Argentina Facts and Culture

What is Argentina famous for?

• Food and Recipes: The evening meal is lighter than the lunchtime meal. Dinner is frequently served later in the evening, even after... More
• Family: The responsibility of raising children lies with the mother. Women working outside the home comprise less than thirty percent of... More
• Fashion: Most people wear modern fashions, especially in urban areas. Clothing that one finds in Europe or North America is readily... More
• Visiting: Visitors introduce each person individually rather than a single group introduction. If invited to dinner, one should bring a small... More
• Recreation: Recreation in Argentina: Argentina's national game is "futbol" (soccer), which was introduced in the 1860s by British soldiers. In the... More
• Cultural Attributes: Prosperity, family, education, and personal relationships are important values to Argentines. Urban Argentines tend to be cosmopolitan, progressive, and outgoing. Those who... More
• Dating: Group dating between young men and young women oftens begins at age fifteen. The fifteenth birthday is the girls most... More
• Diet: Beef has long been the staple of the Argentine diet. A favorite way to entertain is the weekend "asado" (barbecue).... More

What is the capital of Argentina?

Capital	Buenos Aires
Government Type	presidential republic
Currency	Argentine pesos (ARS)
Total Area	1,073,512 Square Miles 2,780,400 Square Kilometers
Location	Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Language	Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua)
GDP - real growth rate	-1.8%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$20,200.00 (USD)

What is the population of Argentina?

Ethnic Groups	white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%
Languages	Spanish is the official language of Argentina, however many people speak some English. German, French, and Italian are also widely spoken, as are several indigenous languages. Argentine Spanish also contains many distinct phrases and terms not used in other Spanish-speaking countries.
Nationality Adjective	Argentine
Nationality Noun	Argentine(s)
Population	45,479,118
Population Growth Rate	1%
Population in Major Urban Areas	BUENOS AIRES (capital) 13.528 million; Cordoba 1.556 million; Rosario 1.283 million; Mendoza 957,000; San Miguel de Tucuman 868,000; La Plata 759,000
Predominant Language	Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Mapudungun, Quechua)
Urban Population	92.5%

What type of government does Argentina have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Alberto Angel FERNANDEZ (since 10 December 2019); Vice President Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER (since 10 December... More
• Suffrage: 18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age - optional for national elections More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years More
• National Holiday: Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810) More
• Constitution: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853; amended many times, last in 1994 More
• Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) More

What environmental issues does Argentina have?

• Overview: Argentina is South America's second largest country, after Brazil, in land area and population. It occupies most of the continent's... More
• Climate: The vast Pampa region fanning out 500 miles from Buenos Aires has an average annual rainfall range of 20 inches... More
• Border Countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 km More
• Environment - Current Issues: environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water... More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,... More
• Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western... More

How big is the Argentina economy?

• Economic Overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although... More
• Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel More
• Currency Name and Code: Argentine pesos (ARS) More
• Export Partners: Brazil 17%, China 8.6%, US 5.9% More
• Import Partners: Brazil 22.4%, US 16.3%, China 15.5%, Germany 5.1% More

What current events are happening in Argentina?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Argentina?

