Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic ,is the second largest country in South America, constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires. It is the eighth-largest country in the world by land area and the largest among Spanish-speaking nations, though Mexico, Colombia and Spain are more populous.

Argentina's continental area is between the Andes mountain range in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It borders Paraguay and Bolivia to the north, Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, and Chile to the west and south. Argentina claims the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It also claims a part of Antarctica, overlapping claims made by Chile and the United Kingdom, though all claims were suspended by the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. Argentina today is one of the G-20 major economies.

 

Etymology

The name is derived from the Latin argentum (silver), which comes from the Ancient Greek ἀργήντος (argēntos), gen. of ἀργήεις (argēeis), "white, shining". Αργεντινός (argentinos) was an ancient Greek adjective meaning "silvery".The first use of the name Argentina can be traced to the early 16th century voyages of the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors to the Río de la Plata ("Silver River").

 

History

The earliest evidence of humans in Argentina is in Patagonia (Piedra Museo, Santa Cruz) and dates from 11,000 BC (Huarpes, Diaguitas and Sanavirones, among others). The Inca Empire, under King Pachacutec, invaded and conquered present-day northwestern Argentina in 1480, integrating it into a region called Collasuyu; the Guaraní developed a culture based on yuca, sweet potato and yerba maté. The central and southern areas (Pampas and Patagonia) were dominated by nomadic cultures, the most populous among them being the Mapuches

European explorers arrived in 1516. Spain established the Viceroyalty of Peru in 1542 encompassing all its holdings in South America, and established a permanent colony at Buenos Aires in 1580 as part of the dependency of Río de la Plata. In 1776 this dependency was elevated to a viceroyalty which shifted trade from Lima to Buenos Aires.

The area was largely a country of Spanish immigrants and their descendants, known as criollos, and others of native cultures and of descendants of African slaves, present in significant numbers. A third of Colonial-era settlers gathered in Buenos Aires and other cities, others living on the pampas as gauchos, for instance. Indigenous peoples inhabited much of the rest of Argentina. The British invaded twice between 1806 and 1807, as part of the Napoleonic Wars when Spain was an ally of France, but both invasions were repelled.

On 25 May 1810, after the rumors of the Napoleonic overthrow of Ferdinand VII were confirmed, the citizens of Buenos Aires created the First Government Junta (May Revolution). Two nations emerged in the former viceroyalty: the United Provinces of South America (1810) and the Liga Federal (1815). Other provinces delayed the formation of a unified state because of differences between autonomist and centralist parties; Paraguay seceded, declaring independence in 1811.

 

Between 1814 and 1817, General José de San Martín led a military campaign aimed at making independence a reality. San Martín and his regiment crossed the Andes in 1817 to defeat royalist forces in Chile and Perú, thus securing independence. The Congress of Tucumán gathered on 9 July 1816 and finally issued a formal Declaration of Independence from Spain. The Liga Federal was crushed in 1820 by the combined forces of the United Provinces and Portuguese-ruled colonial Brazil, and its provinces were absorbed into the United Provinces of South America. Bolivia declared independence in 1825, and Uruguay was created in 1828 as a result of a truce following the Argentina-Brazil War. The controversial truce led to the rise of Buenos Aires provincial governor Juan Manuel de Rosas, who, as a federalist, exercised a reign of terror and kept the fragile confederation together.

 

The centralist Unitarios and the Federales maintained an internecine conflict until Rosas' 1852 overthrow after the Platine War, and to help prevent future struggle during the tenuous times that followed, a Constitution was promulgated in 1853. The constitution, drafted by legal scholar Juan Bautista Alberdi, was defended by Franciscan Friar Mamerto Esquiú and endured through difficult early years. National unity was reinforced when Paraguayan dictator López attacked Argentina and Brazil in 1865, resulting in the War of the Triple Alliance, which left more than 300,000 dead and devastated Paraguay.

 

Geography

The total surface area (excluding the Antarctic claim) is 2,766,891.2 km2 (1,068,302.7 sq mi), of which 30,200 km2 (11,700 sq mi) (1.1%) is water. Argentina is about 3,900 km (2,400 mi) long from north to south, and 1,400 km (870 mi) from east to west (maximum values). There are four major regions: the fertile central plains of the Pampas, source of Argentina's agricultural wealth; the flat to rolling, oil-rich southern plateau of Patagonia including Tierra del Fuego; the subtropical northern flats of the Gran Chaco, and the rugged Andes mountain range along the western border with Chile.

