Argentina’s biodiversity, cosmopolitanism, stunning landforms, and wide-open spaces attract visitors from all over the world. We travel through it and embrace her remoteness and natural beauty on our Journey to Ushuaia tour.

Argentina

Mountain pass between Mendoza and Santiago, Andes, Argentina, South America.

15 Fun Facts About Argentina

  1. With an area of 2,780,400 km² (1,073,500 sq mi), Argentina is the eight largest country in the world. It’s the second largest in South America after Brazil, and fourth largest in the Americas.
  1. Official languages are Spanish, English, Italian, German, and French. Its Federal Republic government has had several democratically elected presidents after many years of political turmoil.
  1. Approximately ninety-five percent of Argentines (almost 45 million) are of European descent, mostly from Italy, Spain, and Germany. Nearly half the population lives in the area around Buenos Aires.
  1. Five countries and the Atlantic Ocean share its border. The towering Andes create a natural boundary with Chile. Other neighbours include Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
  1. The country’s highest point is Aconcagua (6,969m (22,831ft)) above sea level. The lowest point is Laguna del Carbon (-105m (-344 ft)) below sea level.
  1. The Perito Moreno Glacier, which you’ll see on tour, is a glacier that is growing instead of shrinking.
  1. The Pampas, a large flat, fertile grassland in the country’s interior, forms the agricultural heartland and gives rise to the country’s primary industry. Beef, citrus fruits, soybeans, and corn are exported around the world. Besides agriculture, rich natural resources, like oil, silver, and copper, make Argentina one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America.
  1. Argentina has the highest consumption of red meat in the world, traditionally prepared as asado, the Argentine barbecue.
  1. Argentines also enjoy a wide variety of Indigenous and Criollo (Latin Americans who are of full or near full Spanish descent) dishes, such as empanadas (a small stuffed pastry), locro (a thick stew of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd) and humita (corn dough and corn). They also enjoy many pasta, meat, and dessert dishes common in Europe.
  1. Yerbe maté is the national drink. This traditional South American caffeine-rich infusion is prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in hot water in a hollow calabash gourd. It’s commonly shared and sipped through a metal straw that has a filter on its lower end to strain out leaf fragments.
  1. Argentina is the world’s fifth largest producer and eighth largest consumer of wine. More than 1,500 wineries produce sought after varieties such as Malbec, Torrontés, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay.
  1. The tango, flaunting influences of African, Native American, and European culture, originated here in the 1880s along the impoverished port areas of Rio de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay.
  1. Football is the favourite sport and the country has produced some of the world’s most famous players.
  1. Argentina has four main climate types (warm, moderate, arid, and cold) and hosts one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth: fifteen continental zones, three oceanic zones, and the Antarctic region. Consequently, it has a wealth of biodiversity. Elephant seals, fur seals, penguins and sea lions live off the coast of Patagonia. Sharks, orcas, dolphins, and salmon swim in the waters off the Atlantic coast. The north is home to flamingos, toucans, turtles, tortoises, crocodiles, and caimans. Cougars, jaguars, and ocelots stalk the northern rainforest.
  1. Argentina began the world’s first regular radio broadcasting in 1920. By 2002 there were 260 AM and 1150 FM registered stations.

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