Download 1 ARGENTINA Introduction Argentina is a country situated in the

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ARGENTINA
Image 2: flag of Argentina (2)
Image 1: map of Argentina (1)
Image 3: Location of Argentina (3)
1. Introduction
Argentina is a country situated in the South America. It was originally populated by Indians hen the
Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci arrived in 1502. Over the next few decades Spain tried to build
settlements here, but failed as the Indians fiercely resisted their presence. Gradually Argentina was
colonized by Spanish monarchy in 1580. In 1780 the Spanish united Argentina together with
Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay into Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. This coalition lasted till
Napoleon invaded Spain and overthrew the Spanish monarchy. During this Argentina and
especially Buenos Aires became very important trading spot. In 1816 Argentina proclaimed
independence from the Spanish Crown – this act led to the civil war finished in 1829 when General
Juan Manuel de Rosas was elected governor and Argentina was united into The Argentine
Confederation. In the next decades Argentina suffered from several civil wars and military conflicts
mainly including the military rule of Juan Peron and his wife Evita or Falkland Islands’ War. In 1983
Argentina became democratic country with stable political, economical and social status. (1)
2. Basic information
2.1 General information
Original name: Republica Argentina
Area: 2 766 890 km2
Population: 40 091 359 (2010)
Relief: Aconcagua (6 960 m), Salinas Chicas (40 m)
Geobioms: forests of mild climate, deserts,
semi-deserts, steps
Name: Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
Location: 53°-73° w. l., 33°-55° s. l.
Landuse: 25 % arable land, 25 % grassland, 25
% forests, 25 % other
Climate: mild, subtropical
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2.2 Political status
Established: 1816
Government type: republic
Regions: 23 regions and district of Buenos Time: GMT - 3
Aires
Integration: UN, ALADI, MERCOSUR, SELA HDI: 0,797 (2010), GDP: 13 800 USD (2009)
(2)
3. Map skills
Coastline: Tierra del Fuego, Drake strait, Falkland Islands (UK), Strait of Magellan, San Jorge
Gulf, San Matias Gulf, La Plata Bay
Landscape: Andes mt., Aconcagua (6960), Patagonia, Pampas, Grand Chaco
Rivers:
Paraná, Salado, Negro, Pilcomayo, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colorado
Lakes:
Laguna Mar Chiquita, Lake Buenos Aires, Argentino, Viedma
NP:
Perito Moreno
(1)
4. Population and settlement
4.1 Demographics
Argentina is ranked the third in South America in total population and 33rd globally. According
to the 2001 census Argentina had a population of approximately 36 million inhabitants and in
ten years the population rank raised to 40 million (2010). Population density is 15 persons
per square kilometre of land area. The population growth rate in 2010 was estimated 1.03%
annually with birth rate of 17.7 live births per 1,000 inhabitants and a mortality rate of 7.4
deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.
The proportion of people under 15 is 25.6%,
somewhat below the world average of 28%, and
the proportion of people 65 and older is relatively
high at 10.8%. In Latin America this is second only
to Uruguay and well above the world average,
which is currently 7%. Argentina has one of Latin
America's lowest population growth rates, recently
about 1% a year. Its birth rate of 2.3 children per
woman is still nearly twice as high as that in Spain
or Italy, compared here as they have similar
religious practices. The median age is
approximately 30 years and life expectancy at
birth is 76.7 years.
Image 4: Argentine farmer with typical meal:
Argentina is considered a country of immigrants,
Asado (4)
mostly in consequence of European colonisation.
The majority of these European immigrants came
from Italy, Germany and Spain. 86.4% of Argentina's population self-identify as being of
European descent. An estimated 8% of the population is mestizo and 4% of Argentines are of
Arab or Asian heritage.(3)
3
Races
White
(arg.)
Mestizo
Arab/Asian
Indians
86%
8%
4%
2%
Table 2: Races in Argentina (2)
4.2 Religion
Argentine constitution guarantees religious tolerance,
but also requires the government to support Roman
Catholic Church. This prescription is valid since 1994
as the President and Vice President had to be Roman
Catholics.
According to the World Christian Database Argentines
are: 92.1% Christian, 3.1% agnostic, 1.9% Muslim,
1.3% Jewish, 0.9% atheist, and 0.9% Buddhist and
others. Argentine Christians are mostly Roman Catholic
with estimates for the number of Catholics varying from
70% to 90% of the population.
Argentina has the largest Jewish population of any
country in Latin America. A recent study found that
Image 5: La Plata Cathedral (5)
approximately 11% of Argentines are non-religious
(which includes those who believe in God but do not
follow a religion), 4% are agnostics and 5% are atheist.
Overall 24% attended religious services regularly. Protestants were the only group with a
majority of followers who regularly attended services.(4)
Religion
Christianity
Agnostic
Islam
Judaism
Atheism
Buddhism and others
Table 2: Religion in Argentina (2)
92%
3%
2%
1%
1%
1%
Language
Spanish
Italian
Arabic
German
Others
91,5%
4%
2,5%
1%
1%
Table 3: Argentina – language (3)
4.3 Language
The official language of Argentina is Spanish, usually called castellano. The most common
dialect is so called Rioplatense, whose speakers are primarily located in the Río de la Plata
basin. In this region we can also hear Lunfardo – a kind of slang influenced by Italian and other
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European immigrants. The dialect spoken in the capital Buenos Aires known as porteños is
very close to the Neapolitan dialect (Northern Italy). We can also find there some indigenous
languages like guaraní, quechua or aymara.
In Argentina there are around 1.5 million Italian speakers (making it the second most spoken
language in the country) and 1 million speakers of the North Levantine dialect of Arabic
(spoken in Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus). Standard German is spoken by 500,000 Argentines of
(5)
German ancestry, making it the fourth most spoken language.
4.4 Settlement
Rank
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
City
Buenos Aires
Córdoba
Rosario
Mendoza
Tucumán
Pop/thousand
3,050
1,372
1,242
885
789
Rank
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
City
La Plata
Mar del Plata
Salta
Santa Fe
San Juan
Pop/thousand
732
604
516
493
453
Table 4: Largest cities of Argentina (4)
5. Economy
Argentina used to be one of the wealthiest countries but due to the economical crisis in the 20th
century it lost its power. Despite that Argentina has nowadays a well market-oriented economy
with rich natural resources, a well-educated population, an export-oriented agriculture and a
relatively diversified industrial base. The biggest problem of argentine economy was always the
inflation, but according to the estimation their economy should become much stronger in a few
years.
GDP of Argentina is $14,700 (2010) which makes it the highest GDP of Latin American
countries. The global crisis in 2008-2009 forced the government to make several arrangements
to stop and prevent corruption, money laundering, trafficking in narcotics and contraband, and
(6,7)
tax evasion.
Employment
Services
Industry
Agriculture
Unemployed




