Argentina History-

The United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain in 1816. Once independence was declared Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. Immigrants primarily from Europe formed the population and culture from 1860 to 1930. Italy and Spain provided the largest percentage of newcomers.
 
Much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military factions up until about the mid-20th century.

After World War II, following a military junta that took power in 1976, an era of Peronist populism and direct and indirect military interference in subsequent governments took place.

In 1983 democracy returned after a failed bid to seize the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands by force, and has persisted despite numerous challenges. The most formidable of these was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.

Argentina Facts-

Spanish is the official language


Area:              total: 2,766,890 sq km
                      land: 2,736,690 sq km
                      water: 30,200 sq km

Coastline:      4,989 km

Climate:        mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Terrain:    rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Elevation extremes:  lowest point- Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) highest point- Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza)

Natural resources:    fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land use:        arable land: 10.03%
                       permanent crops: 0.36%
                       other: 89.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:    15,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:    814 cu km (2000)

Natural hazards:    San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Environment:    environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note:     Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets

Geography:    second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

source: c.i.a. world fact book