Argentina
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Argentina
Country name - conventional long form : Argentine Republic
Country name - conventional short form : Argentina
Country name - local long form : Republica Argentina
Country name - local short form : Argentina
Country name - former :
Country code : AR
Government type : republic
Capital - name : Buenos Aires
Capital - time difference : UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Population : 40.482 million (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Argentine(s)
Nationality - adjective : Argentine
Languages : Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French
Currency (code) : Argentine peso (ARS)
Currency code : ARS
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : intermediate
Major infectious diseases - note :
Argentina is located Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay. The climate is mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest. The terrain is rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. The country's population and culture were heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents. The economy has recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002.
