered in Buenos Aires.<ref>[http://www.dnrpa.gov.ar/bolesta1/boletin1020/pagina11.htm]</ref>
Toll [[motorway]]s opened in the late [[1970s]] by then-mayor [[Osvaldo Cacciatore]] provided fast access to the city centre and are today used by over a million vehicles, daily.<ref>[http://www.mecon.gov.ar/download/infoeco/actividad_ied.xls#'1.10 SS PP'!A1]</ref> Cacciatore likewise had financial district streets (roughly one square kilometre in area) closed to private cars during daytime. Most major avenues are, however, [[gridlock]]ed at peak hours. Following the [[Economy of Argentina|economic mini-boom of the 1990s]], record numbers started [[commuting]] by car and congestion increased, as did the time-honored [[Culture of Argentina|Argentine custom]] of taking weekends off in the countryside.
===Buses===
There are over 150 city bus lines called '''[[Colectivos]]''', each one managed by an individual company which makes them very effective as they compete with each other and attracts exceptionally high use with virtually no public financial support,<ref>[http://trb.metapress.com/content/v5542g6mh27j6u44/ Transportation Research Board, Buenos Aires Colectivo Buses and Experience with Privatization]</ref> their frequency makes them equal to the [[metro|underground systems]] of other cities, but on wheels, however, buses cover a far wider area than the underground system. Colectivos in Buenos Aires do not have a fixed timetable, but run from 4 to several per hour, depending on the bus line and time of the day.
With very cheap tickets and extensive routes, usually no further than four blocks from commuters' residences, the colectivo is by far the preferred mode of transport around the city. Bus line operators must comply with city regulations on [[security]] and [[pollution]] control.
===Taxi===
A fleet of 40,000 black-and-yellow taxis ply the [[streets]] at all hours. License controls are not enforced rigorously. There have been numerous reports of organized crime controlling the access of taxis to the city airports and other major destinations <ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/Archivo/Nota.asp?nota_id=76881 La Nacion article]</ref>. Radio-link companies provide reliable and safe service; many such companies provide incentives for frequent users.
Low-fare limo services, known as ''remises'', have become popular in recent years.
===Metro===
{{main|Buenos Aires Metro}}
[[Image:Buenos Aires Monserrat.jpg|thumb|200px|Metro entrance on Avenida de Mayo]]
[[Image:subte.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Line D runs from the city centre district to the northern neighborhoods of [[Palermo, Buenos Aires|Palermo]] and [[Belgrano, Buenos Aires|Belgrano]]]]
The [[Buenos Aires Metro]] (locally known as ''subte'', from ''"subterráneo"'' meaning underground or metro) is a high yield system providing access to various parts of the city. Opened in 1913, it is the oldest [[Metro|underground system]] in the Southern Hemisphere and in the Spanish-speaking world. The [[system]] has six lines, named by letters (A to E, and H) There are 74 stations, and {{convert|52.3|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of track. An expansion program is underway to extend existing [[line]]s into the outer neighborhoods and add a new north-south line. Track length is expected to reach {{convert|89|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} by the year 2011.
[[Image:Buenos Aires - Subte - Humberto Primo 3.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Recently inaugurated underground station]]
[[Image:Subte3.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Callao Station on Line B]]
Daily ridership is 1.3 million and on the increase. [[Fares]] are cheap and are in fact cheaper than the city buses. While tokens have been used in the past, at present, riders purchase either single-use or multi-use cards (called SubtePass) with a magnetic strip or use [[Contactless]] cards called SubteCard which can be rechargeable with cash or linked to a bank account for automatic debit.
The '''Buenos Aires Metro''' has six lines which also has links to the [[Rail transport in Argentina#Suburban passenger services|metropolitan train network]].
*'''[[Line A (Buenos Aires)|Line A - Light Blue]]''': Subte Line A is the oldest line of the Buenos Aires Metro. This historical line runs from Plaza de Mayo to Primera Junta, and is scheduled to be extended towards Nazca St.
*'''[[Line B (Buenos Aires)|Line B - Red]]''': Line B of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Leandro N. Alem Station to Los Incas (projected to Villa Urquiza).
*'''[[Line C (Buenos Aires)|Line C - Blue]]''': The Line C of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Retiro to Constitución terminus, opened on 9 November 1934, 4.4 km.
*'''[[Line D (Buenos Aires)|Line D - Green]]''': Subte Line D of the Buenos Aires Metro runs from Catedral to Congreso de Tucumán. The D Line opened on 3 June 1937 and has been expanded to the north several times. The line is currently 10.41 km long and runs approximately parallel to the Buenos Aires coastline.
