The Nation Report
Of Argentina

By: Bryan Cooper H 141

Geography

Argentina is located in the southern part of South America with the Andes Mt. as a border with Chile in the west, and the south Atlantic Ocean on the east. The north west is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia, and Brazil and Uruguay in the north west.

It's the 2nd largest country in South America after Brazil, and the 8th largest country in the world. There are 7 Provinces or zones that divides the country up.

There is 10.03% of the land is arable, 0.36% has permanent crops and 15,500 km2 is irrigated land.

Argentina claims the Falkland Islands and the S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Is. but the U.K. controls them currently.

Adding to land claims is the Argentine Antarctica which is controlled by Argentina.

The Argentina Andes Mt are the highest at 6,960 m in South America. Old growth forests, lakes,and over 1,800 volcanoes with 28 active.

The rivers are mostly in the north eastern area, the Prana being the 2nd longest river in S. America among other connecting to the Prana and dumping into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lago Buenos Aires is the largest lake in the country shared by Chile at 2,240 km2. It was created by glaciers.

In N. Eastern Argentina are the wetlands, biologically rich region w/ around 60 ponds and marshes, many birds and insects, very humid.

People of Argentina

General San Martin Partido (1778-1850) He led Argentina against the Spanish Empire in the Argentina war of Independence.

Jose Hernandez(1834-1886) He was a journalist, a poet, & a politician. Best known as the author of Epic poem Martin Fierro. He founded the newspaper, El Rio de la Plata. A Federalist, opposed to centralizing, modernizing & he called Gen. Juan Manuel de Rosas a Tyrant!

Zully Moreno: 8/17/1920-12/1/1999She was a classic Argentine actress and sex symbol of the 40's & 50's.

Fernando Siro: Born in Villa Ballester (in Buenos Aires) 8/5/1931- 9/4/2006 & was an Argentine film actor, film director, and a screenwriter. In the early 70's he appeared in Argentino hasta la muerte & Autocine mon amour 1972. Passed away from cancer.

Oscar Alfredo Galvez: (1913-1989) a racing driver from Argentina. Was in Formula One Grand Prix, starting in 1953, he scored a total of 2 championship points. He was an active Turismo Carretera series racer just like his brother Juan.

Culture of Argentina

The culture is as varied as the mix of ethnic groups. One of those groups are the Galician people from N. west Spain. Buenos Aires is near 50% Galician.

Cinema, starting around 1896 has produced over 2,500 titles, and Theater starting 1783 from Viceroy Juan Jose de Vertizy Salcedo.

Music, from Jazz, classical, rock, ska, techno, to the Tango- which is music and dance, not just dance.

Sculpture & Paining, Carlos Morel became one of the first influential painters and in 1933 the ceiling frescoes painting was created by many muralists at the Galerias Pacifico arcade.

Sports, Futbol is a national obsession, Arg. Won the 1978 and 1986 World Cup & a gold medal at the 2004 S. Olympics. Diego Maradona is a national hero in Futbol. Other sports; tennis, rugby, formula racing, basketball, Polo, & Pato.

Language, Castilian Spanish is the official language with many different accents and dialects, German, Italian, English, French, Arabic, Basque, Ukranian, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, & about 23 native languages.

Food, the majority influence are Italian, French,& Spanish dishes. Argentine beef is range feed and known to be the best worldwide. Locro is a province food based on maze, beans & squashes, also empanadas, pizza, & dulce for sweets. Mendoza is a famous wine.

Argentine History

Spain Empire building: 1502 was the first attempt to acquire Argentina. 1516 was the next, Juan Diaz de Solis, landing on the Rio de la Plata river beginning Spanish domination.

The Spanish raised the status by establishing a Vice royalty of the Rio de la Plata in 1776 consisting of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and some of Bolivia. Buenos Aires was becoming a high center of commercial activity.

The British tried to invade Buenos Aires twice but were defeated both times without the help from main land Spain.

War of Independence: The May Revolution in 1810 which lasted a week, ousted the Viceroy & replaced him with Junta. Ruled from a Monarchy to a Republic! The status of Viceroy was changed to United Province of the Rio de la Plata.

After the May Revolution was the Civil War between the Unitarians who believed Buenos Aires should be a strong central government controlling the provinces around it, and the Federalists who believed the Provinces should be autonomous like in the USA where the states are more powerful than Washington for their own rights. IN 1820 the Federalists won.

Juan Rosas ruled from 1829-1852, neglecting to write a new constitution, a new one was written which is in force today, and Pres. Mitre ruled as the first real Pres. From 1862 - 1868.

SOURCES

Wikipedia

Google Images