The Guinness Encyclopedia

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Extensible Markup Language | 1995-06-15 | 6KB | 19 lines

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <!DOCTYPE card PUBLIC "-//Apple, Inc.//DTD card V 2.0//EN" "" > <card> <id>5000</id> <filler1>0</filler1> <cantDelete> <false /> </cantDelete> <showPict> <true /> </showPict> <dontSearch> <false /> </dontSearch> <owner>5472</owner> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet_3106.css" /> <content> <layer>background</layer> <id>31</id> <text>ARGENTINAOfficial name: Rep├║blica Argentina (the Argentine Republic)Member of: UN, OAS, ALADI, MercosurArea: 2766889 km2 (1068302 sq mi), excluding territories claimed by Argentina: the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, and parts of the AntarcticPopulation: 33500000 (1993 est)Capital: Buenos Aires 12582000 (including suburbs; 1991 census)Other major cities: C├│rdoba 1179000, Rosario 1096000, Mendoza 729000, La Plata 644000 (all including suburbs; 1991 census)Languages: Spanish (95%; official), Guarani (3%)Religion: Roman Catholic (92%)GOVERNMENTThe President and Vice-President are elected for four years by an electoral college of 600 members who are chosen by universal adult suffrage. The lower house of Congress (the Chamber of Deputies) has 259 members elected by universal suffrage for four years, with one half of its members retiring every two years. The 48 members of the upper house (the Senate) are chosen by provincial legislatures to serve for nine years, with 16 members retiring every three years.GEOGRAPHYThe Andes, whose highest point in Argentina is Cerro Aconcagua (6960 m / 22834 ft), extend as a rugged barrier along the border with Chile. South of the Colorado River is Patagonia, an important pastureland ΓÇô although much of it is semidesert. Nearly 80% of the population lives in the pampas, whose prairies form one of the worldΓÇÖs most productive agricultural regions. The subtropical plains of northeast Argentina contain part of the Gran Chaco prairie and rain forests. Principal rivers: Paran├í (4880 km / 3032 mi), Colorado (850 km / 530 mi). Climate: Most of Argentina has a mild temperate climate, although the south is cooler and the northeast is subtropical. The higher parts of the Andes have a subpolar climate. Rainfall is heavy in the Andes and the far northeast, but generally decreases towards the south and southwest, which are dry.ECONOMYArgentina is one of the worldΓÇÖs leading producers of beef, wool, mutton, wheat and wine. The pampas produce cereals, while fruit and vines are important in the northwest. Pasturelands cover over 50% of Argentina ΓÇô for beef cattle in the pampas and for sheep in Patagonia. However, manufacturing (including chemicals, steel, cement, paper, pulp and textiles) now makes the greatest contribution to the economy. The country is rich in natural resources including petroleum, natural gas, iron ore and precious metals, and has great potential for hydroelectric power. ArgentinaΓÇÖs status as an economic power declined between the 1930s and 1980s, but financial reforms greatly improved prospects in the 1990s. Currency: Peso.HISTORYNorthwest Argentina was part of the Inca Empire, while Patagonia and the pampas were home to nomadic Indians. The Spanish arrived in the La Plata estuary in 1516 but early colonization of the region was slow. During the Napoleonic Wars, nationalism grew. San Mart├¡n helped lead the revolution that ended Spanish rule. Independence was declared in 1816, but the war of liberation continued until 1820, and the first national government was only formed in 1826. Although it was reunited under the dictator de Rosas (1835ΓÇô52), Argentina was wracked by disunity, and the powers of the provincial governments were not curbed until the 1850s. From 1880, large-scale European immigration and British investment helped Argentina to develop a flourishing economy. Prosperity was ended by the Depression, and, in 1930, constitutional rule was interrupted by a military coup.In 1946, a populist leader, Juan Per├│n (1895ΓÇô1974), came to power with the support of the unions. His wife Eva was a powerful and popular figure, and after her death (1952), Per├│n was deposed (1955) because of his unsuccessful economic policies. Succeeding civilian governments were unable to conquer rampant inflation, and the military took power again (1966ΓÇô73). An unstable period of civilian rule (1973ΓÇô76) included Per├│nΓÇÖs brief second presidency. In the early 1970s, urban terrorism grew and the economic crisis deepened, prompting another coup. The military junta that seized control in 1976 received international condemnation when thousands of opponents of the regime were arrested or disappeared. In April 1982, President Galtieri ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands and its dependencies, which had long been claimed by Argentina. A British task force recaptured the islands in June 1982, and Galtieri resigned. Constitutional rule was restored in 1983. ArgentinaΓÇÖs economic prospects have greatly improved since 1989 under President Carlos Menem.</text> </content> <name>Argentina</name> <script></script> </card>