• More than 300,000 Jews reside in Buenos Aires. That gives the city the second largest Jewish population in the Americas, after New York.
• The soil brought down by the rivers flowing into the Río de la Plata has created landfill over the centuries that has allowed Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, to advance several miles into the large river mouth.
• The city of Buenos Aires is divided into barrios (districts or neighborhoods). Palermo is subdivided into several smaller unofficial districts, one of which is nicknamed Villa Freud because so many psychoanalysts and psychologists have offices there.
• The confiterias (cafes) of Buenos Aires have played an important role in social, business and cultural life for more than 150 years. A little piece of history, each cafe provides a unique glimpse into the cultural heritage of the city.
• Almost 3 million people live in Buenos Aires. If surrounding suburbs are included the number jumps to 13 million. A huge amount of people also commute to Buenos Aires every day.
• Argentinians celebrate a Day of Friendship or Friend's Day every July 20th. Although not an official holiday, many Argentines participate by going out, getting together and giving presents. The amount of calling and texting often leads to temporary breakdowns of the mobile network and people have to book seats in advance in restaurants, bars and pubs if they want to gather with friends.
• Ernesto Guevara, an Argentinian doctor, helped to lead a revolution in Cuba. His frequent use of the word "che", got him his nickname, Che Guevara.
• One of Argentina's greatest military leaders was General José Francisco de San Martín, a professional soldier who led an army across the Andes. This national hero helped lead the revolutions against Spanish rule in Argentina (1812), Chile (1818) and Perú (1821).
• German colonies are found in Santa Fe, Corrientes, Misiones, Cordoba, Neuquén and Buenos Aires.
• Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio is the only person in the world to win the Formula One Grand Prix automobile race five times: in 1951 and every year from 1954 to 1957.
• MERCOSUR, a South American free trade agreement signed by Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, was formed in 1991 to encourage trade among the four countries and allowed these countries to compete internationally.
• The National Foundation for the Arts has started a campaign to preserve and promote traditional Argentinian arts and crafts such as leather-working, horn-carving, silver-work, ceramics and weaving.
• Just before midnight on January 1st, many Argentinians flock to the streets to celebrate with neighbors. Kids light fireworks to ring in the New Year with a bang.
• Nobel Prizes have been awarded to five Argentinians: Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1936) and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (1980) for peace, Bernardo Houssay (1947) for medicine, Luis Federico Leloir (1970) for chemistry and César Milstein (1984) for biology.
• Argentina's most important Welsh colony was settled in the province of Chubut in 1865. For four generations settlers in this area still spoke Welsh, but the language is now dying out.
• Argentinians often pull on the earlobes of the birthday boy or girl--one pull for each year of their life.
• When girls turn fifteen they usually have a huge party where they dance the waltz with their father and other boys.
• The Argentine currency has changed twice since 1985. In 1985, it changed from the peso to the austral. In 1992, the government introduced the peso argentino.
• Argentina boasts both the highest and lowest elevations in the Western Hemisphere: Cerro Aconcagua is the tallest mountain (6960 m), while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point (-105 m).
• Sixty percent of Argentinians own their homes. They will often build additional rooms rather than move to a larger house.
• Llamas are important to the people of the Andes. Llamas are good at climbing mountains and the people use them to carry things. Llama wool makes warm blankets, ponchos and sweaters. Llama meat is used in many dishes in the Northern Andean region of Argentina.
• When many Argentine children lose a baby tooth, they will put it under their pillow at night. During the night, a little mouse called "El Raton Perez" will come and take the tooth and leave some coins.

What can you learn about Argentina in this video?

Buenos Aires, Argentina - A Survival Guide YouTube, Voluntario Global

What makes Argentina a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Argentina's cultural and culinary traditions, natural beauty and diversity, as well as its business opportunities attract several hundred thousand U.S. citizen visitors each year. Buenos Aires, other large cities, as well as some rural destinations, have well-developed tourist facilities and services, including many four- and five-star hotels. The quality of tourist facilities in smaller towns outside the capital varies.

Crime

Most U.S. citizens visit Argentina without incident. Nevertheless, street crime in the larger cities, especially greater Buenos Aires and Mendoza, is a problem for residents and visitors alike. As in any big city, visitors to Buenos Aires and popular tourist destinations should be alert to muggers, pickpockets, scam artists, and purse-snatchers on the street, in hotel lobbies, at bus and train stations, and in cruise ship ports. Be careful in San Telmo, an older traditional neighborhood specializing in antique stores, and La Boca neighborhood (home to the famous “Caminito” street and “Boca Juniors” soccer stadium) in Buenos Aires, where violent robberies have been occurring with increasing frequency. Tourists who go to La Boca should limit their visit to the designated tourist areas during daylight hours.

