Geography

Main article: Geography of Argentina

Topographical map of Argentina

With a mainland surface area of 2,780,400 km2 (1,073,518 sq mi),[B] Argentina is
located in southern South America, sharing land borders with Chile across
the Andes to the west;[152] Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; Brazil to the
northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east;[153] and the Drake
Passage to the south;[154] for an overall land border length of 9,376 km
(5,826 mi). Its coastal border over the Río de la Plata and South Atlantic
Ocean is 5,117 km (3,180 mi) long.[153]

Argentina's highest point is Aconcagua in the Mendoza province (6,959 m

(22,831 ft) above sea level),[155] also the highest point in
the Southern and Western Hemispheres.[156] The lowest point is Laguna del
Carbón in the San Julián Great Depression Santa Cruz province (−105 m
(−344 ft) below sea level,[155] also the lowest point in the Southern and Western
Hemispheres, and the seventh lowest point on Earth).[157]

The northernmost point is at the confluence of the Grande de San Juan and
Mojinete rivers in Jujuy province; the southernmost is Cape San Pío in Tierra
del Fuego province; the easternmost is northeast of Bernardo de Irigoyen,
Misiones and the westernmost is within Los Glaciares National Park in Santa
Cruz province.[153] The maximum north-south distance is 3,694 km (2,295 mi),
while the maximum east-west one is 1,423 km (884 mi).[153]

Some of the major rivers are the Paraná, Uruguay—which join to form the Río
de la Plata, Paraguay, Salado, Negro, Santa
Cruz, Pilcomayo, Bermejo and Colorado.[158] These rivers are discharged into
the Argentine Sea, the shallow area of the Atlantic Ocean over the Argentine
Shelf, an unusually wide continental platform.[159] Its waters are influenced by
two major ocean currents: the warm Brazil Current and the cold Falklands
Current.[160]
Biodiversity
Main article: Environment of Argentina

Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside of Asia, at

6,960.8 metres (22,837 ft), and the highest point in the Southern Hemisphere.[161]

Los Cardones National Park

Argentina is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world[162] hosting one of
the greatest ecosystem varieties in the world: 15 continental zones, 2 marine
zones, and the Antarctic region are all represented in its territory.[162] This huge
ecosystem variety has led to a biological diversity that is among the world's
largest:[162][163] 9,372 cataloged vascular plant species (ranked 24th);[H] 1,038
cataloged bird species (ranked 14th);[I] 375 cataloged mammal species (ranked
12th);[J] 338 cataloged reptilian species (ranked 16th); and 162
cataloged amphibian species (ranked 19th).

The original pampa had virtually no trees; some imported species such as
the American sycamore or eucalyptus are present along roads or in towns and
country estates (estancias). The only tree-like plant native to the pampa is the
evergreen Ombú. The surface soils of the pampa are a deep black color,
primarily mollisols, known commonly as humus. This makes the region one of
the most agriculturally productive on Earth; however, this is also responsible for
decimating much of the original ecosystem, to make way for commercial
agriculture.[164] The western pampas receive less rainfall, this dry pampa is a
plain of short grasses or steppe.[165][166]

The National Parks of Argentina make up a network of 35 national parks in

Argentina. The parks cover a very varied set of terrains and biotopes,
from Baritú National Park on the northern border with Bolivia to Tierra del Fuego
National Park in the far south of the continent. The Administración de Parques
Nacionales (National Parks Administration) is the agency that preserves and
manages these national parks along with Natural monuments and National
Reserves within the country.[167] Argentina had a 2018 Forest Landscape
Integrity Index mean score of 7.21/10, ranking it 47th globally out of 172
countries.[168]

Climate
Main articles: Climate of Argentina and Climatic regions of Argentina
 Köppen climate classification in Argentina

Argentina features geographical locations such as this

glacier, known as the Perito Moreno Glacier.[169]
In general, Argentina has four main climate types: warm humid subtropical,
moderate humid subtropical, arid and cold. all determined by the expanse
across latitude, range in altitude, and relief features.[170][171] Although the most
populated areas are generally temperate, Argentina has an exceptional amount
of climate diversity,[172] ranging from subtropical in the north to polar in the far
south.[173] Consequently, there is a wide variety of biomes in the country,
including Subtropical rainforests, semi-arid and arid regions, temperate plains in
the Pampas, and cold subantarctic in the south.[174] The average annual
precipitation ranges from 150 millimetres (6 in) in the driest parts
of Patagonia to over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in the westernmost parts of
Patagonia and the northeastern parts of the country.[172] Mean annual
temperatures range from 5 °C (41 °F) in the far south to 25 °C (77 °F) in the
north.[172]

Major wind currents include the cool Pampero Winds blowing on the flat plains
of Patagonia and the Pampas; following the cold front, warm currents blow from
the north in middle and late winter, creating mild
conditions.[175] The Sudestada usually moderates cold temperatures but brings
very heavy rains, rough seas and coastal flooding. It is most common in late
autumn and winter along the central coast and in the Río de la Plata
estuary.[175] The Zonda, a hot dry wind, affects Cuyo and the central Pampas.
Squeezed of all moisture during the 6,000 m (19,685 ft) descent from the
Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to 120 km/h (75 mph),
fueling wildfires and causing damage; between June and November, when the
Zonda blows, snowstorms and blizzard (viento blanco) conditions usually affect
higher elevations.[176]

Climate change in Argentina is predicted to have significant effects on the living

conditions in Argentina.[177]: 30 The climate of Argentina is changing with regards
to precipitation patterns and temperatures. The highest increases in
precipitation (from the period 1960–2010) have occurred in the eastern parts of
the country. The increase in precipitation has led to more variability in
precipitation from year to year in the northern parts of the country, with a higher
risk of prolonged droughts, disfavoring agriculture in these regions.

Politics
Main article: Politics of Argentina
In the 20th century, Argentina experienced significant political turmoil and
democratic reversals.[178][179] Between 1930 and 1976, the armed
forces overthrew six governments in Argentina;[179] and the country alternated
periods of democracy (1912–1930, 1946–1955, and 1973–1976) with periods of
restricted democracy and military rule.[178] Following a transition that began in
1983,[180] full-scale democracy in Argentina was reestablished.[178][179] Argentina's
democracy endured through the 2001–02 crisis and to the present day; it is
regarded as more robust than both its pre-1983 predecessors and other
democracies in Latin America.[179] According to the V-Dem Democracy indices,
Argentina in 2023 was the second most electoral democratic country in Latin
America.[181]