When it talks about Argentina, in the minds of the people arises an idea similar to that for Australia and New Zealand.
The reason is that Argentina is very remote from Europe, as regards to its location.
If we talk about culture, however, it did not.
This country is very close to Spain in its essence.
And the affair in question is not just the Spanish language that is official in Argentina, but the culture of the country as a whole.
Weather
Argentina gets into the borders of three climatic zones.
The climatic features dramatically altered of the northernmost to the southernmost part.
The country is located in the tropical, subtropical and temperate climate zone.
The hottest parts of Argentina are located in the northern part of the country in the tropical climate zone.
City of Salta and Iguazu Falls get into the tropics of Argentina.
In the town of Salta the daytime temperatures range from 21 °C in July to about 30 °C in December.
The days are pleasantly warm to hot throughout the year.
The high altitude however, significantly affects the temperatures in Salta throughout the year, making them much lower than the normal for these latitudes.
However, this difference is felt more strongly at night, when the temperatures fall dramatically.
Thus, if you travel to and around Salta City, you have to wear two types of clothes – a summer clothes for the day and warm clothes for the night.
Although it is located in the tropics, Salta has an altitude of about 1100 – 1200 meters and the weather can be pretty cool during the winter nights, especially in July, when the thermometers show not more than 2-3 degrees!
Overall, however, even in December and January, which are the warmest months in Salta, the nights are rarely warmer than 17 °C.
In Iguazu Falls weather is a little bit softer.
The daytime temperatures range from 21 °C in July to 32 °C in January.
However, the nights are quite warmer, because the altitude is not so great – it varies around 200 to 300 meters above the sea level.
South of 30th parallel extends the subtropics of Argentina.
There are many large cities such as Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Rosario, Santa Fe and the Argentinian Riviera – Mar del Plata.
Buenos Aires is sunny and warm city.
Summers last from November to April with temperatures of 22 to 30 °C in the shade.
May and September are transitional seasons (spring and autumn) and the temperatures ranging about 18-20 degrees.
The winter lasts from June to August with temperatures around 15 to 16 °C. The climate is humid.
The rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year, but as a quantity ranging from 50 to 130 mm per month.
Typically, the cooler months are a little drier.
The nights are cool.
About 5 °C in the winter and around 16 to 17 in the summer.
Mar del Plata is the largest tourist center of Argentina.
Here the climate is somewhat cooler than Buenos Aires, because Mar del Plata is situated not so close to the tropics as the capital.
In these parts of Argentina the summer lasts from November to March with temperatures from 24 to 27 degrees.
The Atlantic makes the local climate to be cooler.
The autumn lasts two months – April and May, and spring lasts only one month – November.
The winters are cool with temperatures about 13 – 14 degrees.
Coldest month is July – about 12 to 13 degrees.
The nights are cool to cold all year around – about 15 °C in January and 3 °C in July.
In Patagonia the climate is temperate.
To the south the climate is more severe.
From Antarctica often blow cold winds.
Sometimes even in the summer the weather is cool, although the summers are generally sunny and very warm.
Winters are very cold in the interior of Patagonia.
In the area of Comodoro Rivadavia for example, the climate is temperate oceanic with cool to warm summers with temperatures to around 25 °C and mild winters with temperatures around 10 degrees.
The weather is humid throughout the year.
The local climate is similar to that in London, but is a little sunnier, because the city is located at less latitude – 45° south latitude.
The climate in the south is very crude, even around the coast.
The strong, cold winds are frequent.
The precipitations in Argentina are generally regular and substantial quantities near the Atlantic Ocean and insignificant in the interior.
The precipitation comes mainly from the Atlantic, since the moist Pacific air masses are impeded by the Andes.
Nature
The nature of Argentina is various and this is because of its large territory.
The northern parts of Argentina are occupied by the lowland of La Plata.
It can be divided into three components.
To the north is the Gran Chico.
This area falls into the tropics. It is covered with tropical forests. The climate is humid.