*'''[[Line E (Buenos Aires)|Line E - Purple]]''': Subte Line E runs from Bolivar Station to Plaza de los Virreyes, opened on 20 June 1944, currently with 9.2 km.
*'''[[Line H (Buenos Aires)|Line H - Yellow]]''': Line H runs from Once terminus to Caseros. It is also planned to run from Retiro to Nueva Pompeya once the remaining sections are constructed.
====Current Extensions====
[[Image:Subtes-2007.svg|thumb|200px|right|Current Underground System map]]
At Line A four new stations after Primera Junta are under construction, being Nazca the new future terminal while newer metro carriages are slowly being introduced to handle the increased demand.
On Line B Since 2004, work began to expand the line to [[Villa Ortúzar]] and [[Villa Urquiza]]<ref>[http://www.sbase.com.ar/historia3.htm History: La Línea B] (Spanish)</ref>.
On Line H further extensions are planned to run from [[Retiro, Buenos Aires|Retiro]] to Nueva Pompeya once constructed.
It will connect the Southern part of the city with the North, thus improving the flow to the centre of the city, and will be approximately 11 km long from end to end. The Line H will provide cross-connections with almost all the other lines.
====New Metro lines====
New underground lines are planned and were presented by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires on May 26 of 2007.
There are currently three lines planned:
The Line F will join [[Constitución railway station|Constitución Station]] with Plaza Italia and will have an extension of 7,6 kilometers. It will be transverse-radialy, according to the section, with strong integration with the rest of the network.
The Line G will connect the [[Retiro railway station|Retiro Station]] with the [[Cid Campeador]] and will have an extension of 7,6 kilometers. It will be radial to communicate the axes of high density residential and commercial areas, and will bring the underground to the northwest [[district]] of the city.
The Line I will run from Emilio Mitre Line A Station up to Plaza Italia and will have an extension of 7,3 kilometres. It will be the most external transverse line of the network and will communicate the neighborhoods of the north, center and south of the city and will integrate to the radial lines far from the [[Central business district|city centre]].
[[Image:Premetro Map3.jpg|thumb|160px|right|PreMetro E2 map]]
===[[Tram]] system===
[[Image:TDESTE1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Tram in [[Puerto Madero]]]]
Buenos Aires had an extensive street railway ([[tram]]) system with over 857 km (535 mi) of track, which was dismantled during the 1960s in favor of bus transportation and is now in the stages of a slow comeback.
The [[PreMetro E2 (Buenos Aires)|PreMetro]] or Line E2 is a 7.4 km [[light rail]] line that connects with the [[Buenos Aires Metro]] Line E, at Plaza de los Virreyes station and runs to General Savio and Centro Cívico and is operated by [[Metrovías]]. The official inauguration took place on 27 August 1987. The cost of building and fitting out the line was also impressive, amounting to a mere USD 5.4 million. An additional USD 4.6 million was allocated to the acquisition of a fleet of 25 light rail vehicles.
[[Tren de la Costa]] is a 15.5 km-long (9.7 miles) 11-station [[light rail]] line inaugurated in 1996 in [[Greater Buenos Aires]], between Maipú Avenue station in the northern suburb of [[Olivos]] and Delta station in [[Tigre, Buenos Aires|Tigre]] [[partido]], on the [[Río de la Plata]]. Tren de la Costa is served by nine trains, each of two cars. Each train has a capacity of 200 passengers and travels at an average speed of 35 km/h. The journey time is 30 minutes, with a frequency of about 15 minutes.
A new 2 km (1,25 miles) tramway (LRT), [[Tranvía del Este]] runs across the [[Puerto Madero]] district. Extensions planned will link the [[Estación Retiro|Retiro]] and [[La Boca]] terminal train stations. Other routes are being studied.
A [[Heritage streetcar]] maintained by tram fans operates on weekends, near the Primera Junta line A metro station in the [[Caballito, Buenos Aires|Caballito]] neighbourhood.
===Commuter rail===
[[Image:20060128 - Estación de Retiro (Buenos Aires).jpg|thumb|200px|Estación Retiro|Retiro Rail Terminal]]
[[Image:TBA2.jpg|thumb|200px|Suburban train on Tigre Station]]
[[Image:Buquebus2.gif|thumb|200px|Ferry crossing the river Rio de la Plata.]]
[[Image:Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza - Terminal A - 20070120.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ministro Pistarini International Airport]], more commonly referred as Ezeiza International Airport.]]
