Traveler, tourist, businessman or potential immigrant, everyone will be touched by Spanish in Argentina if they are going there. Only it will not be completely Spanish, or more precisely, not Spanish at all, but we will talk about this in more detail.

It is well known that Argentines are unusually talkative and sociable, they themselves try to talk to a stranger everywhere: in the store, at the ice cream kiosk, and even at the currency exchange, the cashier can start asking you about the most different things that have nothing to do with the exchange of money. So what is the language in Argentina? What dictionaries and phrasebooks will we need to communicate with the local population in order to feel comfortable?

When the first streams of immigrants appeared on the territory of the country, they spoke to each other in cocolich, which is an Italian-Spanish pidgin. This was due to the fact that a large mass of illiterate poor Italians arrived in the country, who did not know Spanish, but actively communicated with the local Creole population. Such a stormy interaction of peoples gave rise to a mixture of Italian with Spanish and its dialects, which was called Cocoliche.

Now no one speaks Kokolich, but it continues to be used from time to time in theatrical performances Argentine Opera House on a theme historical events and past times. True, they do not take this language seriously and always use it in a humorous form, as does, for example, the actor Dario Vittori.

And in modern speech, only a small number of words and expressions from the previously main dialect, which was used by everyone, remained. The bulk of the expressive words from Kokoliche passed into the Lunfardo dialect.

Official language

Most of the people in this country communicate in Spanish, although locals prefer to call it Castilian Spanish, which is due to the fact that this dialect was spoken by the first settlers in the country who arrived from Castile. The official language of Argentina is Spanish.

If we consider the country as a whole, then there are more than 40 languages ​​and dialects in it, not counting European languages, which also continue to exist and be used on a par with Spanish.

Italian is the second most important and popular language in Argentina. More than 1.5 million people use it daily, although it is only slightly inferior in popularity to German.

The former Germans created a unique dialect in their new homeland, combining elements of Spanish and German, which they called Belgranodeutsch. It got its name from the place of residence of the main colony of German immigrants - Belgrano, one of the districts of the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. This language variant can, figuratively speaking, be compared with a cake from German morphology stuffed with a lot of roots of Spanish origin instead of raisins.

More than 60,000 Chinese migrants in Argentina continue to use Chinese, the bulk of them living in Buenos Aires.

We should also mention the speech variant, also called Syriac Arabic, which is spoken by about 1 million people from Syria, Palestine and Lebanon.

It would seem that English may be the official language in this country, but it is curious that it is not popular in Argentina, so people who are used to being understood in any country in the world, if they know English, will find themselves in an unusual situation here . But they will be able to communicate in their native languages, including Welsh, which is spoken by more than 200,000 people in the country.

Before, even before the seizure of Argentine lands by the Spaniards, the official languages ​​in the country could be Guarani and Quechua, which are currently used by no more than 1 million former descendants Indians, although the Quechua language was once used as the state language by the Incas in their empire, who called themselves capac-kuna, or great ones.

But today, the indigenous Indian languages ​​have almost completely disappeared from the modern lexicon of the Argentines, for example, the dialects of Abilon and Chane no longer exist in colloquial speech. No more than 500 people use the Kaiva dialect, and there are only a few people who know and own the vilela vocabulary.

Language dialects

Argentine Spanish contains such a huge amount of Italian words that not everyone who speaks the Spanish official language is able to understand local resident. Neighborhood with the Brazilian population left its mark on phonetics local dialect, where instead of the sound [th], the inhabitants of Argentina pronounce [zh]. The same neighborhood slightly distorted the grammar of the language.

Separately, it is necessary to mention the Lunfardo (or Lunfardo) dialect, in which only thieves and prostitutes previously expressed their thoughts. It is an analogue of the Russian thieves' jargon, called botat after the hair dryer. Nowadays, this slang or jargon is rapidly taking over everything social circles society, thanks to the music and words to which they dance tango. Lunfardo includes isolated words from Italian and Portuguese, diluted with French words and some expressions from aboriginal languages, such as Quechua, which the local indigenous people still use in remote parts of the country.

However, in everyday life it is considered indecent to use this dialect and it is recommended to use a variety of Spanish called Casteljano, which is broadcast in radio broadcasts and printed periodicals are published along with the Castilian dialect.

Casteljano is an intricate pattern that intertwines Italian and Spanish, which somehow subtly resembles the Neapolitan dialect.

One of the amusing features of the Argentinean language is the use of the interjection "Che!" when addressing a person. Something like our "Hey!" or "Listen!". Everyone remembers Ernesto Che Guevara, who was from these places, but not everyone knows that Ernesto Guevara got the prefix “Che” to his name precisely because he constantly used this word in any conversation.

Russian in Argentina

Several hundred thousand Russians living in the country continue to use the Russian language along with the Spanish dialects that they have already mastered or are currently studying. Some immigrants from Russia, sharing their impressions of how they began to learn Spanish, which they did not know before, from scratch on the spot, memorizing entire fairy tales or poems by heart after their first job as a loader or seller, note that today their children do not want to speak Russian , and parents have to force them to learn fairy tales in Russian by heart. But with Spanish, children do not experience any difficulties in communicating.

The main recommendation for all beginners: do not be afraid to speak Spanish in Argentina, let them correct you, let them laugh at you, so you will learn faster. It takes a lot of work and a lot of communication. Spanish dialect will be different for every Argentine you meet: for visitors from the province of Misiones, for example, it will be somewhat similar to Paraguayan, for those from the west - to Chilean, from the northeast - to Brazilian, for those who came from the provinces bordering Bolivia, the speech has its own accent. The main thing is to be ready for this and not be afraid of difficulties.

It should be noted that in addition to Russian-speaking immigrants, who retain the Russian language in everyday communication, there is another part of the population that continues to communicate in Ukrainian, as well as Polish, Armenian and Bulgarian.

Spanish in Argentina - official language. Communicate on it - everyone will understand you.

Argentina (country) Argentina(Argentina), Argentine Republic (Republica Argentina).

I. General information

A. - the second (after Brazil) in terms of territory and population, the state of South. America. It occupies the southeastern part of the mainland Yuzh. America, the eastern part of about. Tierra del Fuego and the nearby islands of Estados and others. It borders on the west with Chile, on the north and northeast. with Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay. On the east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The area is 2.8 million km 2 (without the Falkland, or Malvinas, islands - a territory disputed between A. and Great Britain). Population 23.6 million people (1968, est.). The capital is Buenos Aires.

Administratively, Armenia is divided (1969) into 22 provinces, the territory of Tierra del Fuego, and the Federal (capital) district (see Table 1). The official calendar is the Gregorian (cf. Calendar).

II. Political system

A. is a federal republic. The constitution was adopted in 1853, the 1949 constitution was in force in 1949-57, and the 1853 constitution was restored in 1957. Since June 1966, after the military coup and the adoption of the so-called revolutionary statute, the constitution has practically ceased to operate.

According to the constitution, the head of state and government is the president, elected by the population for 6 years by indirect elections (without the right to re-election for another term). The President concentrates in his hands great power, being also the commander-in-chief, and enjoys broad legislative powers. He is given full political power and it is indicated that henceforth he will be appointed by agreement between the commanders-in-chief of the branches of the armed forces. The National Congress (Parliament) was abolished and dissolved in 1966 (instead of it, the creation of permanent and temporary bodies of an advisory nature is envisaged), the electoral law was abolished and all political parties prohibited. The government of A. consists of ministers and state secretaries appointed by the president. The corresponding secretariats are subordinated to the ministries.

