Argentina's southeastern border is defined by the Atlantic Ocean, while its border with Chile to the west and southwest is defined by the Andes Mountains. The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires. Area - about 2,780,400 sq. km. The population (per year) was 33,507,000.
Geographically, Argentina can be divided into four main regions: the Northeastern Plains, Pampas, Patagonia and the Andes (mountainous region). Since Argentina has a large extent from North to South, it crosses several climatic zones at once - from the tropics to Antarctica itself.
Rivers, mountains and plains
The whole country is rich in vast plains, large rivers, high mountains and is divided into the following natural regions:
- The strip of land between Paraná and Uruguay covers 296,000 square meters. km, between 27 and 34° south latitude, the soil is alluvial and fertile;
- the pampas or steppes, covered with uniform vegetation, run among the great rivers and mountains in the west; beautiful pastures for countless herds;
- internal plane between the mountains and the Andes, between 22° and 42° south. wide, embraces a mountainous hill rising to 2,300 m;
- Andes - between 22° and 42° south. lat. embraces 800,000 sq. km.
The riverine region is a gently rolling, grassy plain, the heights of which do not exceed 250 m, with the exception of the northeastern Sierra Missiona, which is higher. In very low-lying areas, lagoons are formed, some such as Ibera and Lamaloya, surrounded by swamps and swamps, and some real lakes with solid shores, for example Laguna Brava. River streams are numerous. The steep banks of the Paraná (150 km) and the banks of inland rivers are covered with forest; on the Mission, where the soil consists of hard, marginal clay, there are impenetrable forests. - The Pampas (B) extends from Pilcomayo to Rio Negro for 2200 kilometers, a width of 370 kilometers, and in this vast space there is not a hill or a stone. They fall into two characteristic parts, separated by the Rio Salado, or Juramento, and the Laguna de los Porongos. In the southern pampas, the soil is alluvial, covered with fine sand, under which, over large areas, there is marl and calcareous soil with significant remains of megatheria. In the northern part, the mountain streams of the Sierra Cordoba form a significant number of rivers, of which only one, the Rio Tercero, flows through the Pampas to Paraná, the others disappear in easily absorbent soil or in swampy lagoons. Significant masses of water formed on the snowy peaks of the Andes fall into a deep basin at the eastern foot and form a series of lagoons connected by river branches. This series of lakes begins at 30° latitude. from the Guanacache Lagoon and goes south to Bebedero and to the Amarga Lagoon. Due to the lack of constant irrigation of the plains, their vegetation is highly dependent on the seasons and atmosphere. There are no forests here at all; even individual trees are only planted. The main wealth of the pampas is grass; Thus, in the state of Buenos Aires, vast plains are covered with clover and other nutritious grasses favorable to cattle breeding. Among them there are plants brought from Europe; this is a special type of burdock, Abrojos, and thistle, reaching 3 m in height near Buenos Aires; both plants bring great benefits, shielding the grass from the scorching rays of the sun with a broad shadow, and in such places the grass lasts longer; By the end of summer, the plants dry out and are torn out by autumn storms. On a monotonous plain, individual trees - ombu (Phytolacca dioica) or groups of crooked and thorny chagnara (Goneliea decorticans), or small palms, which Burmeister calls Copernicia campestris - are rarely found, and even then near dwellings. In places, grass, clover and oats reach 1 and 1 ½ m. Mirage phenomena are very common here. Among the animals found in these plains are: huge herds of cattle, horses, deer, ostriches (Avestruz), jaguars, iguanas and viscacha (Callomys Viscacha). There are very few streams, but there are a lot of small pools with fresh and salt water, some that dry out quickly, and some that are permanent. Along the Paraná are the best settlements and livestock. The pampas near the central mountain ranges have a completely different character; there small bushes cover the plain and form denser thickets near the rivers. The northern part of the plain, the Gran Chaco, extends far into the possessions of Bolivia and Paraguay, and only part of it belongs to the Argentine Confederation of the Republic; in it, as in a subtropical zone, there is a lack of irrigation, but the floods of rivers such as the Pilcomayo and Rio Vermeyo, fed by tropical rains, contribute to the development of rich tropical flora. Among the trees here are remarkable: the carandai palm, which produces magnificent timber, algarrobo and chañar (Prosopis dulcis) - alcoholic drinks are made from their fruits. The dense thickets consist mainly of laurel trees, especially near the Andes; on the left bank of the river. Juramento, the thorny