The Republic of Argentina is a country of South America. It is part of Latin America or Latin America. It is formally called the Republic of Argentina (Spanish: República Argentina,). For many legal purposes, the word is used Nación Argentina (Argentine Nation).
Bordered to the west and south by Chile, north by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north-east by Paraguay and Brazil, Uruguay and on the east by the Atlantic Ocean. More than a third of the population is concentrated in the capital Buenos Aires.
From the political point of view is a federal republic composed of 23 provinces (provincias) and one Federal District, whose powers are those of the Confederate States. Today, Argentina is a state with strong economic development. Its 40 million inhabitants enjoy a per capita income human development index, level of economic growth and quality of life that puts the nation as one of the most developed in Latin America. After the 2001 economic crisis economy and government have stabilized and Argentina, bolstered by a new period of growth, can again look to the future with hope.
The name "Argentina" comes from the Latin argentum (silver). When the first Spanish conquistadors discovered the Río de la Plata were astounded by her silver reflections and some rich finds (in Italian it means just Rio de la Plata River of Silver), and named the estuary Mar Dulce ('Sweet Sea') . Indigenous people gave gifts of silver to the survivors of a shipwreck led by Juan Diaz de Solis The legend of Sierra del Plata a mountain rich in silver - reached Spain around 1524, the name was in print for the first time on a map Venetian 1536. The source of the silver was the area which in 1546 was founded the city of Potosi An expedition that followed the path up the rivers Paraná and silver Plicomayo reached the source only to find it already claimed by explorers who had reached starting from Lima, the capital of the Viceroyalty.
The name Argentina began to be used extensively in the 1612 book Historia del Descubrimiento, Población y conquest of the Río de la Plata (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata) by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, in which the territory was named Tierra Argentina (Land of Silver). Today his name is governed by the Constitution, which Argentina in the first part of Article 35 explicitly states that: the names adopted after the installation of the first national government in 1810 as: Provincias Unidas del Rio de la Plata (United Provinces of the River 'Silver), Argentina, Switzerland and Argentina Country Argentina are all officially recognized for the name of the government and the territory of this state
The Argentina occupies an area of ​​2,766,890 km ² Continental, between the Andes mountains to the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean to the east and south. Area ranks second in South America and eighth in the world.
Key Features
The total area of ​​Argentina (not including the Antarctic claimed), is as follows:
Total: 2,766,890 sq km.
Land: 2,736,691 sq km.
Water: 30,200 sq km.
Argentina is nearly 3,700 km long from north to south and 1,400 km from east to west (maximum values). Can be roughly divided into four parts: the fertile plains of the Pampas in the center of the country, the source of Argentina's agricultural wealth; the plateau of Patagonia in the southern half down to Tierra del Fuego, the subtropical flats of the Gran Chauché to the north and the rugged Andes mountain along the western border with Chile
The highest point above sea level in the province of Mendoza with Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 meters, is the highest mountain in the Americas, the Southern and Western Hemisphere The lowest point is Laguna del Carbón in the Province of Santa Cruz, 105 meters below sea level This is also the lowest point of the South American continent. The geographic center of the country is located in the Province of La Pampa.
Argentina's territorial claims on a portion of Antarctica (Antarctica Argentina has not yet recognized by any nation), which maintains a constant presence since 1904.