 

The highest point above sea level is in Mendoza province at Cerro Aconcagua (6,962 m (22,841 ft)), also the highest point in the Southern and Western Hemisphere. The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón in Santa Cruz province, -105 m (−344 ft) below sea level. This is also the lowest point in South America. The geographic center of the country is in south-central La Pampa province. The easternmost continental point is northeast of Bernardo de Irigoyen, Misiones,(26°15′S 53°38′W / 26.25°S 53.633°W / -26.25; -53.633 (Argentina's easternmost continental point)) the westernmost in the Mariano Moreno Range in Santa Cruz province.(49°33′S 73°35′W / 49.55°S 73.583°W / -49.55; -73.583 (Argentina's westernmost point)) The northernmost point is at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete rivers in Jujuy province,(21°46′S 66°13′W / 21.767°S 66.217°W / -21.767; -66.217 (Argentina's northernmost point)) and the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra del Fuego. (55°03′S 66°31′W / 55.05°S 66.517°W / -55.05; -66.517 (Argentina's southernmost point))

 

The major rivers are the Paraná (the largest), the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado and the Uruguay. The Paraná and the Uruguay join to form the Río de la Plata estuary, before reaching the Atlantic. Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy and the San Francisco River in Salta.

 

There are several large lakes including Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi between Río Negro and Neuquén, Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Buenos Aires and O'Higgins/San Martín Lake are shared with Chile. Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water lake in the country. There are numerous reservoirs created by dams. Argentina features various hot springs, such as Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 65°C and 89°C.

 

The largest oil spill in fresh water was caused by a Shell Petroleum tanker in the Río de la Plata, off Magdalena, on January 15, 1999, polluting the environment, drinking water, and local wildlife.

 

The 4,665 km (2,899 mi) long Atlantic coast has been a popular local vacation area for over a century, and varies between areas of sand dunes and cliffs. The continental platform is unusually wide; this shallow area of the Atlantic is called the Argentine Sea. The waters are rich in fisheries and possibly hold important hydrocarbon energy resources. The two major ocean currents affecting the coast are the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falkland Current. Because of the unevenness of the coastal landmass, the two currents alternate in their influence on climate and do not allow temperatures to fall evenly with higher latitude. The southern coast of Tierra del Fuego forms the north shore of the Drake Passage.

 

Oficial name:

República Argentina

 

Independence:

May Revolution 25 May 1810

- Declared 9 July 1816

- Recognized 1821 (by Spain)

 

Area:

2.780.092 km2

 

Inhabitants:

40.090.000

 

Languages:

Aymara, Central [ayr] Classification: Aymaran

 

Chiripá [nhd] Alternate names: Tsiripá, Txiripá, Nhandeva, Ñandeva, Apytare. Dialects: Apapocuva. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I

 

Chorote, Iyojwa'ja [crt] 800 (1982 Drayson). Northeast Salta Province. Alternate names: Choroti, Yofuaha, Eklenjuy. Dialects: A distinct language from Iyo'wujwa Chorote (Drayson). Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Chorote, Iyo'wujwa [crq] 1,500 in Argentina. 50% monolinguals. Population total all countries: 2,008. In Argentina they are mixed with the Iyojwa'ja Chorote. No more than a couple of families in Bolivia. Also spoken in Bolivia, Paraguay. Alternate names: Choroti, Manjuy, Manjui. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Guaraní, Mbyá [gun] 3,000 in Argentina (2002 Dooley). Northeast Argentina. Alternate names: Mbua, Eastern Argentina Guaraní, Mbyá. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I

 

Guaraní, Western Argentine [gui] 15,000 in Argentina. Jujuy, Salta. Alternate names: Eastern Bolivian Guaraní, "Chawuncu", "Chiriguano". Dialects: Chané, Izoceño (Izocenyo, Isocenio). Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I

 

Kaiwá [kgk] 512 in Argentina. Northeast Argentina. Alternate names: Caingua, Caiwá, Kayova. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I

 

Mapudungun [arn] 100,000 in Argentina (2000). Provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Buenos Aires, La Pampa. Alternate names: Araucano, Maputongo, Mapuche, Mapudungu. Dialects: Pehuenche. Classification: Araucanian

 

Mocoví [moc] 4,525 (2000 WCD). South Chaco, northeast Santa Fe. Alternate names: Mocobí, Mbocobí. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan

 

Nivaclé [cag] 200 in Argentina. Salta Province, northeast. Alternate names: Ashlushlay, "Chulupi", "Churupi", "Chulupie", "Chulupe". Dialects: Forest Nivaclé, River Nivaclé. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Ona [ona] 1 to 3 (1991 Adelaar). Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego. Also formerly in Chile. Alternate names: Aona, Selknam, Shelknam. Classification: Chon Nearly extinct.

