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It received its name, "roughly translated as 'land of silver' or 'silvery one,' from the Spanish explorers of the 16th century who were lured there by rumors that portrayed the presence of vast mineral wealth." (Encyclopedia Britannica 357) The "Sun of May," a sun with a human face, appears on the state flag (adopted in 1818) and on the coat of arms. It stands for Argentina's freedom from Spain. The colors, light blue and white, were worn by Argentineans who fought off British invaders in 1806 and 1807. Argentina's currency is known as the Austral. The official language of Argentina is Spanish, and more than 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. More than one - third of the country's 32 million people live in Buenos Aires, the nation's capital, which along with other urban areas accounts for almost 90 percent of the total population. It is the eighth largest country in the world, with an area of 1,073,399 square miles. (Encyclopedia Britannica 356) Shaped like an inverted triangle with its base atop, it is only about 884 miles across at its widest from east to west, but it stretches 2,360 miles from the subtropical north to the subantarctic south. (www.comptons.com/argentina.html) This great length embraces regions of striking diversity, including the Andes Mountains, the Rio de la Plata (Argentina's longest river) the thorny scrubland and seasonal swamps of Gran Chaco. Within its boundaries lie the the broad; fertile plains of the Pampa, in which thousands of cattle used to roam, herded by Argentina's native folk heroes, the guachos, the South American cowboys. It also includes the stark tableland of the Patagonia, and an never - ending Atlantic coastline of 2,936 miles (www.infoplease.lycos.com) Argentina also claims a portion of Antarctica, as well as several islands in the South Atlantic, including the British - ruled Falklands (Islas Malvinas). It is bounded by Chile on the south and west, Bolivia and Paraguay on the north, and Brazil, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. The southern most town in the world, Ushuaia, is situated in Argentina. The first people to settle Argentina were the farming American Indians. Next, Colonists from Spain and other parts of South America settled the country from the 16th through the 18th centuries. Emigrants from many European countries, including Italy and Germany, settled Argentina in the last part of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th. This immigration made Argentina a place where the poor of Europe could earn a decent living by farming wheat, corn, oilseeds, fruits, and nuts, and by also raising cattle in the Pampas. The Pampas are the flat, fertile plains in the east central region of the country, allowing for Argentina to become "one of the world's chief exporters of food and agricultural products" (Encyclopedia Britannica 359). "South of the Colorado River is Patagonia, the largest region of Argentina. It extends from the Pampa to Tierra del Fuego and was named in 1520 by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while sailing for Spain, on his trip around the world." (www.interknowledge.com/argentina.html) The landscape is dominated by the Andes in the west and plateaus that stretch eastward to the Atlantic, forming cliffs along much of the shoreline. The climate is dry and windy, thus making it unfertile and unsuitable for major farming, except in its southern most parts where precipitation is increased. Historically, Argentina has repeatedly been subjected to rule by a "caudillo" figure, a strong leader, often of the military, who dominated the nation usually until he was disposed or died. However, in 1853, Argentina adopted a constitution that has been amended several times, most recently in 1994. It established Argentina as a federal republic with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The constitution calls for an executive branch to be headed by a president and vice president who are both Roman Catholics and at least 30 years old. The president also serves as the commander in chief of the armed forces. One of Argentina's most important political figures was Colonel Juan Peron, who "promised a better living for the urban workers and an industrially self - sufficient Argentina." (www.comptons.com/argentina.html) Peron's downfall came when students, bankers, industrialists, and other groups turned against him. In 1952, the death of his wife, Eva Duarte de Peron - Evita, who gained the right to vote for women and founded women's political and social orginazations, weakened his support. Evita also brought "health and welfare benefits to the poor, causing her to be idolized by the working class." (Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia) In September 1995 the armed forces rebelled, and Peron fled the country. "Argentina has traditionally been one of the more prosperous Latin American countries." (www.infoplease.lycos.com) Unlike many of its neighbors, the country has developed a strong manufacturing industry and has become less dependant on agriculture. Today the country is largely self - sufficient in consumer goods. However, the Argentine economy in the late 20th century, like that of many neighboring countries, has suffered from severe inflation. An unstable government and continuing domestic and international political problems complicated this condition. By the mid - 1990s, however, economic reforms implemented by the government of President Carlos Saul Menem succeeded in bringing inflation under 5 percent. Argentina is also known for its beautiful literature. "Jorge Luis Borges (1899 - 1986) is probably Argentina's most favorite writer." (Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia) His father was of Italian, Jewish, and English backgrounds, while his mother was of both Argentinean and Uruguayan descents. Borges was admired for his use of language and his thoughts about the meaning of life. His stories convey mystery, puzzle, and fantasy. Among Borges' best - known books are Ficciones (Fictions) and El Aleph (the aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet). Borges won many literary honors. He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize in literature, but never won it. This essay was very beneficial because it enabled me to learn more about a different nation and its unique culture. Now instead of just relating to Argentina as a country in South America, I will also be able to discuss it intelligently. Hopefully, by reading this research paper, others will be able to learn about Argentina's long, diverse, and interesting history, geography, and people. Bibliography: Word Count: 1079
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