Europeans arrrived in the region with the voyage of Amerigo Vespucci
May 3, 1516
Spanish navigator Juan Diaz de Solis visited Argentina
May 3, 1580
Spain establised a permanment colony in Buenos Aires
Establishment of the Viceroyalty of Rio de Plata.
Buenos Aires formally declares its indepdence from Spain
Argentina becomes a unified nation
Military coup establishes a corrupt government
Another coup. Army Colonel Juan Domingo Peron becomes the minister of labor
Perion was elected president.
Eva Duante de Peron (Evita) helps to wins the rights for women to vote.
Miltary desposed of Peron and he went into exile in Spain
Peron returned and become president with his wife Maria Estela Isabel Martinez de Peron as Vice President
Peron died and Maria became president
Military junta took over & started 7 years of the "Dirty War"
Military started & lost a quick war against Great Britain over the Falkland Islands
Raul Alfonsin became president
Carlos Saul Monem became president
President de la Rua resigned after Argentina defaulted on its debt payments
Nestor Kirchner was elected president
Ethnic groups - White (Spanish & Italian) 97%, Mesitzo, Amerindian or other non-white groups 3%
Exports yearly - 56.44 billion, Exports - soybeans, petroleum & gas, vehicles, corn and wheat, Top Export Partners - Brazil, China, Chile, US
Religion - Roman Catholic 92% but less than 20% are practicing
Climate - mostly temperate , aird in southeast, subantarctic in the southwest
Terrian - Rich plains of the Pampas in the Northern half, flat to rolling plateaus of Patagonia in the south, rugged Andes along western border
Demographics: Population 41, 769.726, Growth Rate 1.017%, GDP Per Capita $14,700, Net Migration Rate 0%, Capital -Buenos Aires, Official Language - Spanish
National Cusine - Strongly influenced by European cuisines especially Italian. Beef & wheat are staples. Barbeque is very popular as are breads, pastas and pizza
Natural Resources - Fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Border countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
Current issues - Argentina is a transshipment country for cocaine, herion, ephedrine & pseudoephrine, money laundry activity, law enforcement corruption, increasing use of cocaine and synthetic drugs.
Environmental Issues - Deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air & water pollution
Geography - Land 2,736,690 sq km, Water 30,200 sq km, Coastline 4989 sq km, Lowest point - Laguna del Carbon 105 m, Highest point - Cerro Aconocagua - 6960 m
Government - President & Vice President elected by popular vote on same ticket to 4-year terms, 72 Senate seats elected by direct vote to 6-year terms, 257 Chamber of Deputies Seats, elected by direct vote to 4-year terms
People - Mix of diverse national and ethnic groups. 80% of population resides in cities of 2000 or more , ove one-third live in the greater Buenos Aires area.