‘Exploring Countries: Argentina’
‘Exploring Countries: Argentina’ by Blaine Wiseman (published in 2016)
1. Covering a total area of 2780400 sq.km, Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world. Its shape is an upside-down triangle. Argentina borders the countries of Brazil and Uruguay to the northeast, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Chile to the west.
2. Mount Aconcagua is part of the Andes, the world’s longest mountain range. The mountain reaches 6959m above sea level. Mount Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.
3. In Argentina, llamas are used for their meat and wool. People also use llamas to transport heavy items.
4. The Andes are the world’s second-tallest mountain range. They separate Argentina from Chile and the Pacific Ocean. The height of the Andes helps create a barrier that blocks rain from falling on much of western Argentina.
5. Argentina’s longest river is the Parana. Lake Nahuel Huapi is the largest lake in Argentina. It is part of Patagonia’s lake region.
6. Many different plant and animal species live in Argentina. On the slopes of the Andes, forests of cedar, laurel, pine, and beech trees grow. The Gran Chaco region has grasses, cacti, and carob trees. This region is also where the world’s largest rodents, called capybaras, live.
7. Argentina is a country filled with natural resources. The Andes and surrounding areas hold rich deposits of copper, silver, gold, zinc, and lithium. Other natural resources include oil and natural gas. Today, Argentina is the leading producer of natural gas in South America.
8. In the humid eastern Pampas, the soil supports vast grasslands. These grasses feed many kinds of livestock. Sheep in the Patagonia grasslands have helped make Argentina one of the world’s biggest producer of wool. Beef and leather from Argentine cattle are known around the world for their high quality. In the western Pampas, the hot, dry weather produces excellent soil conditions for growing grapes.
9. Wheat, corn and soybeans are some of the nation’s largest crops.
10. Buenos Aires is the business and cultural center of Argentina. About half of all tourists to Argentina visit the lively city to enjoy its entertainment and public squares, such as the Plaza de Mayo. Other tourist attractions include the opera house Teatro Colon, the National Cathedral, etc.
11. Tierra del Fuego is home to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Tourists can take a cruise to Antarctica from Ushuaia. Glaciares National Park in the Andes is home to more than 240 glaciers. Perito Moreno is one of the largest and is increasing in size.
12. More than 43 million people live in Argentina today. It is the third-most-populated South American country, after Brazil and Colombia. Argentina’s land is mostly rural. More than 92% of the Argentine population lives in cities or towns. More than 30% of the national population live in Buenos Aires. Only two other Argentine cities have more than 1 million residents. About 1.6 million people live in Cordoba, and about 1.3 million live in Rosario.
13. The tango, a romantic style of music and dance, began in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s. The tango mixes a rhythmic Spanish dance style called flamenco with an Argentine dance called the milonga. Today, the tango is a common form of ballroom dancing around the world.
Source: https://www.artymag.ir/en/artists/A4oC/
Source: https://www.artymag.ir/en/artists/A4oC/
