Argentina is a large country in southern South America, stretching from the subtropical north to the cold, windswept tip of Patagonia. It is famous for its passionate tango music and dance, its love of football, and its vast cattle ranches known as pampas. The country is also home to dramatic natural landscapes including Iguazú Falls and the Andes mountains.
- Capital
- Buenos Aires
- Continent
- Americas
- Region
- South America
- Area
- 2,780,400 km²
- Coordinates
- 34° S, 64° W
Country facts
- Argentina is the second-largest country in South America by area.
- Spanish is the official language, and Argentine Spanish has a distinctive accent influenced by Italian immigration.
- The gaucho, a skilled horseman and cattle herder of the pampas, is a powerful national cultural symbol.
- Argentina has produced some of the world's most celebrated football players, including Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
- Mate, a caffeinated herbal drink sipped through a metal straw, is the national beverage and a central part of social life.
Capital facts
- Buenos Aires was formally established as the capital of Argentina in 1880.
- The city's iconic neighbourhood of La Boca is famous for its brightly painted houses and street tango performances.
- The Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires's grand opera house, is considered one of the finest in the world for its acoustics.
- The wide boulevard Avenida 9 de Julio, named after Argentina's independence day, is one of the broadest avenues in the world.
- Buenos Aires is often called the 'Paris of South America' for its European-style architecture and café culture.