Argentina Essay, Research Paper
Chris Tudor
Spanish 1
Report
12-14-99
Argentina
Argentina is second largest in area and fourth largest in
population in Latin
America. Argentina covers more than 1 million square miles. The
official language of
Argentina is Spanish. More than 90% of the population is Roman
Catholic.
Land
The Argentine landscape slopes downward from the Andes Mountains in
the west
to the Atlantic coast in the East. The border with Chile follows
the crest of the Andes.
In the Andes, heights of peaks range anywhere from more than 20,000
feet in the north to
less than 5,000 feet in Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of the
continent. South
America?s highest mountain is in the Andes, Mt. Aconcagua, which is
22,831 feet in
height.
Eastward from the northern Andes lies an arid plateau called Gran
Chaco. It is a
region of scrub woodland mixed with grassy savannas. Further east
is the region called
Mesopotamia. Gran Chaco and Mesopotamia together form the Northeast
region of the
Argentine Republic. In the next region to the south is the Pampa, a
low, flat plain
interrupted only by low hills or sierras. The pampas, or plains,
are the homeland of the
famous Argentine gauchos.
South of the Colorado River is Patagonia, the largest region of
Argentina. It
extends from the Pampa to the Tierra del Fuego and was named in
1520 by the
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan while he was sailing on his
trip around the
world. The climate in this area is dry and windy.
Economy
Argentina has always been one of the most prosperous Latin American
countries.
Unlike most of its neighbors, the country has developed a strong
manufacturing industry.
they have become less dependent on agriculture. Today, Argentina is
largely
self-sufficient in consumer goods. However, in the late 20th
century, the Argentine
economy suffered from severe inflation like that of many other
countries. This condition
has been complicated upon because of an unstable government and
continuing domestic
and international political problems.
Transportation and Communication
Argentina?s airlines, railways, and bus and ship lines constitute
the most
extensive transportation system in Latin America. The rail network
is the most complete
on the continent, spreading out from Buenos Aires in all
directions. All the rail lines are
government owned. The roads are extensive, also, and link all parts
of the nation with
the capital… The telephone and telegraph networks are mostly
government owned.
Education
Argentina possess one of the highest literacy rates in South
America. The public
schools were built by government subsidies, especially under the
leadership of President
Domingo F. Sarmiento from 1864 to 1874. Primary education is
compulsory and free,
but further schooling is very expensive. Argentina?s vocational
schools offer
commercial, agricultural, and industrial instruction.
The first university in Argentina was established at Cordoba in
1613. Other
national universities were founded in Buenos Aires, La Plata, San
Miguel de Tucuman,
Santa Fe, Mendoza, Bahia Blanca, Corrientes, and Santa Rosa.
Government
The constitution of Argentina was formed in 1853 and has amended a
few times.
It established Argentina as a federal republic with separate
executive, legislative, and
judicial branches. The constitution calls for an executive branch
to be headed by a
president who is elected directly by the people for a term of four
years. He may not
succeed himself. The president and the vice-president must both be
Roman Catholics
and at least 30 years of age. The president also serves as
commander in chief of the
armed forced.
According to the constitution the legislature is two consist of two
houses, the
Senate is to be composed of a minimum of two members from each of
Argentina?s
provinces and from the Federal District. Provincial senators must
be 30 years of age and
are elected by their local legislatures for nine-year terms.
Members of the Chamber of
Deputies must be at least 25 years of age and are elected directly
by the people for
four-year terms. The number of deputies is based upon population.
Voting is required
for all citizens between the ages of 70years of age, with
exceptions based on such
conditions as health and distance from a polling pace. Some people
have also been
deprived of the rights to vote for legal reasons.
The judiciary consists of a Supreme Court and a series of lower
courts.
The nine justices of the Supreme Court are appointed for life by
the president with the
consent of the Senate.
In international affairs, Argentina is a member of the United
Nations, the World
Bank, and the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade. To participate
in regional matters
it belongs to the Organization of American States.