thickets of mimosa in the legumes form an almost impassable shaft, through which in some places there are gaps that the Chaco Indians use for trade and robbery. But in the interior, where the floods of the above-mentioned rivers do not reach, there are large arid spaces, which in some places, between the Rio Vermeio and Salado, turn into dry sandy steppes with poor vegetation of cacti and salt marsh grasses. - The interior elevation (B) between the Andes and the Sierra Cordoba reaches an average height of 600 m and merges in the north and south with the main plain. It is centered on the Cuyo Basin, with two salt marshes, Salina de Cordoba and Salina de Rioya, separated by the slightly prominent Sierra de los Llanos. - The soil here, due to the dry climate, is clayey-salty and completely barren; It’s also remarkable that right up to the mountains there is no stone at all. In addition to these two saline steppes, there are also other, smaller, and sometimes sandy steppes (travesia); the soil becomes more fertile only where there is greater dampness. To the south there are remarkable alluvial sandy mounds, from 2 to 10 m in height, known as “medanos”. They are blown by the south wind and lie on the north side; their outlines are constantly changing; sometimes they are ring-shaped and surround a small lagoon where vegetation appears. Actually, in the pampas they are rare, and in forest belts they are completely absent. In the Mendoza region, on the southern border, there are shifting sands where people and animals die. In the south, the central plain passes through a series of marshy lakes reaching to the east. foothills of the Andes; in the north, passing through the regions of Tucumán and Sant Iago, it disappears into the wooded and richly watered region of the Gran Chaco.
West Side
The entire width of the west of the country is bordered by the mighty Andes, expanding from south to north. From the main mountain range, which forms the border with Chile and separates the river basins, to the south near the Rio Negro and Rio Colorado and to the north near the Rio Mendoza there are lateral mountain branches almost perpendicular to the main ridge, namely the Sierra Neiken and the Sierra Pilma Maguida. Recent research examining the path through the Planchon Pass (35° south latitude, 2230 m altitude) has proven that these branches are longer than expected and that the pampas begin 250 km east of the main ridge. The mountain range here is very narrow, only in some places wider mountain areas are formed; to the north it rises and in Tupungato reaches 6810 m altitude. From here the main ridge widens and forms several parallel chains. To the Northeast of Aconcagua (6,839 m), between the river. Mendoza and R. San Juan, the snowy mountain area expands, intersected by the parallel Sierra Paramillo and Sonda ranges (3500 m). North of San Juan these chains connect and turn to the main ridge in the NNW, which then again expands into mountainous areas of 4000 m of average altitude. The valleys lying among the mountains are in some places beautifully irrigated and fertile, and in some places covered with saline and sandy steppes. To the north of the plains of Rioya and Catamarca rises a significant mountain area, connecting at 27° S. w. with the snowy peaks of the Sierra Aconquia, with a high point, south of Tucuman, over 4800 m. This mountain branch in the north goes fan-shaped up to the river. Juramento, and in the west through the Sierra Atajo it converges with the main branches of the Andes, consisting of large mountain areas with deeply incised valleys. Mountain passes existing through the Andes, above 33° S. wide, are very dangerous, although the ascent and descent are quite steep. Here you sometimes have to wander for whole days through waterless and barren terrain or be exposed to terrible storms (temporales); Only on some passes are shelter huts (casuchas) built. The snow line runs along the southern strip of the Andes at approximately 3000 m, while in the Cumbro gorge it rises to 4000 m and on the border of Bolivia to 5000 m. The snow masses on the peaks are small, because the damp west. the wind loses some of its moisture along the way; Therefore, in summer, for example, Nevada is only lightly covered with snow and there are no significant rivers on this side of the mountains. Due to the extraordinary dryness at altitudes, almost all the water is absorbed by evaporation. The large tributaries of La Plata all flow from the north. parts of the Andes where heavy tropical rain occurs. The Sierra Aconquia sharply separates the west. Andean valleys with a dry climate from the humid Gran Chaco. At altitudes there is only one plant with a thick, resinous root suitable for burning - this is lareta. More than 20 passages are known through the Argentine Andes; At almost all altitudes there is shortness of breath, called here puna. Mules are used to cross the Andes; they feed on alfalfa and afalfa; at the highest altitudes, mules are often replaced by llamas, since they are even more resilient.
