COUNTRY OVERVIEW

Argentina is an enormous country, eighth largest in the world, and second only to Brazil in terms of size and population in South America. The country is surrounded by Chile to the west, and Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and the South Atlantic to the north and to the east. Argentina also shares the offshore island territory of Tierra del Fuego with Chile, and continues to dispute the ownership of the Islas Malvinas (known as the Falkland Islands to the British). In the early 1980's this dispute led to the short-lived Falklands War.

Argentina has a wonderfully diverse topography which is affected greatly by both latitude and altitude. While most of Argentina lies within South America's temperate zone, climates range from tropical in the north to sub-polar in the south. In general, Argentina can be divided into six geographical zones: the fertile central Pampas, marshy Mesopotamia in the northeast, the densely forested Chaco region of the north, high plateaus in the northwest, the mighty Andes to the west, and the stunningly beautiful windswept plateaus of Patagonia.

These diverse regions make for wonderful adventures. No matter where you travel, Argentina has something special in store for you. For those interested in the mountains, what better place to visit than the Andes. In the northern province of Jujuy, visitors have the chance to visit the most "traditional" area of Argentina. To many, this province has a feel to it much more closely resembling the Andean nations of Bolivia and Peru than to the cultural core of the Pampas. There are archaeological sites, volcanoes, small Indian villages, and nature reserves in this area.

Moving further south along the ridge of the Andes, the area becomes richer in agricultural terms. The province of Mendoza is particularly interesting. This region is famous for the production of top quality wines, which only today are finally gaining international recognition. Trips to the wine growing regions of the province are highly recommended. For hiking and climbing, this part of the Andes is extremely appealing. For the hard core enthusiast, one can attempt to scale Aconcagua (elevation 22,800 ft), the highest mountain in the Americas. Of other interest is the fact that this part of Argentina has in many respects closer ties to Santiago than to Buenos Aires. Why? Originally this area was part of colonial Chile.

For those people interested in skiing, Argentina offers some of the best skiing in the world. Some resorts worth a visit are Bariloche and Las Leñas. Due to the elevation of these and other resorts in the Andes, the snow is light and powdery, truly a skiers dream! Remember, the seasons in Argentina are reversed from those in the northern hemisphere, so plan accordingly.

Finally, along the southern tip of the Andes, lies the Lakes District and Patagonia. This area is full of wildlife, deep blue mountain lakes, wild mountain streams and rivers, tall mountains, and huge glaciers. If you have the time, visiting this part of Argentina will be something you will never forget.

In the Pampas, one can explore vast central plains full of herds of cattle and see the ever-famous gaucho (cowboy) hard at work. This area is truly the breadbasket of the county. However the area is not just known for the food it produces. There are lovely beach towns, interesting cities, colonial towns, plus numerous national parks. No matter where you go to in this region, you are bound to find something unique.

For those wanting to experience subtropical forests, the region called Mesopotamia is the place to go. One particular spot of interest is located on the border with Brazil and Paraguay. It is known as Iguazu Falls. These waterfalls have to be some of the most impressive found anywhere in the world. Of particular interest is the area of the falls known as the Garganta del Diablo (Devils Throat). The shape of the falls in this area is particularly impressive. Of other note is the incredible amount of plant and wildlife found in the area.This park area should be high on your list of things to do in Argentina. Finally, while in this area, why not stop by the historic old Jesuit missions that are so common in this region.

While the natural beauty of Argentina is breathtaking, its cities, culture, and people also make the country a great place to visit and very unique. Like Chile to the west, Argentina has deep cultural ties to Europe, and this is especially apparent in Buenos Aires. The city has broad avenues, excellent museums, great theater, world class restaurants, a pulsating nightlife, plus much more. If you like big city life, there are few better places to visit anywhere in the world than Buenos Aires.

For something a little slower paced, why not visit Cordoba, the second largest city in Argentina. This city well known for its colonial architecture, churches, and universities. At one time, this city was considered the most important city in Argentina. Though no longer the dominant city of the country, it still offers the visitor the charm and grace not found in other cities its size. For visitors, Cordoba also tends to be a great jumping off point to many other attractions in the surrounding areas.