Geography of Argentina
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Argentina is the second largest country of South America after Brazil and the 8th largest country in the world. Its total area is approximately 2.7 million km². Argentina claims a section of Antarctica (Argentine Antarctica) but has agreed to suspend sovereignty disputes in the region as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty. Argentina also asserts claims to several South Atlantic islands administered by the United Kingdom.
Contents
Area
- Total: 2,766,890 km²
- Land: 2,736,690 km²
- Water: 30,200 km²
Claims
- Land claims
- *Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- *South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- *Argentine Antarctica
- Maritime claims
- * Contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km)
- * Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or to the edge of the continental margin
- * Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
- * Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (29 km)
Boundaries
Total land boundaries: 9,665 km
With border countries:
Extreme points:- Northernmost: 21º46' S, 66º13' W, at the junction of rivers Grande de San Juan and Molinete (Jujuy)
- Westernmost: 50º01' S, 73º34' W, at Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Santa Cruz)
- Easternmost: 26º15' S, 53º38' W, at Bernardo de Irigoyen (Misiones)
- Southernmost: 55º03' S, 66º31' W, at Cape San Pío (Tierra del Fuego)
- :::Geographic South Pole, if taking the Antarctic claim into acount
Geographical zones
| Northwest | |
| Gran Chaco | |
| Cuyo | |
| Mesopotamia | |
| The Pampas | |
| Patagonia | |
|
| |
| Argentine Antarctica>Antártida Argentina
(on hold by Antarctic Treaty System)
| |
- Argentine Northwest: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja
- Gran Chaco: Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero
- Mesopotamia: Misiones, Entre Ríos, Corrientes
- Cuyo: San Juan, Mendoza, San Luis
- The Pampas: Córdoba, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Buenos Aires
- Patagonia: Rio Negro, Neuquén, Chubut, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego
Climate
Terrain
- Rich plains of the Pampas in centre part
- Flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south
- Rugged Andes along western border
- Elevation extremes
- * Lowest point: Gran Bajo de San Julián, around 100 m below sea level. (Santa Cruz)
- * Highest point: Mt. Aconcagua, 6,960 m (Mendoza)
- ::::This summit is also the highest in the American continent.
Natural resources
- Fertile plains of the Pampas
- Lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use
- Arable land: 9%
- Permanent crops: 1%
- Permanent pastures: 52%
- Forests and woodland: 19%
- Other: 19% (1993 est.)
- Irrigated land: 17,000 km² (1993 est.)
Environment
Current issues: Environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrialising economy such as soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution. Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets.Natural hazards:
- San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes
- Pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast
- Heavy flooding in the Mesopotamia
Geographical Politics
International agreements:
- Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
- Location relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)
See also
- List of islands of Argentina
- List of mountains in Argentina
- List of regions in Argentina
- Protected areas of Argentina
- List of rivers of Argentina
References
- This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
- This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
- [UT Perry Castenada Map - Argentina Map] Website Map
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