 

Pilagá [plg] 2,000 (1991 UBS). Along the valleys of the Bermejo and Pilcomayo rivers in central and western Formosa Province, also Chaco and Salta provinces. Alternate names: Pilaca. Dialects: Toba-Pilagá (Toba del Oeste, Sombrero Negro), Chaco Pilagá (Toba Sur). Intelligibility between the dialects needs investigation. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan

 

Puelche [pue] 5 or 6. Pampas. Alternate names: Gennaken, Pampa, Northern Tehuelche. Classification: Language Isolate Nearly extinct.

 

Quechua, South Bolivian [quh] 855,000 in Argentina. Population includes 200,000 temporary laborers, about 100,000 looking for work, 500,000 living in Buenos Aires (1971 F. Hicks). Possibly 70,000 in Salta Province. Buenos Aires, some working on docks. Some in Salta Province. Alternate names: Central Bolivian Quechua. Dialects: Northwest Jujuy (Colla). Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C

 

Quichua, Santiago del Estero [qus] 60,000 (2000 SIL). Ethnic population: 60,000. Santiago del Estero Province, north central Argentina, Departments of Figueroa, Moreno, Robles, Sarmiento, Brigadier J. F. Ibarra, San Martín, Silipica, Loreto, Atamisqui, Avellaneda, Salavina, Quebrachos, Mitre, Aguirre, some in southeast Salta Province, western Taboada Department along the Salado River, and Buenos Aires. Alternate names: Santiagueño Quichua. Dialects: Different from Bolivian (lexical similarity 81%) or other Quechua (P. Landerman SIL 1968). Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C

 

Spanish [spa] 33,000,000 in Argentina (1995). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

 

Tapieté [tpj] 100 in Argentina. Northeast, Tartagal, 1 village. Alternate names: Guarayo, Guasurangue, Tirumbae, Yanaigua, Ñanagua. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani I

 

Tehuelche [teh] 4 (2000 W. Adelaar). Ethnic population: 200 (2000 W. Adelaar). Patagonia. Alternate names: Aoniken, Gunua-Kena, Gununa-Kena, Inaquen. Classification: Chon Nearly extinct

 

Toba [tob] 19,810 in Argentina (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 20,656. Eastern Formosa Province and Chaco Province. Also spoken in Bolivia, Paraguay. Alternate names: Chaco Sur, Qom, Toba Qom, Toba Sur. Dialects: Southeast Toba, Northern Toba. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan

 

Vilela [vil] 20 (1981 Buckwalter). Resistencia, east central Chaco Province near Paraguay border. Classification: Lule-Vilela Nearly extinct.

 

Welsh [cym] 25,000 in Argentina (1998 A. Leaver). Patagonia, Chubut Territory. Dialects: Patagonian Welsh. Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Brythonic

 

Wichí Lhamtés Güisnay [mzh] 15,000 (1999). Northern, Pilcomayo River area. Alternate names: "Mataco" Güisnay, Güisnay, "Mataco" Pilcomayo, "Mataco". Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Wichí Lhamtés Nocten [mtp] 100 in Argentina. Northern border down to Tartagal. Alternate names: "Mataco" Nocten, Nocten, Noctenes, Oktenai. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz [wlv] 25,000 in Argentina (1991 UBS). Northern area: Chaco, Formosa, Salta, Jujuy. Generally west of Toba, along upper Bermejo River Valley and Pilcomayo River. Also spoken in Bolivia. Alternate names: "Mataco" Vejoz, Vejos. Dialects: Bermejo Vejoz. Not intelligible with other Chaco languages. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco

 

Extinct languages

Abipon [axb] Extinct. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan

 

Chané [caj] Extinct. Salta Province. Dialects: Some have equated this name with 'Guana' (Kaskiha) of Paraguay of Mascoian affiliation, or Terena of Brazil of Arawakan affiliation, but they are distinct. Classification: Arawakan, Unclassified

 

Capital city:

Buenos Aires

 

Meaning of the country name:

From the Latin argentum, meaning "silver". Early Spanish and Portuguese traders used the region's Rio de la Plata or "Silver River" to transport silver and other treasures from Peru to the Atlantic. The land around the terminal downstream stations became known as Argentina – "Land of Silver".

