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Country Fact File : Argentina
Patagonia Research and Exploration

Argentina Flag Despite Argentina's recent economic woes, its pleasures - stunning natural wonders, an elegant capital with a European-flavoured sophistication, and a passionate culture - are still as tempting as ever. The silver lining to the financial cloud is that it's now one of the best travel bargains going around. This is one Latin American country where Europeans and North Americans can feel at ease and travel relatively inconspicuously. An interest in soccer and some nimble foot skills may be all you need to feel like a local!

Location	Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Area	2,766,890 sq km
Border Countries	Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
Climate	Mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain	Rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Highest Point	Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza)
Natural Hazards	San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding
Environmental Issues	Environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
Population	39,537,943 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups	White (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
Religions	Nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages	Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Type of Government	Republic
Capital	Buenos Aires
Independence Day	9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Chief of State/ Head of Government	President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003)
Currency	Argentine peso (ARS)
Time	GMT -3

Did you know?

Argentina is the second largest country in South America, occupying most of the southern portion of the continent

More than one third of the population lives in and around Buenos Aires

The highest peak, Aconcagua, rises to 22,831 feet above sea level

The Andes mountains, which border with Chile, are the second highest mountain range in the world

The literacy rate of about 95% is the highest in South America, and the country has 24 national universities and many state and private universities

Useful Numbers & Web Addresses

International dialing code: +54

Police tel: 101

Ambulance tel: 107

British Embassy: Dr Luis Agote 2412, (1425) Buenos Aires. Tel: (54) (11) 4808 2200 Switchboard.

Embassy in UK: 65 Brook Street, London W1K 4AH. Tel: (020) 7318 1300