In the East
from the Cordillera between 29° and 34° south. lat. a central mountain system rises, surrounded by pampas and divided into two branches: Sierra Cordoba and Sierra San Luis; The area is fairly wooded and well watered. The Sierra Cordova stretches in three spurs from the north to the south, with the middle one, Cumbre de las Ajalas, greatly expanding towards the north and gradually turning into a lowland; in the south it reaches 2500 m altitude. There are beautiful pastures and many springs that give rise to rivers: Rio Primero, Segundo, etc., of which only Tercero reaches Parana. The eastern spur begins at Cordoba and in Cumbre de la Cal reaches 2570 m, while the western spur does not stand out in height, but is remarkable for its geognostic properties; here there are significant ore beds and cone-shaped peaks, of which the westernmost, Verba Buena (1645 m), descends steeply onto the Rioya plain. The Sierra St. Louis has almost the same extent. To the south there are only hills rich in metals. - The southernmost the mountain system consists of two low branches, between 37° and 38 ½° south. lat. and 49° and 45° west. longitude, surrounded by the sea on one side, descending into the pampas on the other and running from west to east. There is no vegetation on the peaks. Severn. the branch, Sierra Vulcan, begins at Cape Corrientes, goes inland for 300 km and rises to 450 m altitude; the southern one - from Bahia Blanco, stretches for 50 km, reaching more than 1000 m in height. The entire mountain system, like the central one, consists of granite, quartz, gneiss, etc.
The largest water system in the republic is the system of the La Plata River, formed from the confluence of the Uraguay and Paraná and from the confluence on the left side of the Rio Grande de Curitiba, and on the right - Paraguay (with tributaries Pilcomayo and Vermeio), Juramento (former Salado ) and r. Tercero (with tributaries of the Quarto and Saladillo rivers); the rest of the water system consists of steppe rivers and lagoons. Parallel to the river The Juramento in the Tucuman region flows from the Cordillera to the Yu. Ducel (Saladillo); during high water they merge and end in the Porongos Lagoon, which also feeds the river. Primero and Segundo. In general, the rivers flowing in the south, starting from the Catamarca region, disappear into the steppes. A whole system of such rivers is formed from the river. de Guanacol (Vermeio), r. Travecia, San Juan, Mendoza and make up the Guanacache lagoon, from which the river flows. Desagvadero and, flowing through a series of marshes, flows into the Amarga lagoon; from here, intensified by the mountain streams of the Andes, the river. Tunuyan, b. Diamante, b. During high water, the Atuel merges with the river. Colorado. Many small streams also flow from the southeastern mountainous areas, partly flowing into the sea, partly into lagoons; only two flow into the Rio Salado, which flows into the Ensenado de Borombon and belongs to the river system. La Plata. The largest southern rivers are the Colorado, or Kobu-Leibu, that is, the big river, and the river. Negro or Limay-Leibu.
Lakes
- Fagnano (another name is Cami).
