Argentine Republic

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NAME OF THE COUNTRY:

• Conventional long form: Argentine Republic
• Conventional short form: Argentina
• Local long form: Republica Argentina
• Local short form: Argentina

ARGENTINA ETYMOLOGY:

• The Latin word “argentums” which means silver, name “Argentina” ” is derived from “argentums”.
• Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, author of “Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata” referred to the region as “Tierra Argentina” or Land of Silver in 1612.

ARGENTINA HISTORY:

• Argentina was discovered in 1516 by Juan Díaz de Solis.
• The country developed under Spanish colonial rule.
• The now capital city, Buenos Aires was established in 1580.
• Invading British forces were expelled in 1806–1807.
• After Spain was conquered by Napoléon in1808, the Argentineans set up their own government in 1810.
• On July 9, 1816, independence was formally declared.
• Argentina played a neutral role during the outbreak of both World Wars.
• It declared war on the Axis powers on March 27, 1945.
• Juan D. Perón won the presidential elections of 1946 and 1951.
• His wife, Eva Duarte de Perón acted as de facto minister of health and labor.
• Perón's increasing authoritarianism led to a coup by the armed forces and he was exiled in 1955.
• Argentina was under military dictatorship for many years with brief intervals of constitutional government rule.
• Perón returned to power in 1973 and his third wife, Isabel Martínez de Perón, was elected vice president.
• She took over as the chief of state after her husband’s death.
• Terrorist attacks and severe inflation struck the nation in 1975.
• On March 24, 1976, a military group lead by Lt. Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla imposed martial law by means of a “dirty war”.
• On April 2, 1982, Galtieri invaded the British-held Falkland Islands but was defeated in the attempt.
• Presidential elections were held on Oct. 1983 and were won by Raúl Alfonsín, leader of the Radical Civic Union.
• Due to inflation and unemployment, the Radical Civic Union was succeeded by the Peronist Party in May 1989.
• Peronist Néstor Kirchner became Argentina's president in May 2003.
• Since then, Argentina’s economy has experienced a rapid growth rate.
• In October 2007, First Lady Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was elected president.

DEMOGRAPHICS:

• The population of Argentina is a rich blend of locals and immigrants.
• 90% of the population is of European descent, especially Italy and Spain.
• Minorities include Amerindians, mestizo , Armenians, Asians and Welsh.
• Argentina's Jewish community comprises of Ashkenazi Jews and Sephardic groups from Syria.
• Argentina also has a large Arab community of Syrian and Lebanese origin.
• Argentina is home to a large number of illegal migrants from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Romania.
• Argentina's population is very highly urbanized.

ARGENTINA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:

• Argentina is run by a republic government.
• Administrative divisions comprise of 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city- Buenos Aires.
• The provinces are: Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur and Tucuman. Revolution Day is observed as a national holiday on 25 May (1810).
• The Constitution was framed on 1 May 1853 and has been amended many times since 1860.
• The Legal system is a mixture of US and West European legal systems.
• Argentina has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction.
• The president is both the chief of state and head of government. The Cabinet is appointed by the president.
• The president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term.
• The Legislative branch is bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
• The Judicial branch is represented by the Supreme Court or Corte Suprema.

ARGENTINA CULTURE:

• Argentine culture is an amalgam of European and traditional elements.
• Major cities are however, largely Europeanized.
• The Gauchos are known for their traditional, rustic lifestyle.
• Argentina has a rich literary history and has produced some of the most notable writers, especially in Latin American Literature.
• Argentine literature offers glimpses of nationalism, modernist movement and vanguardism.
• Argentina is a major producer of motion pictures.
• The world's first animated feature films were made and released in Argentina.
• Argentine cinema was at its prime time between 1930-1950.
• Many Spanish films have won international acclaim and awards in recent times.
• Buenos Aires is one of the great capitals of theater.
• The Teatro Colon is a national landmark for opera and classical performances.
• Corrientes Avenue is an internationally recognized center for theatrical arts.
• Argentina has also produced internationally notable painters like Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, Candido Lopez, Emilio Pettoruti, Antonio Berni, Fernando Fader, and Guillermo Kuitca.
• Lucio Fontana, Leon Ferrari and Ciruelo have been highly acclaimed sculptors.
• Argentine food has French, Spanish, German and Italian influences.
• The cuisine is very similar to that of European countries.
• Staple foods include empanadas, facturas, locro, Dulce de Leche and chorizo.
• Yerba Mate or local green tea is Argentina’s national beverage.
• Red meat forms a large part of the diet.
• Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world with Malbec as its specialized variety.
• Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Argentina
• Argentina’s national team has won the FIFA World Cup twice.
• Volleyball, basketball and rugby union football, hockey, polo, golf and motorsports are also popular.
• The official national sport of the country is Pato which is played with a six-handle ball on horseback.
• Tango is an important part of Argentina’s musical culture.
• The modern Tango dance evolved from the traditional Milonga dance.
• Argentine rock, called rock nacional, is the most popular music among youth.
• European classical music is well represented in Argentina.
• Argentine folk music has a wide range of styles and themes.
• Over 90% of the population is Roman Catholic.
• Evangelical and Protestant Churches are also followed by some.
• Argentina hosts the largest Jewish population in all of Latin America.
• The country also has a large Muslim community.
• Spanish is the official language of Argentina.
• The most prevalent dialect is Rioplatense which is spoken primarily in the basin of the Río de la Plata.
• Standard German and Italian are also widely spoken.
• Indigenous languages like Guaraní , Quechua , Aymara and Welsh are spoken by some communities.
• English, Portuguese and French are taught in school.