Tab. 1. ‒ Administrative division

Administrative divisions

Area, thousand km 2

Population, thousand people (1965, estimate)

Administrative center

Federal (metropolitan) district (Distrito Federal)

Provinces:

Catamarca

Cordova

Rio Negro

Salta

San Luis

Santa Cruz

Santa Fe

San Juan

Chaco

Salta

San Luis

Rio Gallegos

Santa Fe

San Juan

Santiago del Estero

Tucuman

Tab. 4. ‒ Area and collection of major crops

Area, thousand ha

Barley

The main industry is the breeding of cattle for meat (70% of the livestock). 4/5 of the cattle population is in Pampas. Annual slaughter is 10–12 million heads. Dairy farming is developed only near large cities. Another important branch of animal husbandry is sheep breeding. In terms of wool shearing (up to 200 thousand tons per year) and its export (100 – 150 thousand tons) A. occupies one of the first places in the world. 4/5 of the sheep population is concentrated in Yuzh. Pampas and Patagonia.

After the 2nd World War there was a tendency to increase specific gravity crop production, mainly at the expense of industrial crops. Nevertheless, grain farming remains the leading branch of crop production (providing over 1/3 of the value of its products). The area and collection of the main page - x. cultures, see table. four.

The main grain crop is wheat, in terms of the collection and export of which (3-4 million tons per year) Armenia retains one of the first places in the world. It also occupies one of the leading positions in the production (up to 8 million tons) and export (4-5 million tons) of fodder grain (corn, barley, oats). The cultivation of oilseeds is also of export importance: flax, sunflower. Cereals and oilseeds are grown in Pampa, and large areas are also occupied there by fodder grasses, mainly alfalfa. Crop production in other regions provides mainly for the domestic market; in the north, the main crops are sugar cane, cotton, tobacco, rice, yerba mate (Paraguayan tea), and tea; in the west, in the valleys of the Rio Negro and Rio Colorado rivers, horticulture and viticulture are developed.

The total area under forests (according to the UN) is 70 million hectares (1/4 of the country's territory). The main logging areas are: Mesopotamia, where coniferous forests are widespread (araucaria are especially valuable), and Gran Chaco with dry tropical woodland, among the species of which importance has a quebracho used to make a tanning extract. A. is the main supplier of tanning extract to the world market (its production has declined sharply due to competition from other types of extract and the spread of leather substitutes). In the coastal waters and rivers of the Parana and Uruguay, fishing (241,000 tons in 1967).

Industry. 95% of the value of industrial output falls on the manufacturing industry. The leading branches of agricultural processing remain. raw materials, although they are in a state of stagnation. After World War II, mechanical engineering, petrochemistry and oil refining, and ferrous metallurgy were developed. Heavy industry provides more than 1/3 of industrial output; however, it does not produce the most important and complex means of production; many of its branches are under the control of foreign capital: the USA (mining, engineering, meat packing); Italy (automobile industry, tractor industry): Germany (chemical, ferrous metallurgy, automotive industry), etc. New enterprises are equipped mainly with imported equipment, which makes the Argentine industry dependent on the import of spare parts. Small enterprises predominate; most of the large enterprises are owned by foreign monopolies.

Argentine scientists have also achieved notable successes in areas of science and technology that are new to Argentina: the country is conducting research into the mesostratosphere (jointly with the United States and Brazil), in the construction of solid-fuel rocket engines, and in problems of using atomic energy (there are four atomic reactor), on protection against atomic radiation, on the problems of organ transplantation (heart and liver transplant operations were performed). A. participates in the study of Antarctica and the South Pole.

G. Ya. Rosen.

2. Social sciences

Philosophy. The beginning of philosophical thought in Azerbaijan was laid by scholastic philosophy, which penetrated here during the period of colonization of the country (16th–early 17th centuries) from the metropolis, Spain. At the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries. the ideas of French materialism, propagated by M. Belgrano, I. Vieytes, J. C. Lafinour, M. Moreno, J. M. Fernandez de Aguero, and others, are spreading; Saint-Simonism (E. Echeverria, who laid the foundations of Argentine sociological thought, and others) enjoyed considerable influence. In 1838, the Young Argentina organization arose with the aim of reorganizing society on the basis of the principles of utopian socialism. In the 40‒80s. the progressive ideas of J. B. Alberdi and D. F. Sarmiento are spreading. From the 70s. 19th century positivism becomes a fashionable philosophical trend, which by the beginning of the 20th century. took a dominant position (A. Bassi, V. Mercante, P. Scalabrini, J. A. Ferreira, J. B. Justo, L. Herrera, M. Herrera). With the development of science in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. the ideas of natural-scientific materialism (F. Ameghino, J. Ingeneros) spread in Azerbaijan. At the same time appear sociological works P. Grusana, J. Ingeneros and others.

At the beginning of the 20th century Western European idealistic currents are becoming popular in Azerbaijan: neo-kantianism(A. Korn, R. Rivarolo), neo-Thomism(O. N. Derisi, T. D. Kasones, I. Kiles, H. R. Sepich and others) and subsequently existentialism(K. Astrada, V. Fatone). A position close to Christian spiritualism is occupied by A. Rouches, theistic metaphysics French philosopher M. Blondel is developed by A. Vassaglio; enjoys popularity among the Argentine intelligentsia philosophy of life(F. Romero), formed under the influence phenomenology and philosophical anthropology.

Marxist ideas began to penetrate into Armenia at the end of the 19th century, but Marxism did not become widespread until after the creation of the Communist Party of Armenia (CPA) in 1918. Big role The printed organs of the CPA played a role in working out the main questions of communist ideology. The propagandists of Marxist ideas are R. Ghioldi, V. Codovilla, A. Kuhn, A. Lalman, E. Muller, A. Ponce; theoretical questions arts are reflected in the works of Marxist researchers E. Agosti and A. Ponce.

The most important centers of philosophical science are the Institute of Philosophy in Cordoba (founded in 1934), the Argentine Institute of Social and Legal Philosophy in Buenos Aires (founded in 1938), and the Institute of Philosophy in Mendoza (founded in 1943). Particular attention is paid to sociological problems that are being developed at the National Academy of Law and Social Sciences, the Institute of Sociology (founded in 1942), the Institute of Applied Sociology (founded in 1960), and the Center for Comparative Sociology. In 1949 the First National Philosophical Congress took place.

Philosophical journals are published: Cuadernos de cultural (since 1950), Revista de filosofia (since 1950), Sapientia (since 1946), Criterio (since 1928) and others.

A. V. Deriugina.

Justo). Historians of this trend proposed an evolutionary cooperative reorganization of social life within the framework of the bourgeois system as a means of resolving class contradictions. In the 20‒40s. 20th century the reactionary direction of biological determinism, whose supporters consider violence the main engine of history (L. Ayaragarai, K. Ibarguren), has intensified. The historical works of representatives of this trend are based on an apology for reactionary dictatorships, disregard for the history of the masses, falsification of the history of the workers' and communist movement. After World War II (1939–45), under the conditions of the intensification of the class struggle and the upsurge of the working-class movement, reactionary historians (E. Gandia, E. Palacio, and others) came up with a “new” historical concept whose task is to revise and modernize the history of Armenia in order to justify the rule of the exploiting classes and to instill in the masses the spirit of nationalism. This trend is known in historiography as the school of historical revisionism. In the most distorted light, this school seeks to present the history of the labor movement.