 

Description Flag:

The national flag of Argentina dates from 1812. It is a triband, composed of three equally wide horizontal bands coloured light blue, white and light blue. In 1818, a yellow Sun of May was added to the center.

The full flag featuring the sun is called the Official Ceremonial Flag (Spanish: Bandera Oficial de Ceremonia)

The Sun is modeled after the symbol of Inti, the Incan god of the Sun.

 

Coat of arms:

The Coat of Arms of Argentina was established in its current form in 1944, but has its origins in the seal of the Sovereign General Assembly of 1813, though there is no known decree or any other type of order or authorisation ordering its specific use. It is supposed, however, that this symbol was chosen quickly because of the existence of a decree signed on February 22, sealed with that seal. The first mention of it in a public document dates to March 12th of that same year, in which it is stated that this seal had to be used by the executive power, that is, the second triumvirate. On April 13th the National Assembly coined the new silver and gold coins, each with the seal of the Assembly on the reverse, in that way what started as a seal became a national coat of arms. On April 27th the Coat of Arms becomes a National Emblem. The decree states also that the Coat of Arms should not be used in flags, though Belgrano ordered to paint the Coat of Arms over the flag he gave to the city of Jujuy. Moreover, during the Argentine War of Independence, most flags had the Coat of Arms.

 

Motto:

"In Union and Freedom"

 

National Anthem: Argentine National Anthem

 

Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado:

 

"¡Libertad, libertad, libertad!"

Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas,

ved en trono a la noble igualdad.

 

Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron

las Provincias Unidas del Sud

y los libres del mundo responden:

"Al gran pueblo argentino, ¡salud!

Al gran pueblo argentino, ¡salud!"

Y los libres del mundo responden:

"Al gran pueblo argentino, ¡salud!"

 

Estribillo

 

Sean eternos los laureles

que supimos conseguir,

que supimos conseguir.

Coronados de gloria vivamos...

¡o juremos con gloria morir!,

¡o juremos con gloria morir!,

¡o juremos con gloria morir!

 

English

 

Mortals! Hear the sacred cry:

 

"Freedom, freedom, freedom!"

Hear the noise of broken chains,

see the noble Equality enthroned.

 

The United Provinces of the South

have now opened their very honorable throne.

And the free people of the world reply:

"We salute the great people of Argentina!"

"We salute the great people of Argentina!"

And the free people of the world reply:

"We salute the great people of Argentina!"

 

Chorus

 

May the laurels be eternal

that we knew how to win,

that we knew how to win.

Let us live crowned with glory...

or swear to die gloriously!

Or swear to die gloriously!

Or swear to die gloriously!

 

Internet Page: www.welcomeargentina.com

www.argentina.gov.ar

 

Argentina in diferent languages

 

eng | cat | ces | cos | dan | eus | fao | hau | hrv | ina | ita | jav | kin | lat | lin | lit | lld | nor | oci | por | ron | run | slv | sme | spa | srd | swe | tpi | vor: Argentina