see also
| Geography of Argentina | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lithosphere | Islands Mountains Volcanoes Caves Extreme points of Argentina Plains Argentine Antarctica | |
| Hydrosphere | Seas Bays and coves Rivers Lakes Reservoirs Canals Waterfalls Glaciers | |
| Atmosphere | Argentina climate | |
| Biosphere | Nature reserves of Argentina National parks of Argentina Nature reserves of Argentina Ecoregions of Argentina | |
| Anthroposphere | Ecology of Argentina Administrative divisions of Argentina Capital of Argentina Cities of Argentina Time zones | |
| in topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| History Armed Forces Science | ||
| Policy | Political system President Vice-President Foreign policy Parliament Constitution | 
|
| Symbols | Coat of Arms Flag Anthem | |
| Economy | Taxation | |
The relief of Argentina clearly distinguishes: plains and lowlands in the Northeast, the Patagonian Plateau in the south, and the Andes mountain ranges in the west. and the massifs of the Pampinsky sierras and Precordillera separated by depressions in the center, east of the Andes. The extreme northeast of Argentina is occupied by the Gran Chaco plains - low-lying (height 25-60 meters) and swampy in the East and gently rising to 400-500 meters to the foothills of the Andes in the west. To the southeast of the Chaco lies Mesopotamia (Parana River - Uruguay). In the Northeast, the edge of the Brazilian Plateau (height up to 468 m), deeply dissected by valleys of small watercourses, penetrates into it. Further to the southwest there is a flat lowland with an abundance of permanent or temporary swamps and lakes; the southern part is occupied by a hilly loess plain.
The Pampa extends on the right bank of the Paraná. In the East it is low (Low Pampa, height from 16-20 to 250m); only in the South do the Sierras of Buenos Aires stand out sharply - Sierra del Tandil (height up to 500m) and Sierra de la Ventana (up to 1243m). The Western, High Pampa (height 250-600 m) is covered in places with dunes and barchans, and in the South-West - with ancient water-glacial deposits. The Pampa plains are wedged in the North between the elongated, mainly meridionally, flat-topped ridges of the Pampinsky sierras and Precordillera with a height of 2 to 6 thousand m (Belgrano mountain in the Sierra de Famatina, 6250 m). They are separated by deep, extensive basins (bolsons) or longitudinal depressions (valles).
The entire south is occupied by the Patagonian Plateau, represented by flat table surfaces - mesetas with an altitude of up to 2000 m in the west, with ledges descending in the East, to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, near the Strait of Magellan, and in the East of Tierra del Fuego, the plateau turns into a low-lying accumulative plain. In the west of the country the Andes ranges rise. In the extreme North-West, its boundaries include the south-eastern part of the Central Andean Highlands, consisting of the high (about 4000 m) Puna plateau with extensive salt marsh depressions and ridges up to 5-6 thousand meters high. From the west, Puna is framed by the cones of active (Llullay Llaco, 6723m, Antofalya, 6100m, etc.) and extinct volcanoes of the Western Cordillera and its spurs, from the East - by the Advanced Cordillera of the Andes with a height of up to 6720m (El Libertador). From the east, the mid-altitude (up to 2500m) Subandian chains, deeply dissected by river valleys, adjoin the highlands. South of 27--28° S. w. the highland wedges out, and the Andes continue with the Advanced Cordillera, to which from 31° S. w. The Main (watershed) Cordillera joins from the 3west. Up to 35° S. w. It is on this stretch that the Andes reach their greatest height, many peaks exceed 6 thousand m (the highest point of the Western Hemisphere is Aconcagua, 6960 m), and the passes exceed 3500 m (La Cumbre, 3832 m). South of 35° S. w. only the Main Cordillera and individual massifs in the east remain. Again, low (up to 1000m) chains of the Andes appear only in the south of the island. Tierra del Fuego.
Relief . The relief of Argentina clearly distinguishes: plains and lowlands in the Northeast, the Patagonian Plateau in the south, and the Andes mountain ranges in the west. and the massifs of the Pampinsky sierras and Precordillera separated by depressions in the center, east of the Andes. The extreme northeast of Argentina is occupied by the Gran Chaco plains - low (height 25-60 meters) and swampy in the East and gently rising to 400-500 meters to the foothills of the Andes in the west. To the southeast of the Chaco lies Mesopotamia (Parana-Uruguay rivers). In the Northeast, the edge of the Brazilian Plateau (height up to 468 m), deeply dissected by valleys of small watercourses, penetrates into it. Further to the southwest there is a flat lowland with an abundance of permanent or temporary swamps and lakes; the southern part is occupied by a hilly loess plain.
