Argentina covers almost the entire southern half of the continent of South America. It is the world's eighth largest country and offers cosmopolitan cities and natural marvels. This vast country lies between the vast south Atlantic Ocean and the mighty Andes mountains. Argentina is so geographically diverse it includes an incredible variety of landscapes and environments. Argentina’s terrain includes rainforests and grasslands in the sub-tropical north, Andean salt flats, a spectacular Lake District, snow-capped mountains in the far south, fertile farmlands in Patagonia and beautiful countryside in the central Pampas region.
Buenos Aires
The beautiful, vibrant, exciting city of Buenos Aires is in Central Argentina. Buenos Aires is surprisingly European with an undeniably South American flavour.
Cuyo & North West Andes
This area surrounding the Andes began as a colony of Peru, but today only a few miners and herders occupy this unforgiving region of volcanic peaks and salt lakes. Very little rain falls in Cuyo, though to the east are found the fertile river valleys and subtropical lowlands of the Gran Chaco.
Mesopotamia & the Northeast
Mesopotamia is a broad, flat plain between the Parana and Uraguay Rivers in northern Argentina. This area is wet, swampy and becomes extremely hot during the summer. The northern province of Misiones, a more mountainous region is densely forested and contains a section of the majestic Iguazu Falls.
The Chaco
This area is in the west and is part of the enormous Gran Chaco which contains both grassland and thorny forest.
The Pampas
This area contains fertile plains, Buenos Aires and as the top class beaches.
Patagonia and the Lake District
The Patagonia region lies in the south of Argentina and extends across the border into Chile. This is a beautiful, wild region of plateaus, canyons and enormous glaciers. Patagonia holds vast reserves of oil and coal and experiences a desert climate with temperatures ranging from mild to subzero. The terrain includes river valleys and the gigantic, ice-capped mountains of the southern Andes. Cool grazing grounds are dotted with enormous flocks of sheep and fruit and vegetables are grown in the valleys.
Tierra del Fuego
This is an archipelago located off the southern tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. Cape Horn is at the southern point of the archipelago. The eastern part of the archipelago belongs to Argentina. The climate in this region is very inhospitable with short, cool summers and long, wet, moderate winters. Temperatures are steady throughout the year: |