From the 40s. 20th century The Marxist trend (B. Marianetti, L. Paso, R. Iscaro, A. Ferrari, and F. Nadra) is gaining more and more importance in the historiography of architecture. In the works of progressive Argentine historians, questions of Argentine history are studied on the basis of an analysis of the country's socioeconomic development and the class struggle. Important centers for research on history and the concentration of historical documents are the National Library (founded in 1810), National Archives(founded in 1821), the National Museum of History (founded in 1889) and in particular the National Academy of History (1893). Useful research is being conducted by historians and sociologists of the liberal-democratic trends at the Institute. Sarmiento (founded in 1911) and the Institute of Sociology (founded in 1942).

Materials on history are published in the journal: "Boletin dela Academia Nacional ae la historian" (since 1924), "Revista del Museo Mitre" (since 1948), as well as in the monthly socio-political and theoretical journal of the CPA "Nueva Era" (since 1949) .

V. I. Ermolaev.

Economic science. The formation of the economic thought of Armenia dates back to the first quarter of the 19th century, when the country's independence was won. Later, however, due to the growing influence of foreign monopolies in Azerbaijan, economic science did not receive sufficient development. The intensified movement against the dominance of foreign capital at the beginning of the 20th century. contributed to the intensive growth of economic science. The main attention of Argentinean economists is aimed at solving the problems of the country's economic independence and strengthening the pace of economic development. Biggest Influence uses an anti-imperialist direction (R. Prebisch,R. Frigerio and others), who support the "theory of economic growth". Its main provisions are: carrying out industrialization, strengthening state intervention in the economy, limiting the attraction of foreign capital, stimulating national capital, etc. At the same time, social reforms are supposed to be carried out while maintaining the foundations of private property.

Agrarian problems occupy a large place in economic research; the production of machinery while maintaining the use of landlords, allowing only a partial redemption of land from the landowners. Progressive economists (P. Alberdi, H. Fuchs, and others) believe that the solution to the problem lies in the elimination of landlord latifundia. Attempts to work out the most effective path for the development of the country's economy led to a detailed study of its economic history (A. Bunhe, R. Ortiz, A. Ferrari, and others). Due to the fact that foreign capital plays an important role in the country's economy, much attention is paid to research into the problems of foreign trade, finance, credit, etc.

Marxist ideas and the publication of the works of V. I. Lenin in the first half of the 20th century had a great influence on the development of economic science in Armenia. Argentine Marxist economists (in particular, P. Alberdi, J. Fuchs, M. Isakovich, R. Olivari, B. Marianetti, M. Lebedinsky, E. Agosti) in their works reveal the causes economic backwardness A. and outline ways to overcome it.

In 1914, the Academy of Economic Sciences was formed in Argentina, which publishes the scientific journal Anales (since 1916) and others. and propaganda activities. In connection with the intensified in Lat. In America, integration trends (the formation of new types of capitalist interstate associations) in Azerbaijan created the Institute for Problems of Integration in Latvia in 1965. America. There are also the Institute of Economic and social studies them. A. Bunhe, American Institute for Economic, Legal and Social Research, Institute for Economic and Social Development. At large private companies, there are economic centers for studying market conditions, the dynamics of supply and demand, and other problems.

The largest economic journals: "Problemas de economíа" (since 1962), "Revista de Ciencias Economicas" (since 1948), "Revista de economía argentina" (since 1918). Argentina occupies a leading position among the Latin American countries in terms of the volume of published economic literature.

N. E. Pitovranov.

3. Scientific institutions

The first scientific institutions arose in Azerbaijan in the 19th century, when a number of academies were created that brought together small groups of scientists (usually 20–30 people) who worked in individual branches of science. In 1968 there were 13 such academies in Azerbaijan. part 11 in Buenos Aires - the National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (founded in 1874), the National Academy of Law and Social Sciences (founded in 1874), the Argentine Academy of Letters (founded in 1931), the Academy of Fine Arts (founded in 1936 ), National Academy of Sciences of Buenos Aires (founded in 1937), National Academy of Sciences geographical sciences(founded in 1956), the Academy of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, etc., and 2 in Cordoba - the National Academy of Sciences (founded in 1868) and the National Academy of Law and Social Sciences (founded in 1941). In addition to academies, there are 30 research institutes and over 130 scientific societies in the largest cities of the country.

V. Z. Klepikov.

Babini J., La ciencia en la Argentina, B. Aires, ; his own, Historia de la ciencia argentina. Mex.‒B. Aires, 1949; World directory of national science policymaking bodies, v. 3, Latin American, ; Ibanez J. C., Historia de la cultura argentina, 2 ed., B. Aires, ; History of Philosophy, vol. 4, M., 1959, ch. 6, §3; vol. 5, M., 1961, ch. 20, § 5; Modern philosophy and sociology in the countries of Western Europe and America, M., 1964; Perelstein B., Positivismo y antipositivismo en la Argentina, B. Aires, 1952; Orgaz Raul A., Obras completas, t. 2 ‒ Sociologia argentina, Cordova, 1950; Ingenier's J., La evolución de las ideas argentinas, v. 1–2, B. Aires, 1951; Historiography of the New Time of the Countries of Europe and America, M., 1967, ch. 16; Alberdi P. G., Crisis of the Argentine economy, trans. from Spanish, M., 1950; Gordon Wendell C., The political economy of Latin America, N. Y.‒L., 1965; Prebisch R., The economic development of Latin America and its principal problems, N. Y., 1950.

Argentina (Spanish Argentina), the official name is the Argentine Republic (Spanish Republica Argentina) is the second (after Brazil) in terms of territory and the third (after Brazil and Colombia) in terms of population of the state of South America. In terms of area (2780.4 thousand sq. km), it is second only to Brazil. In the north and northeast it borders on Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, in the east on Uruguay, in the south and west on Chile; her eastern shores washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, far south- Subantarctic waters. is the currency of the state of Argentina. Administratively, it is divided into 23 provinces and the Federal (Capital) District, which is entirely occupied by the capital of the country - Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires - the capital of Argentina - is the largest transport hub and the seaport of the country, the cargo turnover of which is 20 million tons per year. The population of the city is 3 million inhabitants, and with the suburbs - 11.8 million inhabitants. The total area is 3,885 km2. Wide boulevards and elegant open squares create a feeling of spaciousness in the Argentine capital, whose name means "Good Winds". The city, located on the west bank of the Río de la Plata, was founded in 1580 by a Spaniard named Juan de Garay after an unsuccessful attempt to establish a settlement here 44 years earlier. In 1776, Buenos Aires was appointed the capital of the Viceroyalty of La Plata, as the city had by then become a major port for agricultural trade. By 1810, when Argentina declared independence from Spain, Buenos Aires had become a prosperous city with a rapidly growing population. In 1880, the city became the official capital of the Republic of Argentina. Many European immigrants flocked here - mainly from Spain - which left their mark on today's diversity ethnic composition the population of the city.

The great Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges once said that Buenos Aires is as eternal for him as air and water. For many Argentines, the capital and the country are inseparable. In fact, 40% of the country's population lives in Buenos Aires and its suburbs. The city is located in the Federal Capital District, and not in the province of Buenos Aires, as many people think. The compact and largely orderly city center is somewhat reminiscent of Paris, but the wide, shady avenues and multiple squares give Buenos Aires its own unique grace and elegance.
The heart of the city is considered to be the Plaza de Mayo, the traditional center of the active life of the citizens. The nearby 9th of July Avenue is known as the world's largest shopping district and a nightmare for pedestrians. Santa Fe Avenue is the district of the most fashionable shops.
There is something to see in Buenos Aires: the Metropolitana, which houses the tomb of José da San Martin, national hero countries during the struggle for independence; and the famous Teatro Colon, the center of opera and ballet throughout South America. Be sure to visit the museums of the Argentine capital: the National Museum of Art, the Museum of Cinema, the National Historical Museum. Of particular interest is the colorful Italian suburb of Buenos Aires - La Boca.
Buenos Aires - the birthplace of tango - is famous for its numerous jazz clubs, art galleries, cinemas and coffee houses.
The city has several universities, the Academy of Sciences of Argentina, the National Historical Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and others.
Buenos Aires is the main industrial center of Argentina. More than 50% (by value) of industrial output of the entire country is produced here. Developed industries such as machine-building, oil refining, chemical, light, food and others. The city has a subway. Ezeiza International Airport is also located here.