The [[Rail transport in Argentina#Commuter network|Buenos Aires commuter network]] system is very extensive, every day more than 1.3 million people [[commuting|commute]] to the Argentine capital for work and other business. These suburban trains operate between 4 AM and 1 AM.
The Buenos Aires Railway system also connects the city with long distance rail to [[Rosario]] and [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]] among other metropolitan areas. The three principal stations for both long-distance and [[commuter train|local]] passenger services are located in Buenos Aires city centre [[Constitucion station|Plaza Constitucion]], [[Retiro Station|Retiro]] and [[Estación Once|Once de Septiembre]].
The '''Buenos Aires commuter rail system''' has seven lines:
*[[Línea Belgrano Norte (Buenos Aires)|Belgrano Norte Line]]
*[[Línea Belgrano Sur (Buenos Aires)|Belgrano Sur Line]]
*[[Línea Roca (Buenos Aires)|Roca Line]]
*[[Línea San Martín (Buenos Aires)|San Martin Line]]
*[[Línea Sarmiento (Buenos Aires)|Sarmiento Line]]
*[[Línea Mitre (Buenos Aires)|Mitre Line]]
*[[Línea Urquiza (Buenos Aires)]]
====High speed rail====
''See [[Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba high-speed railway]] for details.''
A new [[high-speed rail|high-speed rail line]] between Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba, with speeds up to 320 km/h is planned<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2007/08/7661/argentina_sets_a_new_course.html Argentina sets a new course]. ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' August 2007.</ref>.
=== Ferry ===
Buenos Aires is also served by a [[Ferry|ferry system]] operated by the company Buquebus that connects the port of Buenos Aires with the main cities of Uruguay, ([[Colonia del Sacramento]], [[Montevideo]] and [[Punta del Este]]). More than 2,2 million people per year commute between Argentina and Uruguay with Buquebus<ref>[http://www.buquebus.com/cache/HomeARG.html Buquebus]</ref>
=== Airports ===
The Buenos Aires international airport, [[Ministro Pistarini International Airport]], is located in the suburb of Ezeiza and is often called simply "Ezeiza". The [[Aeroparque Jorge Newbery]] airport, located in the Palermo district next to the riverbank, serves mostly domestic traffic and [[general aviation]].
== Sports ==
[[Football (soccer)|Football]] is a passion for Argentines. Buenos Aires has the highest concentration of football teams of any city in the world (featuring no less than 24 professional football teams),<ref name="observer">[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1182710,00.html 50 sporting things you must do before you die], ''[[The Observer]]'', [[2004-04-04]]</ref> with many of its teams playing in the major league. The best-known rivalry is the one between [[Boca Juniors]] and [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]; a match between these two teams was named as one of the "50 sporting things you must do before you die" by ''The Observer''.<ref name="observer"/> Other major clubs include [[San Lorenzo de Almagro]], [[Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield|Vélez Sársfield]], [[Argentinos Juniors]] and [[Club Atlético Huracán|Huracán]].
{| align=center class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| (First Division)
| [[El Monumental]]
| 1901
|-
!scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Boca Juniors]]
| (First Division)
| [[Estadio Alberto J. Armando]]
| 1905
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | [[Independiente]]
| (First Division)
| [[Estadio Libertadores de América]]
| 1905
|-
|}
[[Image:Boca_Juniors_X_S%C3%A3o_Paulo.jpg|thumb|200px|Partial view of [[Boca Juniors]] stadium.]]
[[Diego Armando Maradona]], born in [[Villa Fiorito]], a [[villa miseria]] in the [[Lanús Partido]] (county) south of Buenos Aires, is widely hailed as one of the greatest football players of all time. Maradona started his career with [[Argentinos Juniors]], later playing for [[Boca Juniors]], the [[Argentina national football team]] and others (most notably [[FC Barcelona]] in Spain and [[SSC Napoli]] in Italy).
Buenos Aires has been a candidate city for the [[Olympic Games|Summer Olympic Games]] on three occasions: for the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Games]], which were lost by a single vote to [[Melbourne]]; for the [[1968 Summer Olympics]], held in [[Mexico City]]; and in [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004]], when the games were awarded to [[Athens]].
[[Image:Buenos Aires-San Nicolás-Luna Park.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Luna Park, Buenos Aires|Luna Park]] Arena.]]