ARGENTINA ECONOMY:

• Argentina owes a large part of its economy to its rich natural resources.
• A highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector and a diversified industrial base also contribute to the economical growth.
• Argentina suffered a financial setback during the 20th century and ran into large depts. and economical depression.
• In 2001, Interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa declared a default on the government's foreign debt.
• The GDP saw a gradual rise after Eduardo Duhalde took office in 2002.
• Inflation hit an all time high during 2006 and "voluntary" price agreements with businesses as well as export taxes and restraints were implemented.
• Multi-year price freezes on electricity and natural gas rates caused limitations in industrial activity and blackouts in 2007.
• The GDP (purchasing power parity) as calculated in 2007 was $523.7 billion.
• 14% of the population is unemployed.
• Agricultural produce includes sunflower seeds, soybeans, grapes, lemons, corn, peanuts, wheat and livestock, tobacco, tea.
• The main industries ate food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy and steel.
• Exported commodities include soybeans and derivatives, vehicles, corn, petroleum and gas, wheat.
• Imported commodities include motor vehicles, machinery, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals and plastics.

ARGENTINA INFRASTRUCTURE:

• Telephone and cellular services are highly developed in Argentina.
• All major cities are connected with fiber-optic cable trunk lines.
• Microwave radio relay, domestic satellite systems and broadband services are rapidly expanding.
• Most networks are digitalized.
• There are 42 main television broadcast stations and over 1000 radio broadcast stations.
• Internet facilities are widespread and readily available.
• There are a total of 1,272 airports in Argentina of which 154 have paved runways.
• Railway network spreads over 31, 902 km.
• Roadways and expressways span over 231,374 km.
• Main ports and terminals are located at Arroyo Seco, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Bahia Blanca, Rosario and San Lorenzo-San Martin, Punta Colorada.

ARGENTINA EDUCATION:

• Since its independence, Argentina has rapidly developed in the education sector.
• It has a high global ranking in terms of education system and literacy.
• 97% of the population is literate (2003 est.)
• Education is compulsory for children upto 17 years of age.
• The schooling system comprises of primary and secondary school levels.
• In 2006, the school system was standardized and a free, modern system was implemented.
• The 1918 University reform shaped the current tripartite representation of most public universities.
• School education is funded completely by the government.
• Graduate and higher studies may often require personal expenditure.
• There are many private school institutions in the primary, secondary and university levels.
• Private schools and institutions are now favored due to better quality of education.
• There are thirty-eight public universities across the country along with many private ones.
• The University of Buenos Aires is the largest in Argentina.
• Other important universities are, Córdoba, Rosario, La Plata and UTN (National Technological University) .

ARGENTINA NEIGHBOR COUNTRIES:

Argentina is surrounded by:

• Southern Atlantic Ocean (east and south)
• Paraguay ( north)
• Bolivia (north)
• Brazil (northeast)
• Uruguay ( northeast)
• Chile (west and south)

ARGENTINA GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS:

• Argentina is located in Southern South America between Chile and Uruguay.
• It borders the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
• Its geographic coordinates are 34 00 S, 64 00 W.
• Argentina spans a total area of 2,766,890 sq km.
• The coastline is 4,989 km long. Climate is mostly temperate - arid in southeast and sub Antarctic in southwest.
• Terrain comprises of rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, and the rugged Andes along the western border.
• The highest peak is Cerro Aconcagua standing at 6,960 m.
• Natural resources include fertile plains of the pampas, zinc, lead, copper, iron ore, tin, petroleum and uranium, manganese.
• 10.03% of the total land is arable. San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza are earthquake prone areas in the Andes.
• Pamperos area experiences violent windstorms and heavy floods occasionally.
• Industrialization and deforestation has caused pollution and environmental degradation in the recent years.
• Marine Life Conservation is an important environmental concern.
• Argentina is the second-largest country in South America after Brazil.
• Argentina has diverse geophysical landscapes ranging from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south.

ARGENTINA FREEDOM:

Argentina gained freedom from Spain on 9 July 1816.

ARGENTINA EMINENT PERSONALITIES:

• José de San Martín (1778–1850) - Freedom activist.
• Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (1811–88) - statesman and essayist
• Gen. Bartolomé Mitre (1821–1906) - president and literary writer.
• Mitre - Publisher and writer.
• José Hernández (1834–86) - literary figure, poet
• Ricardo Güiraldes (1886–1927) - novelist
• Enrique Rodríguez Larreta (1875–1961) - Latin American novelist
• Bernardo Alberto Houssay (1887–1971) - scientist, Nobel Laureate
• Luis Federico Leloir (1906–87) - scientist, Nobel Laureate
• Alejandro Korn (1860–1936) - philosopher
• Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1878–1959) - Lawyer, Nobel Laureate

ARGENTINA CAPITAL CITY:

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. Buenos is also the largest city in the country.

ARGENTINA CURRENCY:

Peso is the official currency of Argentina.

ARGENTINA COUNTRY FAMOUS FOR:

• Argentina is famous for producing some of the best football players in the world.
• The Argentine barbecue, asado and parrillada, is popular all across the globe.
• Wine tourism in the Province of Mendoza attracts hoards of international tourists every year.
• Tango is learnt and practiced widely in all countries.

ARGENTINA TOTAL POPULATION:

• According to a 2008 census, the total population of Argentina was estimated to be 40,677,348 (July 2008 est.)
• The annual population growth rate is 0.917% (2008 est.)
• Birth rate: 16.32 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
• Death rate: 7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

ARGENTINA PREVIOUS RECORDS AND MEDALS WON:

• Argentina has been competing in the Olympic Games since 1900.
• Argentina has won most medals in boxing.

Argentina’s Olympic record is as follows:

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