How to get there There are no direct flights from Russia to Argentina yet. You can get there by making a transfer at the airport of one of the Western European countries. All planes arrive at the only international airport located 47 km from Buenos Aires (Ministro Pistarini). To travel within the country, tourists use the services of local airlines, railway or by car. All intercity buses are equipped with dry closets and air conditioning.

Visa, entry and customs regulations Russian citizens can stay in Argentina for 90 days without obtaining a visa. To enter the country, you must have a valid passport, return tickets and sufficient funds for the entire stay.
It is allowed to import duty-free up to 2 liters of spirits, up to 400 cigarettes, as well as gifts in the amount not exceeding 300 US dollars into the territory of Argentina. The import of firearms into the territory of the state is possible only with a special permit from the relevant structures.
Without a permit, objects of historical or artistic value cannot be exported from Argentina.

Story

At the beginning of the 16th century, various ethnic groups inhabited the territory of modern Argentina: Tehuelches (in modern Patagonia), Rehuelches, Pampas, Matacos (in the Chaco, Salta and Tucuman regions), Guaycures, Huerpes, Diaguitas, Mapuches (in Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut , La Pampa and Buenos Aires), Guaranies (in Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones), etc.

In 1535, Pedro de Mendoza, at the head of an expedition with a large number of horses and provisions, founded the fort of Santa Maria del Buen Aire, the capital of modern Argentina. In 1776, the Vice-Kingdom of Rio de la Plata was formed, which included Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and part of Bolivia with its capital in Buenos Aires. In 1805 and 1806 British troops were defeated in their attempts to conquer the city of Buenos Aires. The big bourgeoisie led revolutionary movement in 1810, as a result of the victory of this movement, the United Provinces of Río de la Plata were formed. On May 25, 1810, the municipal council announced the dissolution of the Viceroyalty and the introduction of the reign of King Fernando VII Napoleon.

In March 1816, representatives of several provinces gathered in Tucuman. On July 9, independence from Spain and the creation of the United Provinces of South America (later the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata) were proclaimed. Although the Supreme Ruler became the head of the new state, the Congress could not agree on the form of state power. Many of the delegates, in particular those from the city and province of Buenos Aires, were supporters of constitutional monarchy. This position, which was then changed in favor of a centralized republican system, faced opposition from delegates from other provinces who advocated a federal system of government. The debate between the two factions led to civil war 1819.

General José de San Martin led the army that defeated the Spanish. San Martin made a significant contribution to the struggle for the independence of Argentina, Chile and Peru.

Peace was restored in 1820. However, the main issue, namely the creation of a stable form of government, turned out to be unresolved. Over the next decade, the United Provinces experienced a state of anarchy, fueled by the 1825-1827 war with Brazil. Brazil was defeated in a conflict over territorial claims to Uruguay. As a result of the conflict, Uruguay became an independent state.

Transport

The transport infrastructure of Argentina is relatively developed. The length of roads is 230,000 km (excluding private rural roads), of which 72,000 km are paved and 1,575 km are expressways, many of which are privatized toll roads. In recent years, the length of multi-lane express roads has doubled. Now they connect several large cities with each other. More such roads are under construction. However, they are still not enough to organize the normal movement of 9.5 million cars registered in the country as of 2009 (240 per 1,000 people).

The total length of the railway network is 31.4 thousand km. After several decades of declining traffic and insufficient maintenance of infrastructure, in 1992 the Ferrocarriles Argentinos railway company was privatized, most intercity passenger routes were closed, and thousands of kilometers of roads (not included in the above total length) are now unused. Commuter rail services in the Buenos Aires area are still in high demand, though in part because of the ease of transfer to the subway. On a number of lines, intercity transportation is currently being resumed.

Opened in 1913, the Buenos Aires Metro was the first subway in Latin America and southern hemisphere. Today it is no longer the largest in South America, but its 52.3 km of lines carry almost a million passengers a day.

Argentina has about 11,000 km of inland waterways which carry more goods than railroads. This includes an extensive network of canals, although Argentina also has a fair amount of natural waterways, the most significant of which are the Rio de la Plata, Parana, Uruguay, Rio Negro and Paraguay.

Aerolineas Argentinas is the country's main airline, providing both domestic and international shipping. Austral Lineas Aereas is a subsidiary of Aerolineas Argentinas with a route network covering almost the entire territory of the country. LADE is an airline operated by air force, serves a wide network of domestic routes.

Population

As of 2001, the country's population was 36,260,130; as of July 2009, it was 40,134,425. Today, according to this indicator, Argentina is 3rd in South America and 33rd in the world. Average density population amounted to 13.3 people per square kilometer. Population growth in 2008 was 0.92%, the birth rate was 16.32/1000 people, infant mortality- 7.54/1000 births.

The population under the age of 15 is 24.6%, over 65 - 10.8% of the total population. Urbanization in Argentina is the highest in Latin America after Uruguay.

The small Indian population was almost completely exterminated during the Spanish colonization in the 16th century, and subsequent seizures of the lands of Pampa and Patagonia until the end of the 19th century. The Argentine nation was formed in the 19th and 20th centuries by numerous European immigrants. More than 85% of Argentines belong to the white race. The Indian population (often already mixed with whites) makes up 4.5% of the population. First Nations and tribes such as the Mapuche, Kolya, Toba, Matako now make up only 0.5%. National composition The number of immigrants was and remains very diverse: Spaniards and Italians predominate, many French and Armenians, Germans, British, Poles, Czechs, Gypsies, Serbs, Indians, Arabs, as well as representatives of the Slavic peoples.

Argentina has a significant number of descendants of immigrants from pre-revolutionary Russia, mainly Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians, Jews, Latvians, there are Tatar, Chechen, Komi, Mordovian and Bashkir communities. The country has absorbed the traditions of many countries and peoples, which left an imprint on its culture, life and customs of the Argentines. According to the law existing in the country, everyone born in its territory is considered an Argentinean. A significant number of immigrants come to the country from the neighboring poorer states of Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Brazil, most often for seasonal work.

Since the early 1990s, Argentina began to accept immigrants from countries of Eastern Europe. Big number came from countries former Yugoslavia, namely from Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and Macedonia (the Serbian community is more than 300 thousand people). The most numerous of the Slavic communities is Ukrainian, only slightly inferior in number to the Jewish and Russian. There is no organized Russian community as such in Argentina, despite a significant number of immigrants from Russia (according to some sources, more than 700 thousand people).

Today in Argentina, the dynamics of the population is determined by natural increase: its rate - 0.91% in the mid-1990s - is the lowest in Latin America and tends to decrease (the country is experiencing a protracted demographic crisis). This is also reflected in the dynamics of the age structure of the population, which is changing towards a decrease in the proportion of young ages (under 15 years old) and an increase in older ones (over 65 years old).