73%
19%
1%
7%
Table 5: Employment (5)
AGRICULTURE
wheat, oats, barley, corn, rice, sorghum, potatoes, sugarcane, soybean, groundnut,
sunflower, tea, vegetables, fruit, oranges, lemons, bananas, tobacco, cotton, flax
LIVESTOCK
cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, poultry
INDUSTRY
food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals,
printing, metallurgy, steel
NATURAL RESOURCES
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coal, oil, natural gas, iron ore, lead, tungsten, zinc, uranium, gold, silver, graphite
(2,7)
6. TOURISM
Buenos Aires, Córdoba – one of the best known cities in Argentina can offer beautiful colonial
architecture as well as wild nightlife.
In Tierra del Fuego considered as the end of the world there are thousands of unusual animal
and plant species. Marine channels are used for canoe rides. Local mountains show beautiful
scenery and untouched wild nature.
Perito Moreno Glacier is probably the only glaciers in the world that grows. Its walls are 60m
high and are still working so that you can see the breaking ice.
Mendoza is in fact connected with Italy. Not only strong percentage of population speaking
Italian in this region but also the fact it’s popular for its skiing resort and high-quiality wine.
(8)
7. Pictures
Image 7: Cordoba (7)
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Image 8: Perito Moreno Glacier (8)
Image 9: Mendoza region (9)
8. Videos
Tour to Argentina – typical features
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgb90ldjD3Q
Tango Argentino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgb90ldjD3Q
Street Tango – La Boca!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyWAiwNNrgw&feature=related
Perito Moreno – trip, glacier breaking up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu0UrfHtcHc
9. Tasks
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Think about location of Argentina. Why does it have such a good strategic position?
How is Argentina connected to Europe? Why is it so much influenced by Italy?
Look up some key information about the indigenous people of Argentina.
Name some economical problems in 20th century.
Why is Perito Moreno so special? Is it connected to an environmental problem?
Mendoza region – vineyards and mountains – how is it possible? Search the location.
Where you can find high biodiversity in Argentina? Look up at least two areas.
Search some info about Falkland Islands’ War.
10. Dictionary

Mestizo, agnostic
11. Refferences
Images
1) http://static2.123teachme.com/cms_images/wordsa/argentina_map.jpg
2) http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soubor:Flag_of_Argentina.svg
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3) http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/arsa.gif
4) http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/2132/PreviewComp/SuperStock_2132537818.jpg
5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:La_Plata_-_Catedral_-_HDR.jpg
6) http://buenosairestourism.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Buenos-Aires-Tourism3.jpg
7) http://www.babiloniahostel.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/photo-8903-15-06-08-06-3611.jpg
8) http://www.enciclopedia.com.pt/images/perito-moreno-argentinie.jpg
9) http://www.globorati.com/wp-content/photos/Mendoza__Argentina.jpg
Tables:
1)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Demographics
2)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html
3)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Language
4)
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html
5)
http://www.zemepis.com/Argentina.php
Sources:
1) http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/ar.htm
2) http://www.zemepis.com/Argentina.php
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Demographics
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Religion
5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Language
6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina#Economy
7) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html
8) http://www.treky.cz/argentina/cestujeme-v-argentine/best-argentina-deset-veci-kteremusite-videt