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Location
Southeastern South America.
Time
GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 from third Saturday in March to first Saturday in October).
Area
2,780,400 sq km (1,073,518 sq miles).
Population
39.9 million (official estimate 2006).
Population Density
14.4 per sq km.
Capital
Buenos Aires. Population: 3 million (2006 estimate).
Geography
Argentina is situated in South America, east of the Andes, and is bordered by Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to the north and northeast. There are four main geographical areas: the Andes, the North and Mesopotamia, the Pampas and Patagonia. The climate and geography of Argentina vary considerably, ranging from the great heat of the Chaco (El Chaco), through the pleasant climate of the central Pampas to the sub-Antarctic cold of the Patagonian Sea. Mount Aconcagua soars almost 7,000m (23,000ft) and waterfalls at Iguazú stretch around a massive semi-circle, thundering 70m (230ft) to the bed of the Paraná River. In the southwest is the Argentine Lake District with a string of beautiful glacial lakes framed by mountains.
Government
Federal and Democratic Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1816.
Head of State
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner since 2007.
Recent History
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner succeeded her husband, Néstor Carlos Kirchner, becoming Argentina's first elected female president in October 2007, with a majority of 44%. She was his top advisor during a four-year reign which brought the country back from the crash of its economy in 2001 and has promised to continue with Centre-Left policies.
Following the economic crisis, the government was despised for corruption and mishandling of the economy. Néstor Carlos Kirchner vowed to return Argentina to a ‘republic of equals'. He ousted several unsavoury characters from the government, postponed the repayment of the country's debts and fostered stronger ties with Mercosur and other Latin American countries. Kirchner consolidated his power with an overwhelming victory in an interim parliamentary election in 2005. Later that year he announced the repayment of debts to the IMF - a bold move towards financial independence for Argentina.
Following the economic crisis, the government was despised for corruption and mishandling of the economy. Néstor Carlos Kirchner vowed to return Argentina to a ‘republic of equals'. He ousted several unsavoury characters from the government, postponed the repayment of the country's debts and fostered stronger ties with Mercosur and other Latin American countries. Kirchner consolidated his power with an overwhelming victory in an interim parliamentary election in 2005. Later that year he announced the repayment of debts to the IMF - a bold move towards financial independence for Argentina.
Language
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken with some French and German.
Religion
More than 90% Roman Catholic, 2% Protestant with small Muslim and Jewish communities.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plug fittings in older buildings are of the two-pin round type, but some new buildings use the three-pin flat type.
Social Conventions
The most common form of greeting between friends is kissing cheeks. When invited to somebody's house it is quite common to take a homemade dish or dessert. Dinner is usually served between 2100-2200. Avoid casual discussion of the Falklands/Malvinas war. Dress is not usually formal, though clothes should be conservative away from the beach. Formal wear is worn for official functions and dinners, particularly in exclusive restaurants. Smoking is prohibited on public transport, in cinemas and theatres.