However, Buenos Aires hosted the [[1951 Pan American Games]] - the first,<ref name="Time Out"/> and was also host city to several World Championship events: the [[1950 FIBA World Championship|1950]] and [[1990 FIBA World Championship|1990]] [[FIBA World Championship|Basketball World Championships]], the 1982 and 2002 [[Volleyball World Championship|Men's Volleyball World Championships]] and, most remembered, the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]], won by [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] on [[June 25]] [[1978]] when it defeated the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]] by 3–1.
[[Fangio|Juan Manuel Fangio]] won 5 [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Formula One World Driver's Championship]]s, and was only matched by Schumacher, with 6 Championships right before retiring.
The Buenos Aires [[Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez|Oscar Gálvez]] car-racing track hosted 20 editions of the [[Formula One]] [[Argentine Grand Prix]] between 1953 and 1998; its discontinuation was due to financial reasons. The track features local categories on most weekends.
Argentines' love for [[horse]]s can be experienced in several ways: [[horse racing]] at the ''Hipódromo Argentino de [[Palermo, Buenos Aires|Palermo]]'' [[race track|racetrack]], [[polo]] in the ''[[Campo Argentino de Polo]]'' (located just across Libertador Avenue from the ''Hipódromo''), and [[pato]], a kind of basketball played on horseback that was declared the national game in 1953.
Buenos Aires native [[Guillermo Vilas]] (who was raised in [[Mar del Plata]]) was one of the great tennis players of the 1970s and 1980s,<ref name="Time Out"/> and popularized tennis in all of Argentina. He won the [[ATP Buenos Aires]] numerous times in the 1970s.
Other popular sports in Buenos Aires are [[golf]], [[basketball]], [[rugby union|rugby]], and [[field hockey]].
{{wide image|Skyline889.jpg|650px|Panorama of Buenos Aires CBD, seen from [[Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve]]}}
== See also ==
{{portal|Argentina|Flag of Argentina.svg|48}}
<!-- section in alphabetical order -->
*[[List of Mayors and Chiefs of Government of Buenos Aires]]
*[[List of cities]]
*[[List of national capitals]]
*[[List of twin towns and sister cities in Argentina#Buenos Aires|List of twin towns and sister cities of Buenos Aires]]
*[[Large Cities Climate Leadership Group]]
*[[List of metropolitan areas by population]]
*[[Megacity]]
== References ==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Buenos Aires (city)}}
<!-- ----------------------------------------------------------
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a discussion of different citation methods and how to generate footnotes using the<ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags
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{{reflist}}
* [http://wwwa.britannica.com/ebi/article-9273392 Encyclopædia Britannica]
* [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761571750/Buenos_Aires_(city).html Microsoft Encarta]
* [http://worldfacts.us/Argentina-Buenos-Aires.htm General Information]
* {{es icon}} Patricia Moglia, Fabián Sislián and Mónica Alabart, ''Pensar la historia Argentina desde una historia de América Latina'', Buenos Aires:Plus Ultra
== External links ==
* {{Wikitravelpar|Buenos Aires (city)}}
{{Commons|Buenos Aires}}
{{wiktionarypar|Porteño}}
* {{es icon}} [http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/ Official government website]
* [http://www.bue.gov.ar/home/index.php?&lang=en Official tourism website]
* [http://www.mapabsas.com/?lang=en Buenos Aires Map]
* [http://www.travelbaires.com.ar/climate.php/ Buenos Aires Climate]
=== Newspapers ===
* {{en icon}} [http://www.thenose.com.ar/ The Nose]
* {{en icon}} [http://www.theargentimes.com/ The Argentimes]
* {{en icon}} [http://www.buenosairesherald.com/ Buenos Aires Herald]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.clarin.com/ Clarín]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/ La Nación]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.pagina12web.com.ar/ Página 12]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.perfil.com/ Perfil]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.infobae.com/ Infobae]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.edicionnacional.com/ Edición Nacional]
* {{es icon}} [http://www.laprensa.com.ar/ La Prensa]
* {{de icon}} [http://www.tageblatt.com.ar// Argentinisches Tageblatt]
* {{it icon}} [http://www.lecoditalia.com.ar/ L'Eco d'Italia]
{{-}}
{{Barrios of Buenos Aires}}
{{Provinces of Argentina}}
{{Pan American Games host cities}}
{{South American capitals}}
{{coor title dms|34|36|13|S|58|22|54|W|type:city(3,000,000)_region:AR}}
{{World's most populated urban areas}}
<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Buenos Aires| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in South America]]
[[Category:Capital districts and territories]]
[[Category:Capitals serving as first-level administrative divisions]]
[[Category:Cities in Argentina]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1536]]
[[Category:Port cities in Argentina]]
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