From east to west the rainfall decreased.
In the south of Gran Chico is situated Entererios.
This plane is locked between Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay.
Here, on the border with Brazil lies the biggest landmark of Argentina – Iguazu Falls.
The most popular part is the Pampa.
It is the southernmost of the three parts of La Plata Valley.
It gets into the subtropical climate zone.
There is fertile soil and that is the basis for the well developed agriculture.
This is a real paradise for the agriculture.
The conditions are perfect for growing of different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
The Pampa is known as the granary of South America.
This is one of the most fertile regions of the planet.
South of the valley of La Plata extends the plateau area known as Patagonia.
For Patagonia is often said that it is a land at the end of the world.
It is covered mainly by grasslands and steppe vegetation.
There are about 20 national parks.
This part of the country is very sparsely populated.
In the south the concentration of population is insignificant.
To the west the elevation gradually increases.
For Argentina we can say that it can characterized by the fact that the slopes of the Andes are more oblique, unlike those in Chile, where the slopes are very steep.
In the southernmost parts of Argentina is located Tierra del Fuego.
From this place to Antarctica there is only water.
During the winter months cold air masses invade from the south.
The weather here can get pretty uncomfortable even at the height of summer.
Argentina has a wide outlet to the Atlantic.
Despite the great length of coastline however, there are very few suitable sites for development of summer, sea tourism.
The reason is that big part of southern Argentina has a cool climate and makes it unattractive for development of summer tourism.
In the northern parts of the country, where there is warm and sunny climate, flows the river Rio de La Plata.
The river flows too much sediment into the sea, making the water relatively cloudy.
In many places there are no sandy beaches.
But since the country has a huge area there are places, where the coast is very picturesque and attractive.
The most beautiful beaches are in the touristic city Mar del Plata.
The sand is fine, yellowish – brown, and the beach is quite wide.
This city is the center of the marine tourism in Argentina.
During the summer months, the beaches are crowded with tourists and residents of the city.
The water is warm and the subtropical climate makes it attractive to tourists from November to late March (ie about 5 months).
In the southern parts of the country on the shores of Patagonia you can watch the killer-whales, which often leave the blue ocean waters and go out into the straight brown pebble beach, where they catch seals and pull them into the sea.
The view can be dire straight.
This happens often here and have tourists, who come especially to watch the Orca hunting.
Geographic Location
Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest in the world after Russia, Canada, USA, Brazil, Australia and India.
Argentina borders by Chile to the east, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast.
The longest border is with Chile, which for several thousand kilometers follows the ridge of the Andes.
All other borders of Argentina together are shorter than the border with Chile.
The country is located between 22 to 55 degrees south latitude, and wholly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The northern-most parts of Argentina get into the tropical rain forests, and in the south reaches down to the Drake Strait, which separates South America from Antarctica.
Relief
In Argentina predominate the large relief forms.
In the western part of the country stretches the longest mountain chain in the world – the Andes.
Right next to the Chilean border, in the northern parts of Argentina is located the highest peak in South America – Akongua, which reaches 6965 m altitude.
The southern part of Argentina is occupied by the vast plains of Patagonia, and the northern half of the country is occupied by the large grassy areas, called The Valley of La Plata.
Thesе are among the most fertile areas in the world and are the granary of South America.
Population and Settlements
The population of Argentina is about 41 000 000 people and is very unevenly distributed in the country.
In the majority of Argentines live in parts of northeastern Argentina.
Patagonia is sparsely populated.
The same applies to the Andes mountains.
Cause more severe weather to the south and the mountains.
Overall, the largest building in the country are Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mar del Plata, Rosario, Salta and others.
1. Buenos Aires
About 30% of the population of Argentina lives in Buenos Aires city, which with its population of 12 500 000 people is in the top 20 of the largest cities in the world.
They call it the American Paris, that is very fine and sophisticated city with many attractions.
Here you can find beautiful parks, squares in European style, Spanish architecture, sleek boutiques, restaurants and luxury hotels.
