The Pampas
The area known as the Pampas consists mostly of flat agricultural land and contains the provinces of Buenos Aires and La Pampa as well as parts of Santa Fe and Crdoba. The area is well known for its horse-breeding tradition and cattle ranches.
Located 56km (35 miles) southeast of Buenos Aires, La Plata is the capital of the Buenos Aires Province and an important administrative, commercial and cultural centre. It has one of the country’s best universities.
South of La Plata lies the Sierra de la Ventana, whose scenic peaks attract many hikers and climbers. One of the most popular peaks for climbing excursions is the Cerro de la Ventana (1136m/3408ft), which is located within the Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park.
The capital of the Santa Fe Province is linked to Paran, capital of the Entre Ros Province, via a tunnel beneath the River Paran (see below). Mainly important as an agricultural and industrial centre, Santa Fe’s colonial past is still visible in its streets and squares, though there are also many modern buildings. The nearby city of Rosario, on the west bank of the River Paran, was where the Argentinian flag was first raised and its biggest attraction is the impressive, boat-shaped Monumento Nacional a la Bandera (Monument to the Flag). La Semana de la Bandera (Flag Week) is celebrated annually in June. Nearby is the town of Rufino, an important centre for cattle raising. Walking and trekking are popular in the Lihue Calel National Park, an area consisting mostly of desert, located some 226km (142 miles) southwest of the city of Santa Rosa, and known for its pink granite rock formations (reaching up to 600m/1968ft).
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