Argentina

1. Argentina By: Jamie Foote

2. "Land of ice and fire" Argentina is a land of extremes, its hectic urban centres contrasting with a staggeringly remote hinterland, and can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another. The one common thread is that the people possess a curiosity, passion, and fervour for life, most visible when it comes to football, the national obsession. Evita, the Tango, gauchos and estancias are the country's clichéd attractions, but what strikes visitors most is that life here is for living - the fast pace only letting up for the afternoon siesta. Referred to as a grimy Paris, Buenos Aires is a sophisticated capital brimming with character and an excellent spot for shopping and watching the world go by - whether it's pedestrians strolling or motorists driving at break-neck speed.

3. History and Culture Argentina's culture has been greatly affected by its immigrant population, mostly European. Their influence contributed to the demise of pre-Columbian cultures, resulting in the lack of a dominant indigenous population. The European immigrant groups each adopted different roles. The Basque and Irish controlled sheep rearing, the Germans and Italians established farms, and the British invested in developing the country's infra- structure. First explored in 1516 by Juan Díaz de Solis, Argentina developed slowly under Spanish colonial rule. Buenos Aires was settled in 1580; the cattle industry was thriving as early as 1600. Invading British forces were expelled in 1806–1807, and after Napoléon conquered Spain (1808), the Argentinians set up their own government in 1810. On July 9, 1816, independence was formally declared.

4. Location Comprising almost the entire southern half of South America, Argentina is the world's eighth largest country, covering an area of 2.8 million square km. Argentina possesses some of the world's tallest mountains, expansive deserts, and impressive waterfalls, with the diversity of the land ranging from wild, remote areas in southern Patagonia to the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires in the north.

5. Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi:The main feature of the park is Lago Nahuel Huapi, a 100 km long lake formed by the Pleistocene glaciers, possessing a single narrow island at its centre. Isla Victoria as it is now known, is notable for its rare species of trees and for a number of exotic animals, including the pudu and the huemul, both rare indigenous deer. The most unique and wild tour ATAC offers. Combines rafting, horseback riding with Patagonia Cowboys, hiking and fly fishing on a remote east-to-west journey across the Andes. Perfect for those seeking adventure and the real Andean culture. A journey through true wilderness -- NO ROADS. Things to do...

6. Mesopotamia & the NortheastMesopotamia, a broad, flat plain between the Parana and Uraguay Rivers in northern Argentina, is wet, swampy and extremely hot during the summer. The northern province of Misiones, a more mountainous region nearly enclosed by Brazil and Paraguay, is densely forested and contains a section of the majestic Iguazu Falls. The ChacoThis parched area in the west is part of the enormous Gran Chaco, a region that Argentina shares with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. The Chaco contains both grassland and thorny forest. Tierra del FuegoThe Land of Fire is actually an archipelago including the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (which Argentina shares with neighbouring Chile) and numerous smaller islands. Northern Isla Grande is similar in terrain to Patagonia's plains, while the mountainous area in the south is filled with forests and glaciers. Its climate is usually mild year-round, although storms are frequent. ...Places to See

7. Hotels to Stay in... When you step into the Art Hotel, located where the tony barrios of Recoleta and Barrio Norte intersect—you might feel as if you've wandered into an art gallery. As it turns out, you have: The ground-floor lobby of this smart, Euro-style "hotel de chârme" doubles as a gallery space devoted to contemporary painting and photography, and the entire space—a radiantly revamped 100-year-old townhouse with 36 well-appointed rooms—suggests that great care has been taken with every aesthetic decision. Highlights include the elegant, twisting marble staircase; the assorted curlicued ironwork; and the rooms themselves, with their canopy beds and refined, minimalist furnishings.

8. At the Alvear Palace, widely considered the top hotel in South America—it's still possible to feel as rich, as they used to say, as an Argentine. The colossal neoclassical chateau, which dominates a gilded swath of Recoleta studded with Cartier, Polo and Zegna outposts, has been the focus of Buenos Aires high society ever since its polished brass doors opened in 1932. These days, the grande dame remains in exceptional form, from the attentive bilingual butlers to the opulent suites full of Louis XV-style furniture to the cool Breccia marble of the magnificent Lobby Bar, where the local upper crust and visiting sultans gather for cocktails, gossip and political intrigue. The Alvear's top-notch French restaurant, La Bourgogne, is the country's only Relais Gourmand establishment.

9. Try Our Food! Food Argentines can't get enough beef. While exporting some of the finest meat in the world, they still manage to keep most of this national treasure at home to please natives and visitors alike. The Argentine social venue of choice is the asado (barbecue), which includes prime ribs, pork, chicken, sausages, sweetbreads, kidneys...the list goes on. You can also enjoy this tradition while eating out; many restaurants are called parrillas, with open-air grills and, occasionally, large spits over a roaring fire. For the full experience, ask for the parrillada mixta (mixed grill), which includes many of the items mentioned above. Argentina offers some great alternatives to the strict red-meat diet. One of the imprints Italians have left on Argentine culture is a plethora of pasta dishes, pizzas, and even helado (ice cream) reminiscent of Italian gelato. In addition, ethnic restaurants are springing up throughout Buenos Aires. If you're just looking for a snack, try an empanada. These turnover pastries vary a bit by region, and can be filled with minced meat, chicken, vegetables, or corn. Wine Argentina boasts a few excellent wine-growing regions; the best known is Mendoza, but Salta and La Rioja also produce impressive vintages. Malbec is the best Argentine red wine. Torrontes, a dry white wine, has won various international competitions as well.

10. Works Cited • http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pasqualinonet.com.ar/Argentina • http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ar.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina • http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=84446&section=localnews Home Page