Argentina or the Argentine Republic is South America’s second largest country and is the eighth largest in the world. It is bordered by Chile to the west and south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Paraguay to the north and Brazil to the northeast. Its capital and largest city is Buenos Aires which is not to be confused with the province of the same name.
Argentina is populated by an estimated 40.09 million Argentines. Its official language is Spanish making it is the world’s largest Spanish speaking country. Argentina exercises religious freedom but 90% of the population are Roman Catholics, others belong to Judaism, Islam, secular Christianity and non-affiliates. Argentina is considered an emerging economy driven largely by the services sector followed by manufacturing and agriculture. Major exports include soybean products, automotives, chemicals and petroleum products.
Argentina’s large territory and location gives it a variety of climates. The north experiences hot summers and dry winters, the central part also has hot summers with occasional rains and thunderstorms while the south also experiences hot summers but very cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Argentina also has a substantial tourism industry. Its large geography and climate variety gives it many natural features and attractions like deserts, rainforests, beaches and snow peaks. Famous Argentine attractions include the beaches of Mar Del Plata and La Costa; the Estancias or cattle ranches in the Central Region; and Los Glaciares National Park in the south.