The Pampa extends on the right bank of the Paraná. In the East it is low (Low Pampa, height from 16-20 to 250 m); Only in the South do the Sierras of Buenos Aires stand out sharply - Sierra del Tandil (height up to 500 m) and Sierra de la Ventana (up to 1243 m). The Western, High Pampa (altitude 250-600 m) is covered in places with dunes and barchans, and in the South-West - with ancient water-glacial deposits. The Pampa plains are wedged in the North between the elongated, mainly meridionally, flat-topped ridges of the Pampinsky sierras and Precordillera with a height of 2 to 6 thousand m (Belgrano mountain in the Sierra de Famatina, 6250 m). They are separated by deep, extensive basins (bolsons) or longitudinal depressions (valles).
The entire south is occupied by the Patagonian Plateau, represented by flat table surfaces - mesetas with an altitude of up to 2000 m in the west, with ledges descending in the East, to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In the south, near the Strait of Magellan, and in the East of Tierra del Fuego, the plateau turns into a low-lying accumulative plain. In the west of the country the Andes ranges rise. In the extreme North-West, its boundaries include the south-eastern part of the Central Andean Highlands, consisting of the high (about 4000 m) Puna plateau with extensive salt marsh depressions and ridges up to 5-6 thousand meters high. From the west, Puna is framed by the cones of active (Llullay Llaco, 6723 m, Antofalya, 6100 m, etc.) and extinct volcanoes of the Western Cordillera and its spurs, from the East - by the Advanced Cordillera of the Andes with a height of up to 6720 m (El Libertador). From the east, the mid-altitude (up to 2500 m) Subandian chains, deeply dissected by river valleys, adjoin the highlands. South of 27-28° S. w. the highland wedges out, and the Andes continue with the Advanced Cordillera, to which from 31° S. w. The Main (watershed) Cordillera joins from the 3west. Up to 35° S. w. It is on this stretch that the Andes reach their greatest height, many peaks exceed 6 thousand m (the highest point of the Western Hemisphere is Aconcagua, 6960 m), and passes - 3500 m (La Cumbre, 3832 m). South of 35° S. w. only the Main Cordillera and individual massifs in the east remain. Again, low (up to 1000 m) chains of the Andes appear only in the south of the island. Tierra del Fuego.
Climate. The territory of Argentina is located in three climatic zones of the Southern Hemisphere: tropical, subtropical and temperate. The climate of Argentina is determined by the country's position in three geographical zones, the presence of the Andes mountain barrier in the West, and the Atlantic Ocean in the East. In the tropical and subtropical zones, moisture comes mainly from the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore the amount of precipitation in the North and center of Argentina decreases from East to West. In the tropical zone, in the extreme Northeast there is a constantly humid and hot climate, in the Gran Chaco it is hot summer-humid, in Pune it is continental highland desert. In the subtropics, in the Eastern Pampa and Mesopotamia there is a uniformly humid warm climate, in the Western Pampa and the region of the Pampinsky sierras and the Precordillera it is arid, with hot summers and cool winters. Patagonia, lying in the “barrier shadow” of the mountains, has a cool semi-desert climate and only in Tierra del Fuego does the climate become temperate oceanic. Average January temperatures on the plains of Argentina range from 28°C (maximum 46°C) in the Gran Chaco (“heat pole” of South America), 20°C, 24°C in Pampa to 10°C in Tierra del Fuego; July, respectively, from 18 ° C, 8 ° C, 12 ° C (the July isotherm of 10 ° C passes through Buenos Aires) to 1 ° C, but on the mesetas of Patagonia frosts of up to - 33 ° C are possible, and southern pampero winds cause frosts even in the north of Argentina (the absolute minimum in Gran Chaco is 10°C, in Pampa - 13°C). The annual precipitation in the Northeast of the country is up to 1600 mm, in the Gran Chaco it decreases from 1400 to 400 mm (from the Northeast to the Southwest), in the East of Pampa about 1000 mm, in the West 400-600 mm, in Patagonia 100 -300 mm. Pune less than 100 mm; on the eastern slopes of the Southern Andes over 2000 mm (maximum in Argentina - about 5000 mm). Snow cover is stable only in the Andes, but snowfalls are observed up to 30° S. w. In accordance with the climate, the snow line in Pune rises to 6000 m, to 33-34° S. w. it descends to 4200 m, to 41° S. w. - up to 2700 m, south of 32° S. w. - reticular glaciation.