Criminals usually work in groups, and travelers should assume they are armed. Criminals employ a variety of ruses to distract and victimize unsuspecting visitors. Be suspicious of anyone who approaches you on the street. A common scam is to spray mustard or a similar substance on the tourist from a distance. A pickpocket will then approach the tourist offering to help clean the stain, and while doing so, he or an accomplice robs the victim. Another scam is to entice tourists into a bar known as a “wiskeria” with a flyer for a shopping discount or free show. Once inside, the victim is not allowed to leave until he or she pays an exorbitant amount for a drink. Thieves regularly nab unattended purses, backpacks, laptops, and luggage, and criminals will often distract visitors for a few seconds to steal valuables. While most U.S. citizens are not physically injured when robbed, criminals are known to use force when they encounter resistance, and there have been some violent and even fatal attacks on foreigners carrying valuables such as expensive cameras and equipment. Visitors are advised to immediately hand over all cash and valuables if confronted. Thieves may target visitors wearing expensive watches or jewelry, or carrying laptop computer cases. When staying in a hotel or apartment, it is a good precaution to call the front desk or security to identify uninvited individuals before giving them access.

Some travelers have received counterfeit currency in Argentina. Unscrupulous vendors and taxi drivers sometimes pretend to help tourists review their pesos, then trade bad bills for good ones. Characteristics of good currency can be reviewed at the Argentine Central Bank website.

Along with conventional muggings, "express kidnappings" occur. Victims are grabbed off the street based on their appearance and vulnerability. They are made to withdraw as much money as possible from ATM machines, and then their family or co-workers are contacted and told to deliver all the cash that they have on hand or can gather in a couple of hours. Once the ransom is paid, the victim is usually quickly released unharmed. There have been some foreign victims. Visitors are particularly advised not to let children and adolescents travel alone.

Travelers worldwide are advised to avoid packing valuables in their checked baggage. In Argentina, officials have publicly acknowledged the systematic theft of valuables and money from checked baggage at Buenos Aires airports. Authorities are working to resolve the problem and have made a number of arrests, but travelers should exercise continued care and caution.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Your passport is a valuable document and should be guarded. Passports and other valuables should be locked in a hotel safe, and a photocopy of your passport should be carried for identification purposes. The U.S. Embassy has observed an increase in reports of stolen passports.

Languages

Spanish is the official language of Argentina, however many people speak some English. German, French, and Italian are also widely spoken, as are several indigenous languages. Argentine Spanish also contains many distinct phrases and terms not used in other Spanish-speaking countries.

Safety and Security

Pedestrians and drivers should exercise caution, as drivers frequently ignore traffic laws and vehicles often travel at excessive speeds. The rate and toll of traffic accidents has been a topic of much local media attention.

The U.S. government is supportive of coordinated efforts by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to combat illegal activity in the tri-border region, where there is a long-standing pattern of trafficking of illicit goods. U.S. citizens crossing from Argentina into Paraguay or Brazil may wish to consult the most recent Country Specific Information for Brazil and Paraguay.

Demonstrations are common in metropolitan Buenos Aires and occur in other major cities as well. Protesters on occasion block streets, highways, and major intersections, causing traffic jams and delaying travel. While demonstrations are usually nonviolent, some individuals break from larger groups and sometimes seek confrontation with the police and vandalize private property. Groups occasionally protest in front of the U.S. Embassy and U.S.-affiliated businesses. U.S. citizens should take common-sense precautions and avoid gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to protest. Information about the location of possible demonstrations is available from a variety of sources, including the local media.

Domestic flight schedules can be unreliable. Occasional work stoppages, over-scheduling of flights, and technical problems can result in flight delays, cancellations, or missed connections. Consult local media or the airline company for information about possible strikes or slow-downs before planning travel within Argentina.

Public transportation is generally reliable and safe. The preferred option for travel within Buenos Aires and other major cities is by radio taxi or "remise" (private car with driver). The best way to obtain safe taxis and remises is to call for one or go to an established stand, rather than hailing one on the street. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses can order remises or radio taxis, or provide phone numbers for such services, upon request. Passengers on buses, trains, and the subway should be alert for pickpockets, especially during rush hours. Passengers should also be aware that these forms of transport are sometimes interrupted by strikes or work stoppages. Inter-urban passenger train service has been significantly replaced by bus and plane service as a feasible and reliable option for most travelers.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Argentina, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving in Argentina is generally more dangerous than driving in the United States. By comparison, drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations. U.S. driver's licenses are valid in the capital and the province of Buenos Aires, but Argentine or international licenses are required to drive in the rest of the country.

We suggest that you visit the websites of Argentina's national tourist office and national roadways office (available only in Spanish).