Rivers and lakes
The main rivers of Argentina are: Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado, Uruguay and the largest of all, the Paraná. The latter two flow together before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, forming the estuary of the Río de la Plata. Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and San Francisco in the Province of Salta.
There are several large lakes in Argentina, many of which are in Patagonia. Among these are lakes Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi in Río Negro and Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Buenos Aires and Lake O'Higgins / San Martín are shared with Chile Mar Chiquita, is the largest saltwater lake in the country. There are numerous reservoirs created by dams. Argentina features various hot springs like the Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 30 ° C and 65 ° C.
Seas and coastal areas
Argentina has 4,665 km of coastline. The continental platform is unusually wide; in Argentina this shallow area of ​​the Atlantic is called Mar Argentino. The waters are rich in fish and is suspected to retain significant hydrocarbon resources Argentina's coastline varies between areas with sand dunes and cliffs. The two major ocean currents affecting the coast of Brazil are the current (hot) and the Falkland Current (Spanish: corriente Antártica, cold). Because of the variability of coastal ground, the two currents alternate in their influence on the climate and not allow temperatures to fall gradually with increasing latitude. The southern coast of Tierra del Fuego forms the north shore of the Beagle Channel.
Climate
Because the amplitude in latitude and in the reliefs, Argentina is subject to a variety of climates. Normally, the climate is predominantly temperate with extremes ranging from subtropical in the north to subpolar in the far south. The north is characterized by very hot and humid summers, mild winters and dry, and is subject to periodic drought. Central Argentina has hot summers with thunderstorms (in western Argentina, which produce some of the largest gradient of the planet), and cool winters. The southern regions have warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall, especially in mountainous areas. The higher areas, at all latitudes experience cooler conditions.
Both the maximum temperature that the lowest ever recorded in South America have occurred in Argentina. The record for the maximum temperature of 48.8 ° C was recorded in Rivadavia, Salta Province, on 11 December 1905La records lowest temperature was -32.7 ° C, recorded at Sarmiento, Chubut Province June 1, 1907.
 
The main winds in Argentina include the cool Pampero, blowing on the plains of Patagonia and the Pampas after a cold front, the Viento Norte a warm wind that can blow from the north in late winter, creating mild conditions, and The Zonda, a hot dry wind (see also Fohn), which influences the west-central Argentina. Squeezed of all moisture during the 6,000 meter descent from the Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to 120 km / h, fueling wildfires and causing damage. When the Zonda blows (June-November), snowstorms and blizzard (viento blanco) occur at high altitudes.
 
The Sudestada could be considered similar to Noreaster, though snowfall is rarely involved. Both are associated with a low pressure system in winter. The sudestada usually moderates cold temperatures but brings very heavy rains, rough seas and coastal flooding. Is more common in late autumn and winter along the coasts of Central and nell'esturaio del Rio de la Plata.

Time zone
The time difference between Argentina and Italy is less than 4 hours. (Less than 5 if Italy is in daylight saving time).
 
Papers
For a stay of up to three months, just a valid passport and not seen or vaccinations are needed.
Otherwise you must contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Argentina in Italy:
 
Rome - Via Veneto, 7 - Tel.: 06-42870023/42016021, Fax: 06-483586
E-mail: @ tiscalinet.it consolato.argentino Milan - Via Agnello, 2 - 4 floor - Milan (20,121) - Telephone: 02777294 1-02777294 20
cmila@mrecic.gov.ar
www.consuladoargentinomilano.com Getting there
To go to Argentina you can enjoy non-stop flight from Rome of the Company Aerolineas Argentinas (tel. 06/482961) with departures Sunday - Monday - Tuesday - Thursday at 20:40 arriving in Buenos Aires the following day at 07.00 am. Direct flights also depart from Rome Alitalia (06/65642) and KLM (06/6529286) via Amsterdam.
Italy, Argentina is more than 15,000 km: to get an idea of ​​the indicative duration of the trip, you can take that direct flight from Rome to Buenos Aires takes about 13 hours.
The price of the ticket may vary depending on the season and the U.S. dollar exchange. Aerolineas Argentinas
 
Rome - Buenos Aires
Milan - Buenos Aires
For information info@argentinaonline.it All international flights arrive in Buenos Aires (Ezeiza) International Airport "Ministro Pistarini" which is connected to the city, from which is 47 km, with public transport services.
Company Manuel Tienda León (Buenos Aires) Capital coach for every 30 'between 5:00 and 21.00, duration: about 40'. (Santa Fe 790 Tel: 4-3150489, Tel / Fax :4-3155115).
Radio Taxi at the airport: Tel: 4-9815440/4-5522939. Internal links
The great distances make the aircraft an indispensable means for travel within the country.
Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral, Dinar, Lapa and other private lines allow you to go anywhere, but most locations can be reached starting from the capital (airport Jorge Newbery 's "Aeroparque"), located north of the city (tel : 005411-47712071). The departure tax for domestic flights depending on the airports. And 'advisable during the summer months to book well in advance.
 
  
The website of the Secretaría de Turismo is visited at: www.turismo.gov.ar
The accommodation, from guesthouses to excellent, is easy except in the parks of southern Patagonia, where in high season the hotels must be booked well in advance.
 
