World Country Guide

Area
2,780,400 sq km (1,073,518 sq miles).

Population
37,486,938 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density
13.0 per sq km (2001).

Capital
Buenos Aires. Population: 2,776,138 (official estimate 2001).

Geography
Argentina is situated in South America, east of the Andes, and is bordered by Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to the north and northeast. There are four main geographical areas: the Andes, the North and Mesopotamia, the Pampas and Patagonia. The climate and geography of Argentina vary considerably, ranging from the great heat of the Chaco (El Chaco), through the pleasant climate of the central Pampas to the sub-Antarctic cold of the Patagonian Sea. Mount Aconcagua soars almost 7000m (23,000ft) and waterfalls at Iguaz stretch around a massive semi-circle, thundering 70m (230ft) to the bed of the Paran River. In the southwest is a small ’Switzerland’ with a string of beautiful icy lakes framed by mountains.

Government
Federal and Democratic Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1816. Head of State and Government: President Nstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoic since 2003.

Language
Spanish is the official language. English is widely spoken with some French and German.

Religion
More than 90 per cent Roman Catholic, 2 per cent Protestant with small Muslim and Jewish communities.

Time
GMT - 3 (GMT - 4 in summer).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Lamp fittings are of the screw-type. Plug fittings in older buildings are of the two-pin round type, but some new buildings use the three-pin flat type.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available (but not generally in use). Country code: 54. Outgoing international code: 00. The system is often overburdened and international calls are expensive. Local calls can be made from public call-boxes, which are located in shops and restaurants and are identifiable by a blue sign outside. Public phones take 1 peso or 50 and 25 centavos coins or cards. Reduced tariffs apply from 2200-0800.

Mobile telephone
GSM 1900 network. Network operators include Telecom Personal (website: www.telecompersonal.com.ar) and Unifon (website: www.unifon.com.ar). Roaming can be arranged.

Fax
Most large hotels have facilities.

Internet
ISPs include Ciudad Internet Prima (website: www.ciudad.com.ar). Public access is available in Internet cafes in main towns.

Telegram
A cable service to other Latin American countries exists, run by All America Cables Limited.

Post
The main post office in Buenos Aires is located in Sarmiento 189 and is open Mon-Fri 0900-1930. Airmail to Europe takes between five and 10 days. Surface mail to Europe takes on average 20 to 25 days but can take as long as 50 days, so it is advisable to send everything airmail. Internal postal services are subject to delay. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-2000, Sat 0800-1400.

Press
The Buenos Aires Herald is the leading English-language newspaper in Latin America. Argentina’s principal dailies include Clarn, Crnica, El Cronista, La Nacin, Pgina 12, Diario Popular, La Prensa, La Razn and mbito Financiero.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.