In terms of socio-economic indicators of life, Argentina is ahead of many countries in Latin America (in terms of living standards, it is slightly behind Chile). Average duration life in the country is 76 years (75 years for men, 82 for women). The number of HIV-infected people is 4.1%. More than 87% of the total population lives in the country's cities today, and more than 2/5 of the urban population is in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires, with about 12 million inhabitants, is one of the 10 largest agglomerations in the world. Other major cities are Cordoba (1.4 million inhabitants), Rosario (1.2 million), Mendoza (approx. 0.9 million), Tucumán (0.8 million).

Religion: Christianity (Catholics - 90%).

Holidays

January 16 - Carnival in Argentina.
February 14 - Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day)
March 24 is the National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Law (Dia Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia). Day of sad memories of the last dictatorship in the country in 1976.
April 2 - Day of Veterans and the Fallen in the War with the British for the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands. Since 2001, April 2 has been celebrated in Argentina as the Day of Veterans and the Fallen in the War.
April
Catholic Good Friday (Good Friday). The date of the holiday is unique for each year. In 2009, for example, that date was April 10.
Catholic Easter. The date of the holiday is unique for each year. For example, in 2009 this date was April 12. A significant part of the population of Argentina are Catholics, for whom Easter is the largest and most revered religious holiday. Easter is a Christian holiday in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated by the Catholic Church.
May 1 - Labor Day (Labor Day)
The third Saturday in May is Father's Day. Congratulations to all men who have children. Lunch or dinner with family. Children give gifts.
May 25 - Anniversary of the first revolution (1810) and the election of the first independent Government of Argentina
June 20 is Flag Day in Argentina. Flag Day (Dia de la Bandera) is celebrated in Argentina on the day of the death of the flag designer - Manuel Belgran (06/3/1770 - 06/20/1820) and is an official holiday.
July 9 - Independence Day of Argentina. On July 9, 1816, the Declaration of Independence of the United Provinces of the Silver River (Argentina) was adopted. This date is considered the date of birth of the Republic of Argentina, and the country celebrates an official holiday - Independence Day.
August 17 - Memorial Day of General San Martin in Argentina. On August 17, Argentina celebrates a national holiday - the anniversary of the memory of the hero of the struggle for the independence of Argentina from the Spanish colonialists (1810-1826), General José de San Martin (San Martín Day).
September 11 is Teacher's Day in Argentina. Is very important event for the whole nation. In fact, the whole country celebrates Teacher's Day as a national holiday.
The second Monday in October is Race Day in Argentina (Día de la Raza / Columbus Day) - a holiday in honor of the indigenous peoples who inhabited Argentina.
The third Sunday in October is Mother's Day. Celebrated in the family circle. They congratulate all women who have children (mothers, aunts, grandmothers, great-grandmothers ... etc.), give gifts, a mandatory dinner with the family.
December 8 - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the great feasts of the Mother of God celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church.
December 24/25 - Catholic Christmas. Oddly enough, there is not much difference between Christmas and New Year in Argentina - these two holidays are celebrated in almost the same way. As a rule, Christmas in Argentina is family holiday, with obligatory gifts.
December 31 / January 1 - New Year. In Argentina, it is not such a big holiday. Basically, the New Year is celebrated at home among relatives and friends. This is a very domestic holiday, as well as many other holidays.

Education

The literacy rate in Argentina is 97%. Three out of every eight adults over the age of 20 have a high school education or higher. School attendance is compulsory for all children from 5 to 17 years of age. The school system in Argentina consists of primary education of 6 or 7 years and secondary education of 5 to 6 years.

Education in Argentina is free at all levels, with the exception of the main part of post-graduate education. Although the literacy rate had been close to absolute since 1947, in the first half of the 20th century, most Argentine youth did not have access to an education higher than the compulsory seven years of primary schooling. With the introduction of free education at the secondary and university level (in the 1970s), the demand for it often began to exceed budgetary capacity. Accordingly, public educational institutions often lack funds and reduce the quality of education. This has had a beneficial effect on the rise of private education, although it has resulted in disparities between those who can afford it and the rest of society, since private schools often do not have scholarship programs. Approximately one in four schoolchildren and one in six students attend private educational institutions.

About 11.4 million people were involved in formal education in 2006, including 1.5 million students from 85 universities across the country. 38 universities are public. Most significant universities: University of Buenos Aires, National University of Cordoba, National University of La Plata, National University of Rosario, National University of Technology. Public universities faced significant funding cuts in the 1980s and 1990s, resulting in a decline in the quality of education.

healthcare

Health care is provided through a combination of employer and union funded plans (Obras Sociales), public insurance, public hospitals and clinics, and voluntary health insurance.

The first government action to improve public health can be considered the introduction by the Spanish Viceroy Juan José de Vertis of the Medical Tribunal to supervise medical practitioners in 1780. After independence was declared medical schools at the University of Buenos Aires (1822) and the National University of Cordoba (1877). The training of doctors and nurses in these and other schools has made it possible fast development medical cooperatives, which, during the presidency of Juan Perón, grew into the state-subsidized organizations Obras Sociales. Today their number exceeds 300 (of which 200 belong to trade unions), they provide medical care for more than half of the country's population. The government's INSSJP (or PAMI) covers almost all 5 million retirees.

Health care costs reach almost 10% of the country's GDP and grow in line with the growing proportion of Argentines over 65 (7% in 1970). Public and private spending has historically been roughly evenly distributed: public funds are mostly distributed through Obras Sociales and cover hospitalizations in private and public clinics; private funds are equally divided among the costs of voluntary health insurance and overhead.

Over 150,000 in the country hospital beds, 121,000 doctors and 37,000 dentists (per capita rates comparable to developed countries). Relatively Free access to medical care is historically expressed in the structure and trends of mortality comparable with developed countries: from 1953 to 2005, the proportion of deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases increased from 20% to 23%, tumors - from 14% to 20%, diseases respiratory system— from 7% to 14%, diseases digestive system(non-infectious) - from 7% to 11%, strokes - remained at the level of 7%, injuries - 6%, infectious diseases- four %. The rest is mainly due to dementia. The proportion of infant deaths fell from 19% in 1953 to 3% in 2005.

Infant mortality has dropped from 70 per 1,000 births in 1948 to 12.5 in 2008. Life expectancy at birth has risen from 60 to 76 years. Although these figures look favorably against the world average, they are still somewhat below the level of developed countries. In 2006, Argentina ranked 4th in Latin America.

Sport

Science and technology

Argentina has given the world many recognized doctors, scientists and inventors, including three Nobel Prize winners. Argentines are responsible for some breakthroughs in medicine. Their research has led to significant advances in the treatment of injuries, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. Domingo Liotta developed the first artificial heart successfully implanted in a human in 1969. René Favaloro developed the technique and performed the world's first coronary bypass. Francisco de Pedro invented a more reliable artificial pacemaker.

Bernardo Usay, the first Latin American Nobel Prize winner in science, explored the role of the pituitary gland in regulating glucose levels in animals. Cesar Milstein did extensive research on antibodies. Louis Leloir discovered the body's process of storing energy by converting glucose into glycogen, as well as compounds that are fundamental in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Dr. Luis Agote developed the first safe method blood transfusion. Enrique Finochetto invented a number of surgical instruments, such as the surgical scissors that bear his name ("Finochetto's scissors") and the surgical rib splitter.

Argentina is developing its own nuclear program, trying to avoid complete dependence on foreign technology. In 1957, a research reactor was built, and in 1974, the first commercial reactor in Latin America. Nuclear facilities using Argentinean technologies were built in Peru, Algeria, Australia, and Egypt. In 1983, the country was recognized as having the capability to produce weapons-grade uranium, which is milestone production of nuclear weapons. However, from that moment on, Argentina committed itself to using nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes. As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Argentina supports the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and supports global nuclear security.

