Argentina Country study and Presentation by Antonio Valentine

Background Info In 1816, the United provinces of the “Rio de la Plata” declared their independence from Spain. After Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia went their separate ways, the remaining land mass became Argentina. - The “Rio de la Plata” means “The River of Silver” formed by the combination of the Uruguay and Paraná river extending 180 miles from the rivers confluence to the Atlantic ocean. The name Argentina is derived from the Latin word Argentum - meaning silver Government type: republican Capital: Buenos Aires Independence: july 9, 1816 National holiday: Revolution day

Geography Southern south America, between Chile and Uruguay 2,780,400 sq km. which, in comparison to the world ranks 8 th * Natural resources are: - Fertile plains of the Pampas* - Ore, lead, Zinc - Tin, Copper, Iron - Manganese, petroleum, and uranium Natural hazards include: - Certain areas that are subjected to earthquakes, violent winds, and heavy flooding

Geography (Cont’d) Some of Argentina's main environmental issues are: - Deforestation, soil degradation, desertification *, air pollution, and water pollution. A couple environmental agreements are: - climate change, marine dumping, desertification, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, and The Law of the Sea* High’s and Low’s - “Cerro Aconcagua”- The tallest mountains in the western hemisphere. - “Laguna Del Carbon” – The lowest point in the western hemisphere.

Population Home to 40,913,584 Argentineans, in comparison to the world these guys are ranked 31 st - But in comparison to America, Argentineans have a lot of “catching up” to do, trailing the U.S by 266,298,539 people The average life expectancy is ranking 66 th - male: female: Weird, but true: - The avg. fertility rate is 2.35 children born/woman (rnk. 106 th ) - The avg fertility rate in Niger is 7.75 children born/woman (rnk. 1 st )

Demographics Surprisingly, Argentina isn’t as diverse as one would think - White/ Spanish – 97%, other – 3% Religion: - 92% roman catholic, 2% protestant, 2% Jewish, and 4% other Languages: - Spanish, Italian, German, English and French Literacy: %, Male – 97.2%, Female – 97.2%

Economy From riches to rags….literally - Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries 100 years ago. Despite persistent fiscal and current acct. deficits, high inflation and mounting external debt. Argentina’s GDP to date is 558 billion. (rnk.24 th )…compared to the U.S with 14,250,000,000,000 (rnk. 2 nd ) The GDP per capita is 13,800 (rnk 8 th ) - By sector -agri: 8.5% -industry: 32.2% - services: 59.3%

Communications Main Telephone lines in use : million - Cellular phones in use: million Radio Broadcast Stations - AM: PM: (more than 1000, mostly unlicensed) TV broadcast hosts : 42 Internet hosts : million (rnk.16 th ) Internet Users : million (rnk.28 th )

Fun Facts 18–21 years of age for voluntary military service (18-21 requires parental permission)* The world’s first animated feature films were made and released in Argentina The official national sport of Argentina is plato, which is played with a six handle ball on a horseback*

UHHHH……Health Care? Health care is provided by employers, labor union-sponsored plans, government insurance plans, public hospitals and clinics, and private insurance plans. Argentineans are also responsible for tons of revolutionary breakthroughs in health, science and medicine, - credited with the worlds first ever coronary bypass surgery, and creating the worlds first artificial heart, implanting it in a human being for the first time in 1969.

Isn’t this some bull? The President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner complained that the beef prices were too high, and she blames the inflation on the livestock producers saying that they are profiteering. Sparking a war of words between farmers, the consumers and the government. The feud is also sparked by allegations that the president’s spouse is pulling a “Martha Stewart.” insider trading, and nabbing two million in U.S currency before the 2008 financial crisis The president also claims that the livestock producers are holding back on sales to fatten up their cattle thus creating a shortage of beef. bull

Funny Money Argentina seizes the central bank, president Fernandez fired the head of the bank in Argentina on allegations of stealing 6.6 billion in bank reserves. Fernandez, not quite an angel herself, confiscated $30 billion of private retirement accounts, leading the people to not only distrust their banking system, but distrust their president as well. Which isn't good for her image, so Fernandez fired the head of the statistical that calculates inflation, for failure to masks the agencies attempts to rise prices. funny money

Leave my ship alone Tensions between Argentina and Britain rise as Buenos Ares blocked a shipment of pipe heading to the Falkland. Confiscated the shipment because it was alleged that the UK is illegally promoting the oil industry in the Malvinas islands ship

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