Capital: Buenos Aires
Area: 2,766,890 sq km
Population: 39,537,943 (July 2005 est.)
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Currency: Argentine peso (ARS) - Currency Converter

Argentina is the land of Gauchos, Asado, Mate, Pampas, Tango, and Dulce de leche. The name immediately conjures up the image of big steaks, passionate men and women and long night of eating the best meat of the world and sipping mate, afterwards.

The capital city Buenos Aires is the center of the country in all ways except its geographical location. With the Río de la Plata, in the east of the country, it is actually the city that is closest to the Old Continent, and probably the most European city in South America.

Behind Buenos Aires, the land of the Pampas begins. Many towns with historical centres that go back to colonial are worth visiting. In the west, the Andes mountains offer great outdoor opportunities: hiking, skiing and much more. Patagonia, the far south of Argentina is a rugged and cold land. It is great for the lovers of nature and wildlife; big glaciers that go directly into the Ocean, birds, seals and other arctic animals abound.

In the northwestern corner of this dreamed land, deserts and steppes are the most common geographical sites; and in the northeastern part of the country, Las Cataratas del Iguazú, a gorgeous waterfall like the Niagara Falls on USA, complete all kinds of climate existing on the Earth... all in one beautiful country.

The people are awesome, full of kindness - at least most of the time ;) -, and the weather is mostly pleasant all the year. Many people call this the Paris of the Americas.