Croatian immigrant Juan Vucetich is considered the founder of modern fingerprinting. Raul Panteras Pescara made the world's first helicopter flight. Laszlo Biro, an Argentinean of Hungarian origin, was the first to mass-produce the modern ballpoint pen. Eduardo Taurozzi invented the pendulum internal combustion engine. Juan Maldacena is one of the leaders in the development of string theory. The Argentines launched into orbit a number of artificial satellites Earths, including LUSAT-1 (1990), Víctor-1 (1996), PEHUENSAT-1 (2007), as well as satellites of the Argentinean SAC series space agency CONAE. The Pierre Auguer observatory near the city of Malargue in the province of Mendoza is the most advanced cosmic ray observatory.

Mass media

Printed publications

The print media industry is highly developed and independent of the state. More than 200 newspapers are published. The main national newspapers are published in Buenos Aires. The centrist Clarín is the most popular publication in Latin America and the second in the Spanish-speaking world. Other national newspapers: La Nación (center-right, published since 1870), Página/12 (leftist), Ámbito Financiero (business conservative), Olé (sports), Crónica (populist).

Relatively large circulation two newspapers are published on foreign languages: Argentinisches Tageblatt in German and Buenos Aires Herald in English (published since 1876). The main regional publications include: La Voz del Interior (Cordoba), Rio Negro (General Roca), Los Andes (Mendoza), La Capital (Rosario), El Tribuno (Salta), La Gaceta (Tucuman). Among the magazines, Noticias is published with the largest circulation. Argentinean publishers, including Atlántida, Eudeba, Emecé and many others, are considered, along with Spanish and Mexican publishers, in the Spanish-speaking world. El Ateneo is the largest chain bookstores in Latin America.

Radio and TV

Argentina is a pioneer in radio broadcasting. At 9:00 pm on August 27, 1920, Sociedad Radio Argentina announced: "We are now broadcasting to your homes a live broadcast of Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal from the Coliseo Theater in Buenos Aires." Only about 20 houses in the city had eavesdropping receivers. The world's first radio station remained the only one in the country until 1922, when Radio Cultura began broadcasting. By 1925, there were already 12 radio stations in Buenos Aires and 10 in other cities. The 1930s saw the golden age of radio in Argentina, with broadcasts of variety shows, news, soap operas, and sporting events.

There are currently 260 AM radio stations and 1150 FM radio stations in Argentina. Music and youth programs dominate the FM format. News, debates and sports programs form the backbone of AM broadcasting. Amateur radio communication is widespread in the country.

The television industry in Argentina is vast and varied. The channels are widely broadcast in Latin America and received worldwide. Many local programs are broadcast by television in other countries. Foreign producers also buy the rights to adapt programs to their markets. There are five nationwide television channels in Argentina. All provincial capitals and major cities have at least one local station. The availability of cable and satellite TV channels in Argentina is similar to North America. Many cable networks serve the entire Spanish-speaking world from Argentina: Utilísima Satelital, TyC Sports, Fox Sports en Español (shared with the US and Mexico), MTV Argentina, Cosmopolitan TV, and the news network Todo Noticias.

ARGENTINA

(Argentine Republic)

Geographical position. Argentina is a country in South America bordered by Chile to the east, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Brazil and Uruguay to the west. From the southwest Argentina is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Square. The territory of Argentina occupies 2,780,092 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. The largest cities: Buenos Aires (12,750 thousand people), Cordoba (1,250 thousand people), Rosario (1,000 thousand people), La Plata (630 thousand people), Mar del Payment (600 thousand people), Salta 420 thousand people), Mendoza (160 thousand people). Argentina is a federation of 22 provinces, the Federal (capital) district and the national territory of Tierra del Fuego.

Political system

Argentina Republic. The head of state is the president. The legislature is the bicameral National Congress.

Relief. The eastern part of Argentina is flat, in the west is the Andes, in the southwest is the Patagonian plateau.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain reserves of lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, oil, and uranium.

Climate. Argentina is elongated from north to south, hence the variety of climatic and weather conditions. Traditionally, it is customary to distinguish 6 climatic zones in Argentina: Cuyo and the Andes in the northwest; Mesopotamia and northeastern region; Chaco; Pampas; Patagonia and the region of the lakes; islands of Tierra del Fuego. Mesopotamia, the area between the rivers Uruguay and Parana, is an area with a subtropical climate, where the weather is very hot in summer. Patagonia is the name of an area south of the Rio Colorado. In general, the climate of Patagonia is temperate and arid, and farms exist due to the moisture of rivers flowing from mountain glaciers. Tierra del Fuego is an area with a mild maritime climate. Average January temperatures: on the plains of Argentina fluctuate around +30°С; in the Gran Chaco, on the "pole of heat" of South America, they reach + 46 ° С; in Pampa + 20-24°С; on Tierra del Fuego up to + 10°С. In July, respectively: +18°С, +8°С, + 12°С. In winter, southerly winds (pampires) cause frosts even in the north of Argentina (down to -10°C). In Patagonia, frosts reach -33°C. The annual amount of precipitation in the northeast of the country is 1600 mm, in the Gran Chaco 400-1400 mm, in the east of Pampa about 1000 mm, in Patagonia 100-300 mm, in Pune less than 100 mm. The highest level of precipitation is on the slopes of the Andes. Here it is over 2,000 mm and can reach up to 5,000 mm.

Inland waters. The main rivers are Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chubut, Rio Negro, Rio Colorado.

Soils and vegetation. Wet meadow steppes, savannas, subtropical forests (mainly in the mountains).

Animal world. In Argentina, there are monkeys, jaguar, puma, ocelot, llama, armadillo, anteater, tapir, fox, among the birds - ostrich rhea, flamingos, parrots, hummingbirds, hawks, falcons, partridges.

Population and language

The population of Argentina is about 36.265 million people. The territory of modern Argentina before the conquest by the Spaniards was inhabited by numerous Indian tribes diagites, guaicuru, abipon, guarani, charruz, kerandi, arau-cana, tuelche, una and yana. As the kingdom of La Plata (one of the first names of Argentina) was settled, the local population mixed with incoming colonists from Europe and African slaves. Descendants from marriages of whites with Indians began to be called mestizos, from marriages of whites with mulatto blacks, from marriages of Indians and Sambo blacks. Starting from the second half of the XIX century. a large number of immigrants from European countries entered the country. As a result of the process of urbanization, more than a third of the population of Argentina (about 32 million people) now lives in the so-called Greater Buenos Aires (meaning the capital and its environs). State language Argentina is Spanish, which is spoken by almost the entire population of the country. Some ethnic communities retain their national language traditions. Among the Indians there are many bilinguals. In total, up to 17 Indian languages ​​are still used in Argentina. The Spanish language of the Argentines differs in pronunciation characteristics both from the Spanish language of the peoples of the neighboring countries of Argentina, and from the language of the native Spaniards.

Religion

The dominant religion in Argentina since the country's colonization has been the Roman Catholic Church.

