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Geographical Situation
Argentina is located in the southern extreme of South America.
With a continental extension of 2.791.810 Km2.(including Malvinas
Islands, other South Atlantic Islands and part of Antarctica).
Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the
eighth in the world.
Including the Antarctic Sector, Argentina claims a total area
of 3.761.274 Km2
It is some 1425 Km across at its widest from east to west and
stretches 3.800 Km from the north to the south.
it is bounded by Bolivia and Paraguay on the north, Brasil, Uruguay
and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and by the Atlantic Ocean
and Chile on the west and south.
The western part of Argentina is occupied by the Andes mountain
range, the great mountain system of the South American continent.
Here we find the Aconcagua (6.959 m), the highest peak in the
world outside those existing in the Himalaya.
There also exists several parallel ranges to the east of the Andes,
such as the Eastern Mountain range and the Sub-Andean sierras
to the north ,The Pampean Sierras to the north and centre from
the Aconquija up to the Sierras of Córdoba and San Luis,
and Buenos Aires sierras systems such as Tandilia and Ventania
The central part and the east of Argentina (except for the parallel
groups to the Andes already mentioned) consist almost entirely
of a flat or gently undulating plain.
Climate and Regions
1-North West: It stands out for its tropical
climate, its colourful mountains, the Puna high plateaux, the
gorges, the valleys and the characteristic settlement patterns
that make up the history of this land.
2-Gran Chaco: Primarily forestal area with forests
of subtropical climate, swampy lands and ponds.
3-Mesopotamia: In the northern part the subtropical
climate prevails whereas, in the south the climatic conditions
are more temperate . It is rich in flora and fauna. Its territory
consists of slopes, ponds and swampy lands cut through by important
rivers .
4-Cuyo: With its montaneous characteristics (The
Aconcagua lies here), it has an arid temperate climate. However,
man, through artificial irrigation, has turned it into an ideal
land for the viticulture and viniculture.
5-Central Sierras: The central sierras of Córdoba
and San Luis offer a quite bening dry temperate climate. They
posses numerous rivers and artificial water mirrors.
6-The Pampa with its temperate climate posseses
the most productive lands of the country (and one of the best
ones of the world) for the agriculture and cattle breeding. Its
plain landscape is just broken by Tandil and Ventania Sierras.
The East is characterised by the vast populated beaches of the
Atlantic coast.
7-Patagonia: The largest region with the coldest
climate (especially in the southern part). The west consists mainly
of a montaneous landscape peppered with spectacular woods, lakes
and glaciers. The centre offers sterile plateaux and the east
vast beaches with spectacular and unique colonies of marine animals
for sightseeing. The southern extreme of this region makes up
the southermost point of the world.
Population
Argentina has a low demographic density. It consists of around
36 millon people, mainly established in the urban centres. The
85% of the population is descendant of inmigrants from Europe.
As opposed to most Latin American countries, in Argentina there
are relatively few Indian half castes (people of mixed races:
european and indian).
Almost half of the population of the country live in the Federal
Capital and the province of Buenos Aires. The urban population
makes up the 88% of the whole whereas the rural population represents
the 22%.
Language, Religion
Language
Spanish is the official language and is spoken by the great majority
of Argentinians.
English, French and Italian are, in lesser or greater degree,
widespread languages within the country
Religion
The official religion of Argentina is the Apostolic Roman Catholic
(93%) , but there is complete religious freedom. Other religions
practised, in a lesser degree though, are Protestantism, Judaism,
Islamism, and the Greek and Russian Orthodox religion among others.
Currency
The Argentine Peso is the official currency.
Bills come in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos. One pesos equals
one hundred cents.
2 pesos are blue (Bartolomé Mitre 1821-1906), 5 pesos are
green (José de San Martín 1778-1850), 10 pesos are
brown (Manuel Belgrano 1770-1820), 20 pesos are red (Juan Manuel
de Rosas 1793-1877), 50 pesos are grey (Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
1811-1888) and 100 pesos are violet (Julio Argentino Roca 1843-1914).
Coins are 1 peso and then there are coins from 50,25,5 and 1 cents.
1 peso coins are golden and silver plated; 50 cents coins are
golden; 25,10 and 5 cents coins may be either golden or silver
plated. Finally copper 1 cent coins are rarely used.
Banking hours are from Monday to tuesday from 10:00 AM to 3:00
PM
Time, Electricity, Weights and Measures.
the official Argentine hour is 3 (three) hours
less to that of Greenwich.
The electricity used is of 220 v (volts) and 50 Hz (Hertz).
The unit of measure for distance is the meter and its derivations
: el milimeter (0,001 metre), el centimeter (0,01 meter) y el
kilometer (1000 metros).
For Weights the unit of measure is the gram and its derivations:
el kilogram (1000 grams).
The unit for capacity is the litre and cubic centimeters (cc)
(1000 cc = 1 litre).
Equivalences:
- 1 gram = 0,035 ounces
- 1 kilogram = 2,3 pounds
- 1 centimeter = 0,39 inches = 0,033 feet
- 1 meter = 3,28 feet = 1,09 yards
- 1 kilometer = 0,62 miles
- 0º centigrades = 32º fahrenheit
- 100º centigrades = 212º Fahrenheit
WEAPONS TEMPORARY PERMITIONS:
Individuals who wish to go into the country
with one or more firearms and their ammunition, with the proposal
to perform hunting activity, sporting shooting or other legitimate
purpose, will have to submit application at the origin country
argentine consulate, holding the equivalent legal possess authorization
extended by the local authority, identification document or passport,
requiring the applicable "temporary authorization and temporary
possess permit" of corresponding material, during their stay
in Argentina.
If the tourist arrived at Argentina without the "temporary
authorization and temporary possess permit", drawn up by
the argentine consulate, the Police authority that takes part
will give the applicable temporary authorization and temporary
possess permit during the stay in the country, ad-referendum of
the National Registry of Firearms.
The temporary authorization and temporary possess permit, duly
signed and stamped by the local Police authority, will enable
the tourist who will stay temporary at Argentina, to possess,
transport and use the firearms and ammunition for the legitimate
activity and during the authorized time period.
When leaving the country, the individual will have to apply at
the competent Policy authority, which will verify the exit of
the corresponding firearms and alive ammunition and will keep
the temporary authorization and temporary possess permit. If any
temporary introduced firearm left, the individual will have to
justify that circumstance with the due documents.
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