bos | crh | kaa | tuk | uzb: Argentina / Аргентина

afr | lim | nld: Argentinië

deu | ltz | nds: Argentinien / Argentinien

hun | isl | slk: Argentína

ast | glg: Arxentina

dsb | hsb: Argentinska

est | fin: Argentiina

ind | msa: Argentina / ارڬينتينا

arg: Archentina

aze: Argentina / Арҝентина

bam: Arazantini

bre: Arc’hantina

cor: Arghantina

cym: Ariannin

epo: Argentino

fra: Argentine

frp: Argentena

fry: Argentynje

fur: Argjentine

gla: An Argantain

gle: An Airgintín / An Airgintín

glv: Yn Argenteen

hat: Ajantin

ibo: Ajentina; Ajentain

jnf: Argentinne

kmr: Arjantîn / Аржантин / ئارژانتین; Ergêntînî / Әргентини / ئەرگێنتینی

kur: Erjentîn / ئەرژەنتین; Arjantîn / ئارژانتین

lav: Argentīna

mlg: Arzantinina

mlt: Arġentina

mol: Argentina / Арӂентина

nrm: Ergentène

pol: Argentyna

que: Arhintina

rmy: Arxentina / आर्ख़ेन्तिना

roh: Argentinia

rup: Arghentina

scn: Argintina

slo: Argentinia / Аргентиниа

smg: Argentėna

smo: Atenitina

som: Arjentiina

sqi: Argjentina

swa: Ajentina

szl: Argyntyna

tet: Arjentina

tgl: Arhentina

ton: ʻAsenitina

tur: Arjantin

vie: Á Căn Đình; Ác-hen-ti-na

vol: Largäntän

wln: Årdjintene

wol: Arsantin

zza: Arcantin

abq | alt | che | chm | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | mkd | rus | tyv | udm: Аргентина (Argentina)

bak | srp | tat: Аргентина / Argentina

bel: Аргенціна / Arhiencina; Аргентына / Arhientyna; Аргэнтына / Arhentyna

bul: Аржентина (Aržentina)

chv: Аргентинӑ (Argentină)

kaz: Аргентина / Argentïna / ارگەنتينا

kbd: Аргентинэ (Argentină)

mon: Аргентин (Argentin)

oss: Аргентинӕ (Argentinä)

tgk: Аргентина / ارگنتینه / Argentina

ukr: Арґентина (Argentyna)

ara: الأرجنتين (al-Arǧantīn)

ckb: ئەرجەنتین / Ercentîn

fas: آرژانتین (Āržāntīn)

prs: ارجنتین (Arjantīn)

pus: ارجنټين (Arjanṫīn); ارجنتاين (Arjantāyn)

uig: ئارگېنتىنا / Argéntina / Аргентина

urd: ارجنٹینا (Arjanṫīnā); ارجینٹینا (Arjenṫīnā); ارجنٹائن (Arjanṫāʾin); آرجنٹین (Ārjanṫīn)

div: އާރްޖެންޓީނާ (Ārjenṫīnā)

heb: ארגנטינה (Argenṭînah)

lad: ארג'ינטינה / Ardjentina

yid: אַרגענטינע (Argentine)

amh: አርጀንቲና (Ărjäntina); አርጀንቲን (Ărjäntin)

ell-dhi: Αργεντινή (Argentinī́)

ell-kat: Ἀργεντινή (Argentinī́)

hye: Արգենտինա (Argentina)

kat: არგენტინა (Argentina)

hin: अर्जेंटीना (Arjeṁṭīnā); आर्जन्टिना (Ārjanṭinā); अर्जेंटाइन (Arjeṁṭāin); आर्जेन्टीना (Ārjenṭīnā)

mar: आर्जन्टिना (Ārjanṭinā)

ben: আর্জেন্টিনা (Ārjenṭinā); আর্জেণ্টাইনা (Ārjeṇṭāinā)

guj: આર્જંટિના (Ārjaṁṭinā)

pan: ਅਰਜਨਟੀਨਾ (Arjanṭīnā)

kan: ಅರ್ಜೆಂಟೀನ (Arjeṁṭīna)

mal: അര്ജന്റീന (Arjanṟīna)

tam: ஆர்ஜென்டீனா (Ārjeṉṭīṉā); அர்ஜென்டினா (Arjeṉṭiṉā)

tel: అర్జెంటీనా (Arjeṁṭīnā)

zho: 阿根廷 (Āgēntíng)

yue: 阿根廷 (Agàntìhng)

jpn: アルゼンティン (Aruzentin); アルゼンチン (Aruzenchin)

kor: 아르헨티나 (Areuhentina)

bod: ཨར་གེན་ཐིན་ (Ar.gen.tʰin.)

dzo: ཨར་ཇེན་ཊི་ན་ (Ar.jen.ṭi.na.)

mya: အာဂ္ယင္တီးနား (Ajĩtìnà)

tha: อาร์เจนตินา (Ā[r]čēntinā)

lao: ອາກຊັງຕີນ (Āksâṅtīn)

khm: អាហ្សង់ទីន (Āhsăṅtīn)

 

Done