Brief historical outline

In 1516, a Spanish expedition led by Juan de Solis discovered the mouth of the river, which later became known as the Rio de la Plata. Four years later, La Plata was explored by the expedition of F. Magellan. The main motive that guided the Spaniards during their travels was gold. In 1526, during the third Spanish expedition led by Cabot, rumors reached the conquistadors about the existence of rich lands in the depths of the continent - the “empire of the white king” and the “silver mountain”. In search of these lands, Cabot and his companions decided to move inland along the bed of the La Plata River, and then along the Parana. On June 9, 1527, on the banks of the Parana, the Spaniards laid the first fort on the land of the future Argentina - Sancti Spiritus (Fort of the Holy Spirit). The Spaniards, who did not hide the purpose of their travels, met with stubborn resistance from the Indians. In 1534, in Spain, in the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Seville, an exhibition was held of jewelry that the Spaniards got during their campaigns in the lands of the Aztecs and Incas. Impressed by what he saw at the exhibition, the wealthy Spanish merchant Pedro de Mendoza headed new expedition to the banks of La Plata. Mendoza was appointed governor of the "new lands". The number of the expedition reached 1,500 people. These were settlers who brought with them livestock, seeds of grain crops. Mendoza had the authority to seize lands, found cities and fortresses. In 1536, the Spaniards reached the mouth of La Plata, where they founded the city of Buenos Aires. The first name of the city is Puerto San ta Maria de Buenos Aires, which means Port of Our Lady of the Good Winds. On August 15, 1537, the city of Asuncion was founded, which soon turned into a major stronghold of the Spaniards. The local population initially greeted the newcomers cordially. The Indians brought a lot of game and fish. Then relations deteriorated, hostilities began. The Spaniards managed to subjugate the agricultural tribes of the Guarani, and the Kerandi Indians entered the war and managed to inflict several tangible defeats on the Spaniards: many forts were destroyed, including Buenos Aires (1541). After the leadership of the Spanish troops was headed by Juan de Ga-rai, the colonists began to win, they founded Buenos Aires for the second time, laid the new fortress of Santa Fe, moving inland along the coast of the Parana, and founded the city of Coorientes (1588).

The conquest of Argentine lands also proceeded from Pacific Ocean, because of the Cordillera. Detachments heading east from Chile set themselves the task of conquering the Cuyo region, inhabited by Indian tribes of the Warp. Overcoming the resistance of the Indians, the Spaniards founded the cities of Mendoza (1561), San Juan (1562), San Luis in the interior provinces of the country. The missions of the Catholic Church played an important role in the development of new lands. In 1609, the Spanish king issued a decree authorizing the establishment of Jesuit missions in the lands of Latin America. With the help of the Jesuits, the governors created so-called reductions in the occupied territories. This is a territorial-administrative entity, reminiscent of a reservation for the Indians of North America.

First decades of the 19th century brought serious changes in the balance of power on the European continent, which was reflected in the state of affairs in the colonies. England, deprived of markets in Europe, lost North American colonies, tried to establish itself in South America. Using a depressing position Spanish court, the British in 1806 sent a squadron to the shores of Argentina. On June 27, an English landing detachment of 1,500-1,600 people managed to capture Buenos Aires. Until July of the following year, the armed struggle continued between regular English units and detachments of Argentines, led by the captain of the army of the Spanish king Santiago de Ligne and the wealthy Creole Juan Martin Pueyre-don. On July 7, 1807, General Whitelock signed the act of surrender of the British troops. The political processes that took place over the next ten years led to the fact that La Plata was proclaimed an independent state. This happened in 1816, and then there was a period of internal confrontation between the two main parties: the Federalists and the Unitarians.

According to the Constitution of 1833, Argentina became a single state with presidential rule, uniting 3 provinces: the Pampas, Mesopotamia (Mesopotamia) and Cordoba. A significant leap in the development of the economy of Argentina occurred after the railways were built in the country, connecting the agricultural regions of the country with industrial centers. By 1929, a crisis socio-economic situation had developed in Buenos Aires and other cities of the country, and then a military junta replaced the civilian government. The stabilization in the economic life of Argentina after the Second World War is associated with the name of Juan Domingo Peron, who was elected president in 1946 and re-elected in 1952 for a second term. In 1955, the military again came to power, and the next presidential elections took place only in 1973. In these elections, the supporter of the Perón line, Hector Campora, won. 1976-1983 were called the "dirty war" years. Wanting to neutralize the growing protest from the majority of the population, the military government decided to take an extreme step: a war was started with Great Britain for the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands. After losing the war in 1983, the Argentines elected a new president, Raúl Alfonsín.

Brief economic essay

Argentina is an industrial-agrarian country with highly commercialized agriculture. Extraction of lead and zinc, oil and natural gas, uranium and other ores. Food (mainly meat-packing), textile, leather and footwear industry, mechanical engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Oil refining and petrochemistry. AT agriculture dominates large estate. Main agricultural crops: wheat, corn, barley, oats, sunflower. Fruit growing. The main branches of animal husbandry are cattle breeding and meat and wool sheep breeding. Fishing. Export of agricultural products (meat, wool, leather, grain).

The monetary unit is the Argentine peso.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Works of ancient Indian art have survived to this day - painted and figured ceramics, petroglyphs, fabrics with geometric patterns, feather decorations, cult sculpture made of wood, stone, and clay. During the period of colonization, the official forms of religious painting, sculpture, and woodcarving prevailed. Of the secular genres of painting, only the portrait became widespread. The modern architectural appearance of the cities of Argentina bears the stamp of a four-century history of colonization. In the XVIII century. Argentine architecture experienced strong influence from the European Baroque. After the proclamation of Argentina as an independent state, a period began when modern European trends dominated art and architecture.

Buenos Aires. Congress Building (1906); National Museum of Fine Arts (paintings by artists of world renown - Renoir, Rodin, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, as well as works by Argentinean authors); Museum of Modern Art (the collection of paintings of this museum includes works by Dali, Picasso); Cinema Museum; National Historical Museum.

Literature. X. L. Borges (1899-1986) - writer, one of the founders of avant-garde in Spanish-American poetry (collections of poems "Creator", "Another, all the same", "Cryptography" (1981), author of short stories and prose miniatures, saturated with intellectual metaphor (collections "Fictions", "Aleph"); X. Cortazar (1914-1984) - writer, author of realistic novels with elements of fantasy and philosophical symbolism(“Winnings”, “62. Model for Assembly”, “Last Round”).

Music. The folk music of Argentina is dominated by Creole folklore. Argentinean dances are the most famous. Of the old ones, the most popular are triste, estilo, topo, cueca, etc. Of the later ones, tango. On becoming musical culture Argentina in the XIX-XX centuries. the musical traditions of France had a strong influence.

Argentina (Argentina) — Federal Republic in South America, in its southeastern part. The country stretches from north to south for 3700 km, and from west to east - for 1400 km. She also owns the eastern part of the island of Tierra del Fuego and several small islands. Argentina borders in the north and northeast with Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, in the east - with Uruguay, in the south and west - with Chile. Within the territory of Argentina there is almost everything you need for a holiday, and for every taste. These are sandy beaches, picturesque waterfalls, mountain peaks and snow-capped volcanoes, unimaginable glaciers and a diverse natural world.

Argentina - "silver country"

1. Capital

Argentine capital Buenos Aires- one of the largest and most beautiful cities in South America, with a population of almost 3 million people. Capital located at a distance of 275 km from the Atlantic Ocean in a well-protected bay of La Plata Bay, on the right bank of the Riachuelo River.
Buenos Aires means " fair winds ", or in literal translation from spanish" good air ". Buenos Aires is famous for its huge number of cultural attractions, and also serves Starting point for travel across the country.

2. Flag

- a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal strips of the same width: blue color top and bottom, and white color in the middle. In the center of the white stripe is a golden sun called " May sun”, from which sixteen long wavy rays depart, depicting sunlight.

The yellow May sun is the symbol of the Inca sun god and is named after the May Revolution. According to one version, blue, white and the sun represent the sky, clouds and the sun. According to the second version, the blue color symbolizes the La Plata River, and white - silver. And finally, according to the third version, the colors of the flag are based on the traditional colors of the Bourbon family.