Inland waters . Almost all the country's rivers belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin or inland drainage areas; only in the Patagonian Andes between 41°30" and 44° S and from 4° to 49° S does the runoff of Andean rivers and lakes flow into the Pacific Ocean. The river network is most developed in the humid and low-lying Northeast, where The main full-flowing and navigable rivers of Argentina flow - the Parana, the lower reaches of the Paraguay and Uruguay rivers. To the west of 61° west, the more arid plains and basins of the North-West of the country are deprived of flow into the ocean, with the exception of the transit rivers Gran Chaco - Pilcomayo, Rio. -Bermejo and Rio Salado and small rivers of the Low Pampa. The rivers of Patagonia starting in the Andes (Rio Colorado, Rio Negro, Chubut, Rio Deseado, etc.) are also “transit”; in the interfluves there is practically no surface flow. The main river of the country is the Parana, descending from the Brazilian plateau in a deep gorge, near the town of Posadas it enters the lowlands, flows further in a wide (20-50 km) swampy valley and becomes navigable right up to the mouth of the town of Corrientes. The Parana receives its main tributary - the river. Paraguay, into which the Pilcomayo, Rio Bermejo and other smaller rivers flow higher. Near the city of Santa Fe, the Rio Salado flows into the Parana, and the Parana estuary - La Plata - river flows into the bay. Uruguay. All of these rivers (except Paraguay, where the flood is delayed by the Pantanal swamps until June) have a pronounced summer rise in level. The Parana itself in Argentina is full of water throughout the year, but the maximum flow (in February-March) exceeds the minimum (in August-September) by 7.5 times.
The largest river system in the internal drainage area is the Rio Bermejo - De Saguadero - Rio Salado - Chadileuvu - Curaco system, collecting runoff from the eastern slopes of the Andes and the Precordillera and irrigating the Western Pampa. The regime of most rivers in Patagonia is regulated by large pre-Indian lakes. In the upper reaches of the river they have significant reserves of hydropower (the largest are the Rio Negro River). In the Andes south of 39° S. w. many glacial lakes; the largest are Nahuel Huapi, Buenos Aires, San Martin, Viedma, Lago Argentino, Fagnano (on Tierra del Fuego). Typically, lakes lie in shallow basins on the mesetas of Patagonia (Musters, Colue-Huapi, etc.), in Pampa (the largest is Mar Chiquita) and in the region of the Pampinsky sierras (mostly salty). In the semi-desert and desert regions of Patagonia, in the west of Pampa and the Gran Chaco, in the Pampinsky sierras and especially in Puna, there are numerous salt marshes (Salinas Grandes, Arisaro, etc.). The main basins of groundwater are located in the area of the Pampinsky sierras and precordillera (there are also outlets of mineral and thermal springs), in Pampa and other troughs.
), Pampas, Patagonia and the mountainous regions of the Andes (Central Andean Highlands, Pampine Sierras, Precordillera). Since Argentina has a large extent from north to south, it crosses several climatic zones at once - from the tropics to Antarctica itself (Argentine Antarctica).
Border and coastline
The total length of Argentina's borders is 9861 km. In the south and west, Argentina borders with Chile (5308 km), in the north with Bolivia (832 km) and Paraguay (1880 km), in the northeast and east with Brazil (1261 km) and Uruguay (580 km). Argentina's southeastern border is defined by the Atlantic Ocean, while its border with Chile to the west and southwest is defined by the Andes Mountains.
Argentina's coastline is 4,989 km long. The coasts are slightly indented - to the south of the Gulf of La Plata the bays of San Matias, San Jose and Golfo Nuevo formed by the Valdez Peninsula jut out, and to the south are the bays of San Jorge and Bahia Grande.