The current Argentine currency is the weight, until December of 2001 was equivalent to the U.S. dollar, however, you can always use, traveler's checks and credit cards are well accepted all over the country.
Tax Free: Buying of Argentine products at the time of departure can have a reinstatement of VAT (21%) for every invoice that exceeds $ 200 U.S. Customs showing the purchases and the original invoice.
The new law amending Article 43 of the law 'states that the tourist tax is returned to duty on the goods produced in the country and transferred to the' foreign and hotel services.
Therefore, the tourists will be entitled to reinstatement of VAT for choosing a tourist center located in one of the provinces bordering foreign countries like Catamarca, Formosa, Entre Rios, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Misiones, Corrientes, Salta, La Rioja, Chubut, Jujuy, Rio Negro, Neuquen, Mendoza and Chaco.
The lower limit to take advantage of this benefit is at least $ 70 per invoice, and thus may be interested in small and medium traders reimbursement scheme.
The refund will be made by branches of the Banco de la Nacion Argentina in: International Airport of Ezeiza, Aeroparque, Port of Buenos Aires.
Public phones operate with cards and chips (cospeles) that can be bought from newsagents and the telephone companies' offices. There are public phones with payment in cash (in Corrientes in Buenos Aires San Martin 707 and 640 are both open 24 hours out of 24). There is a reduced rate between 22.00 and 08.00.
And 'possible to make phone calls charged to the recipient by calling the No. 170 from Italy and Argentina, only from private phones, the No. 080053900.
The phones in Europe are not used in Argentina is different in that the frequency (1,900 MHz). Some can be changed temporarily, but only for communications within the country. To communicate with Europe must be in possession of a satellite. For the rental of mobile phones you can go to Buenos Aires to Miniphone (tel: 011/43299999) and Skytel (tel: 011/43489000).
 
End The easternmost point of Argentina Continental is located north east of the town of Bernardo Irigoyen Misiones province, the westernmost point of the chain and Mariano Moreno in Santa Cruz province. The northernmost point is at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and Mojinete, province of Jujuy, while the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra del Fuego.
 
Population
The population is mostly of European origin (mainly Italian or Spanish ancestry). We remember that until about the mid nineteenth century the indigenous component, consisting of a dozen major ethnic groups ameriade, and mestizo, fruit of the union of these with the Spanish conquerors (from which comes the so-called gauchos), also had a significant demographic though difficult to quantify. Already with the first census of 1869, however, was recorded in the country, the presence of many foreign residents, the vast majority of Europeans on just over 1,830,000 inhabitants, the natives do not represent more than 12% of the total population (210,000 including some well- 71,000 Italians).
 
In the seventies of the nineteenth century began a massive immigration from Europe that lasted until the eve of World War I (1914). It revived later in the twenties of the twentieth century, but lost force in the next decade. The last great wave of immigration is recorded from 1945 and lasted until the early sixties of the twentieth century between 1869 and 1971 are entered in Argentina over a total of 9,000,000 immigrants, the vast majority of Europe and between them nearly 3,500. 000 of Italian (but also many Spaniards, and to a lesser number, the French Swiss German, ploacchi, English, etc..). While considering the seasonal migration, especially important during the last decades of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and many falls, this figure seems staggering. Argentina is undoubtedly the country in the world that has welcomed more immigrants after the U.S. However, taking into account the sparse population in the country on the eve of the development of immigration, we can certainly say that it has assumed, for Argentina, an importance far greater than that received for the United States.
 
In recent decades, immigration from Europe has ceased almost entirely, replaced by the proceeds from neighboring countries (Bolivia and Paraguay in particular) located mostly in the northern provinces of the country. Since the seventies of the twentieth century began a consistent stream of emigration from Argentina, directed mainly to Europe and the United States, and consisting mainly of technicians and professionals.
 
Demography
The National Institute of Statistics and Census of Argentina (INDEC) showed that the population of Argentina is 40,134,425 inhabitants in the estimate made in June 2008. Argentina is ranked third in South America, and thirtieth in the world. The density of the population of Argentina is 14 inhabitants per square kilometer. The population is not evenly distributed: areas of the city of Buenos Aires has a population density of more than 14,000 inhabitants / km ², while Santa Cruz is a province that has less: 1 inhabitants / km ². Argentina is the only nation in South America with a positive migration rate, approximately +0.4%.