Like any city of this magnitude, in Buenos Aires you can find the traditional urban business center with high and modern skyscrapers.
2. Cordoba
Cordoba is the second largest city in Argentina.
It has a population of about 1 500 000 inhabitants.
Located just over 400 m altitude in the west end of La Plata Valley.
There is a hot subtropical climate and beautiful architecture.
This is one of the main tourist centers in the country.
3. Rosario
With population of 1 300 000 inhabitants, this is the third largest city in Argentina.
Located northwest of Buenos Aires at about 3-4 hours drive.
It is situated on the south bank of the river Paraná.
There is harmonious architecture.
Between the ancient and modern buildings there is a perfect harmonizing.
4. Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata has a population of around 550 000 inhabitants.
This is a beautiful city on the Atlantic coast.
There are beautiful beaches and picturesque location.
The city offers many opportunities for entertainment in its many cafes and restaurants along the streets.
In the summer the beaches attract not only lovers of swimming, but also many surfers.
5. Salta
Salta is a city located in northern Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes.
It has a population of about 500 000 inhabitants.
Located in the northernmost parts of the country.
Its surroundings are extremely beautiful – it’s probably the most attractive part of Argentina.
Economy
The economy of Argentina in the early 20th century was the most advanced in the world together with the U.S. and Britain.
Then the country was truly an economic colossus, which rules the world economy.
The production of the cultivated lands has become bigger and bigger, have built many roads and railways.
With ships here flood people from all over the world, but mostly from Europe.
Then the “Old World” was not what it is today.
In Europe, there was poverty and conflict.
Millions of Europeans have wished to find a better place to live, where to work for much more money and they have possibility to start their own business.
And Argentina was ideal for this purpose.
During World War the second millions of Europeans has flocked here to not be in the heart of the conflicts.
And today, millions of them live yet in Argentina.
Many of them are Germans.
After many years of prosperity, however, in the early 90’s of the 20th century, everything has changed.
The country enters in a very big economic crisis and forever farewell to the times of wealth and extravagance.
Before 1992 most of the local population is quite wealthy.
The standard of living was the highest throughout Latin America.
Argentina enjoyed prosperity and progress.
After the economic crisis, however, many people are ruined, other remain on the street, while others simply can not maintain their previous standard of living.
Today, more than half of the Argentinians live below the poverty line.
The large cities have many slums, where the people live in inhuman conditions in extreme poverty.
Many homes are built with resources at hand.
Even today the country can not shake off the damage of this economic crisis.
From one of the richest and most developed countries in the world, Argentina lives to see times, when the economy is not even the strongest on the continent.
Today, South America has a new economic power – Brazil.
But there is a saying – “Where is the fire has burned ash”.
Even the biggest crisis can not erase the traces of the grandeur of Argentina.
Today, despite poverty, everything here seems very beautiful, valuable and sophisticated.
History
The first cities in Argentina have found as a small colonial settlements.
The Spaniards began to base them here in the 16th century.
The reason for the strong interest of Europe to this new land was the belief that in the depths of the land in this part of the world there are enormous amounts of silver.
The supposed great quantities of silver were not found, but Argentina proved extremely fertile.
The country retained its name because of a precious metal – argentium at Latin means “silver”.
In 1816 Argentina gained its independence from Spain.
Since becoming an independent country, Argentina has undergoing breathtaking economic boom and became the biggest force in the world (with the U.S. and UK).
It attracted millions of Europeans.
The country has built numerous roads and railways.
In the 90’s years of the 20th century, the country fell into a deep crisis.
Argentina and still can not recover from the economic collapse.
It is also known worldwide for its rich culture and sensuality.
In Buenos Aires was invented one of the most passionate and hot dances – the tango.
Since the mid-19th to early 20th century, it has become one of the most popular and famous dances of Argentina and in the world.
Although today it is the favorite dance of the educated and cultural environments, the tango initially has invented by the poor part of the urban population of Buenos Aires.
Today it is the calling card of Argentina.