Relief
The east of Argentina is vast, mostly flat, the west is mountainous. The entire northeast of the country is the Laplata Lowland, consisting of the plains of the Gran Chaco in the northwest, Mesopotamia (the area between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers) in the northeast, and the flat eastern part of Pampa in the south. The dissected edge of the Brazilian Plateau (heights 300-400 m) enters the north of Mesopotamia, and the Sierra del Tandil and Sierra de la Ventana hills (Tres Picos peak, 1243 m) adjoin the south of Pampa.
The western part of Pampa is an elevated plain with an altitude of 500-1000 m. Between the lowland areas and the Andes lies the mountainous region of the Pampine Sierras and Precordillera with altitudes of 2-6 thousand m, which are separated by deep basins. In the southwest of the country lies the Patagonian Plateau, cut by river valleys. In the west, the height of the plateau reaches 2000 m; when moving to the east, it descends in steps towards the coast.
The extreme north-west of Argentina is occupied by part of the Central Andean Highlands, which contains the desert Puna plateau (altitude about 4000 m), a number of salt marshes, ridges and volcanoes (for example, the Ojos del Salado volcano with a height of 6880 m). Further to the south (from 28° S) stretches the Advanced Cordillera of the Andes, from which from 31° S. w. The Main Cordillera (watershed ridge) connects. Up to 35° south w. some mountain peaks and volcanoes exceed 6000 m (the highest point in South America is located here - Mount Aconcagua, 6960 m), and the height of the passes reaches 3500 m. To the south there is only the Main Cordillera, which from 39 ° S. w. called Patagonian - its height decreases to 3-4 thousand m, and active volcanoes disappear. Here the mountain ranges are deeply dissected by ancient glacial and river valleys. The very south of the country - the island of Tierra del Fuego - has lowland terrain in the north and mountainous terrain in the south.
Pampas
Rivers
The largest river system in Argentina is the La Plata River system, which is formed from the confluence of the Uruguay and Parana rivers and from the confluence on the left side of the Rio Grande de Curitiba, and on the right - the Paraguay (with tributaries Pilcomayo and Vermeio), Juramento ( former Salado) and r. Tercero (with tributaries of the Cuarto and Saladillo rivers); the rest of the water system consists of steppe rivers and lagoons. Parallel to the river The Juramento in the Tucuman region flows from the Cordillera to the South River. Dulce (Saladillo); during high water they merge and end in the Porongos Lagoon, which also feeds the river. Primero and Segundo. In general, the rivers flowing in the south, starting from the Catamarca region, disappear into the steppes. A whole system of such rivers is formed from the river. de Guanacol (Vermejo), r. Travecia, San Juan, Mendoza and make up the Guanacache lagoon, from which the river flows. Desagvadero and, flowing through a series of marshes, flows into the Amarga lagoon; from here, intensified by the mountain streams of the Andes, the river. Tunuyan, b. Diamante, b. During high water, the Atuel merges with the river. Colorado. Many small streams also flow from the southeastern mountainous areas, partly flowing into the sea, partly into lagoons; only two flow into the Rio Salado, which flows into the Ensenado de Borombon and belongs to the river system. La Plata. The largest southern rivers are the Colorado, or Kobu-Leibu, that is, the big river, and the river. Negro or Limay-Leibu.
The riverine region is a gently rolling, grassy plain, the heights of which do not exceed 250 m, with the exception of the northeastern Sierra Missiona, which is higher. In very low-lying areas, lagoons are formed, some such as Ibera and Lamaloya, surrounded by swamps and swamps, and some real lakes with solid shores, for example Laguna Brava. River streams are numerous. The steep banks of the Paraná (150 km) and the banks of inland rivers are covered with forest; on the Mission, where the soil consists of hard, marginal clay, there are impenetrable forests.
Lakes
In the depressions of the Pampinsky sierras and in Puna there are extensive salt marshes (Salinas Grandes, Arizaro and others). Many areas in the Gran Chaco, the center of Mesopotamia and Pampa are swampy. In the northern part of Pampa there is the country's largest salt lake - Mar Chiquita, which does not drain into the ocean.