3. Coat of arms

It is an oval area divided into two equal parts: white and blue. Against its background, two hands are depicted, connected by a handshake - a symbol of the unity of the provinces that make up Argentina. Behind the image of the hands is a red Phrygian cap, which represents freedom and revolution. Around the oval, laurel branches are depicted - symbolizing the victory of the Argentine people in the struggle for independence, tied at the bottom with a ribbon of the colors of the national flag. At the top coat of arms of Argentina the rising sun is located.

4. Anthem

listen to the anthem of Argentina

5. Currency

Official monetary unit of Argentina is Argentine peso, international code ARS, digital code 032. New argentine peso equal to 100 centavos. Banknotes in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 pesos, coins of 1, 2 and 5 pesos, as well as 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos are in circulation. Argentine peso to ruble exchange rate or any other currency can be viewed on the currency converter:

coins Argentina

Banknotes of Argentina

Argentina is located in South America, in its southeastern part. The area of ​​the country is 2766 thousand square meters. km. The country stretched from north to south for 3700 km, and from west to east - for 1400 km. She also owns the eastern part of the island of Tierra del Fuego and several small islands. Argentina is bordered to the north and northeast by Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, to the east by Uruguay, to the south and west by Chile.

The eastern shores are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In the West Argentina ridges stretched. In the western part of the Andes there is a chain of volcanoes - the highest active volcano on Earth - Ojos del Salado (6887 m). In this district " silver country»Earthquakes happen often. In the southwestern part of the mountains is the Lake District. Almost the entire northern part Argentina occupies the flat plateau of the Gran Chaco, to the south is the steppe region - Pampa. In the south of the country stretches the rocky plateau of semi-desert Patagonia. home water artery countries - the Parana River.

7. How to get to Argentina?

8. What is worth seeing

Sights of Argentina. Argentina is the fourth most visited country in the Americas. The country is very rich in archaeological sites. There is almost everything here - many kilometers of beaches and some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, endless steppes and amazingly beautiful waterfalls, ski resorts, dense forests and huge cities, wild and uninhabited southern Patagonia and much more.

And here is a small list of attractions which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to Argentina:

• Large metal flower
• Waterfall Adam and Eve
• Gargantua del Diablo waterfall
• Congress building
• Historic Plaza de Mayo
• Piloto Glacier
• Perito Moreno Glacier
• Iguazu National Park
• Los Glaciares National Park
• Tierra del Fuego National Park
• Obelisk
• Colon Opera House
• Planetarium Galileo Galilei in Buenos Aires
• Port of Madero
• Salinas Grandes
• Caminito street
• Gorge "Amphitheater"

9. 10 Largest Cities in Argentina

• Buenos Aires (capital)
• Cordova
• Rosario
• La Plata
• Mar del Plata
• San Miguel de Tucuman
• Salta
• Santa Fe
• Corrientes
• Bahia Blanca

10. What's the weather like here?

Climate of Argentina. Argentina is immediately located in 3 climatic zones: temperate in the south, subtropical in the north and tropical in the central part. Summer here lasts from December to February, and winter, respectively, from June to August. In the north of the country, the average temperature in January is +28 °С, in July +18 °С. In the center - up to +24 °С in summer, up to +15 °С in winter. The coldest place is in the south of the country - +10°C in summer and +1°C in winter.

The greatest amount of precipitation falls on the mountainous regions and in the northeast - up to 1600 mm per year. In the west of Argentina, in the plains, precipitation is much less - up to 300 mm per year. Very frequent hot dry winds "pamperos" and "probe". Very strong storms often pass over Patagonia and Pampas.

11. Population

is 44,136,896 people(as of February 2017). Most of the population is Europeans (about 95%), 4.5% are mestizos and only 0.5% are Indians. Average, Argentines live 75 years (the male population lives up to 72, and the female population lives up to 82 years). Although the standard of living in Argentina inferior to the standard of living in Western Europe, yet is one of the highest in Latin America. The country has one of the most developed economies in Latin America, as well as the state has a relatively high level of salaries compared to other Latin American countries.

12. Language

State language of Argentina – Spanish, but Italian, French, Portuguese, English and German are also widely spoken.

13. Religion

In Argentina proclaimed full freedom religion. 92.1% are Catholic Christians, 3.1% are Agnostics, 1.9% are Muslims, 1.3% are Jews, 0.9% are Atheists, and 0.9% are Buddhists and others.

14. And what about eating?

- a mixture of national traditions of indigenous Indian peoples and all those foreign recipes that were brought here by settlers from Europe. Among the dishes Argentina various meats and derivatives from it are popular: "parrillada" - grilled sausage "asado"; "tira de asado" - fried meat of the spinal part of the carcass; "milanesa" - a thin chop with a garnish of fried potatoes; "lacro" - stewed pork with corn; "matambre" - meatloaf with egg and vegetables; chickens in beer; "Puchero" - thick meat stew; "churasko" - fried meat cubes; "pinchos" - shish kebab; pancakes with meat; stewed armadillo and much more.

Desserts include fruit pies, gelado ice cream and caramel dulce de leche. Of the drinks, mate tea is very popular, which is consumed in large quantities in the country. Argentinean red wines are the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the country, and local whiskeys, gins and rums are also famous.

15. Holidays

National holidays in Argentina:

• January 1 - New Year
• March-April - Easter and Easter holidays
• April 4 - Malvinas Day
• May 1 - Labor Day
• May 25 is the anniversary of the May Revolution
• June 20 - National Flag Day
• July 9 - Independence Day
• August 17 - anniversary of the death of General José de San Martin
• October 12 - Day of the Americas (Columbus Day).
• December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
• December 25 - Christmas

16. Medicine

Medicine in Argentina. International health insurance is recommended. The country's medical system has two types of healthcare - free, according to which assistance is provided only in case of a threat to life, and paid insurance, which provides the full range of medical services that are not included in the ambulance.

The level of medical care in Argentina high enough. Doctors are respected people and here they really get a decent salary. Being a doctor is an honor. Doctors here study for a very long time and, as a rule, training is based on getting a highly specialized specialist at the end.

17. Souvenirs

Here is a small list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from Argentina:

• herbal drink mate with a souvenir set for its preparation
• Argentine wines
• jewelry from semi-precious national stones Argentina
• Leather Products
• tango symbolism
• wicker rugs
• guitars
• national argentine sweet Dulce de leche

18. "Neither a nail nor a wand" or customs regulations

Import and export of national and foreign currencies is not limited, while the amount over $10,000 must be declared. Gold and gold items must also be included in the declaration.

Persons over the age of 18 are allowed duty-free import of: cigarettes - up to 400 pcs or cigars - up to 50 pcs; alcoholic beverages - up to 2 liters; canned food food - up to 5 kg; souvenirs and gifts in the amount not exceeding $300. Passengers under the age of 18 are allowed to import half of the specified limits. When importing in quantities exceeding the duty-free import rate, a duty of 50% of their value is levied.

The import of non-canned food products (meat and meat products, cheese, bread, vegetables and fruits) is prohibited. The import and export without special permission of objects and things of historical, artistic or archaeological value, as well as firearms and ammunition, is prohibited. It is allowed to export wool and leather products, jewelry and souvenirs within the limits of personal needs, while it is necessary to provide a receipt from the store where these products were purchased. When exporting fur products, you must have a receipt and an export stamp.

What about sockets?

Mains voltage Argentina: 220 V at frequency 50 Hz. socket type: Type C, Type I.

19. Telephone code and domain name of Argentina

Phone country code: +54
First level geographic domain name: .ar

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