Geography of Argentina

Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast and Chile in the west.

Argentina is the second largest country of South America after Brazil and the 8th largest country in the world. Its total area is approximately 2.7 million km². Argentina claims a section of Antarctica (Argentine Antarctica) but has agreed to suspend sovereignty disputes in the region as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty. Argentina also asserts claims to several South Atlantic islands administered by the United Kingdom.

Geographical zones

The country's provinces are divided in 6 zones regarding climate and terrain. From North to South, West to East:

*Argentine Northwest: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja
*Gran Chaco: Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero
*Mesopotamia: Misiones, Entre Ríos, Corrientes
*Cuyo: San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis
*The Pampas: Córdoba, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Buenos Aires
*Patagonia: Rio Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego

Climate

*Mostly temperate
*Arid in southeast
*Sub-antarctic in southwest

Land use

* Arable land:9%
* Permanent crops: 1%
* Permanent pastures: 52%
* Forests and woodland: 19%
* Other: 19% (1993 est.)

:Irrigated land: 17,000 km² (1993 est.)

Rivers and Lakes

Major rivers in Argentina include the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, Bermejo, Colorado, Río Negro, Salado, Uruguay and the largest river, the Paraná. The latter two flow together before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, forming the estuary of the Río de la Plata. Regionally important rivers are the Atuel and Mendoza in the homonymous province, the Chubut in Patagonia, the Río Grande in Jujuy, and the San Francisco River in Salta.

There are several large lakes in Argentina, many of them in Patagonia. Among these are lakes Argentino and Viedma in Santa Cruz, Nahuel Huapi in Río Negro and Fagnano in Tierra del Fuego, and Colhué Huapi and Musters in Chubut. Lake Buenos Aires and O'Higgins/San Martín Lake are shared with Chile. Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, is the largest salt water lake in the country. There are numerous reservoirs created by dams. Argentina features various hot springs, such as those at Termas de Río Hondo with temperatures between 30°C and 65°C.

Environment

Current issues: Environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrialising economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution. Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets.

Natural hazards:
*San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes
*Pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast
*Heavy flooding in the Mesopotamia

Geographical Politics

International agreements:
* Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
* Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation

Strategic importance:
*Location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage):main|Regions of Argentina

See also

*List of islands of Argentina
*List of mountains in Argentina
*List of regions in Argentina
*Protected areas of Argentina
*List of rivers of Argentina

References

*
*
* [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/argentina_rel96.jpgUT Perry Castenada Map - Argentina Map] Website Map