In the western part of Patagonia, there are large glacial lakes Nahuel Huapi, Buenos Aires, Viedma, Pueyrredon, Argentino, San Martin and others. The largest lake in Tierra del Fuego -
The name "Argentina" is often translated as "silver", which is why it is often called the Land of Silver Mountains. The capital of Argentina is the city of Buenos Aires, other large settlements: Cordoba, La Plata, Salta, Rosario. The country's population is 44 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish.
Argentina is a republic. Administratively, the territory is divided into 22 provinces, the national territory of Tierra del Fuego and the capital district. The head of state is the president, who is elected every 6 years. The highest authorities are represented by a bicameral parliament and a cabinet of ministers.
Argentina: geographical location
The state is located in South America. More precisely, the geographical position of Argentina is defined as follows: the southeastern part of the continent of South America. In addition to the mainland, the country includes many small islands and the eastern part of the Earth. In the south and west it borders with Chile, in the north with Bolivia, in the northeast with Paraguay and Brazil. The country's eastern neighbor is Uruguay. The Atlantic Ocean washes it from the east, and subantarctic waters from the south.
The area of Argentina is 2,780 thousand square meters. km. Of all the countries on the continent, only Brazil surpasses it in size. The territory of the country is strongly elongated from north to south, the coasts are not very dissected. In the southeastern part, the La Plata estuary, formed by the Paraná, cuts into the coast for almost 300 kilometers.
Argentina's position in historical-geographical regions is similar to Chile, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands (disputed territory between Argentina and Great Britain).
Natural features
Argentina's geographical location and large extent have determined the country's varied topography and climatic conditions. According to them, the territory of Argentina can be divided into four natural regions.
The first region contains large mountain ranges - the Andes. They are located along the western border of the country. Mountain ranges in the south, covered with snow and ice, reach a height of about 4 thousand meters. This region also contains a large lake region that extends into Chile. In the northwestern part, the Andean ranges are much higher. There is little precipitation, so there are high mountain steppes and deserts here.
The Northern Plains region is located between the Andes and Paraguay. This is with heavy rainfall. There are many rivers in this area, which often flood, flooding the banks (especially in the Chaco Plain). The plains are mainly used for pasture.
The third region - Pampa - is flat and hilly. Its relief is composed of loose sedimentary deposits. There are several low hills in the east. In the southern part, the height of the plains decreases, and there are many swamps. A huge part of the Pampa is occupied by loess. There are sand dunes on the western border of the region.
Patagonia is located in southern Argentina, between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean. This natural area is characterized by frequent winds and a dry climate. On the western border there is a chain of deep depressions (mountain depressions), and the seashore is steep. From west to east, the Patagonia plateau is cut by canyons.
Economy
Argentina is very profitable. Most of the borders are land - about three quarters. From north to south Argentina stretches for 3.7 thousand km, and from east to west - for 1.4 thousand km. The coastline has a length of 2.5 thousand km, which contributes to the development of trade relations.
In general, the geographical position of Argentina creates favorable conditions for establishing external contacts and the economic growth of the country. However, there are a number of reasons preventing rapid development. The first reason is the significant distance from countries that are profitable in terms of trade, for example, from North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The second is the similarity in the specialization of goods produced with neighboring countries.
Among Latin American countries, Argentina is one of the most powerful. The main place in the country's economy is occupied by the service sector (57.2%). The industrial sector is also well developed. The predominant industry is heavy industry: ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, uranium, wood processing, oil refining. The country has some of the world's largest uranium deposits.
Agriculture makes up only 9.9% of the state economy; corn, wheat, fruits, and tobacco crops are grown. In the field of livestock farming, beef cattle breeding and meat and wool sheep breeding are developing. The agricultural products produced by Argentina meet the country's own needs and are also exported abroad.
Conclusion
The South American country, due to its elongation from north to south, is located in several natural and climatic zones. Its territory is divided into four natural regions: the Andes, Northern Plains, Pampa and Patagonia. The fertile plains of the Pampa and the Northern Plains region contribute to the development of agriculture in the country. The large sea border creates conditions for foreign trade relations. The main economic areas of Argentina are industry and services.