Argentina

Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a massive nation in the southern cone of South America.

It is the second-largest country in South America, following Brazil. Globally, it ranks as the eighth-largest country. The nation also claims territory in Antarctica and several islands.

Argentina is a federal state. It is divided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city. Buenos Aires serves as the federal capital and the largest city. The provinces and the capital each have their own constitutions. However, they all function under a unified federal system.

The geography of Argentina is defined by its many neighbors and diverse borders. To the west, Chile shares a long border. To the north, Argentina is bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay. Brazil lies to the northeast, while Uruguay sits to the east. The South Atlantic Ocean meets the eastern coast.

To the south, the Drake Passage separates the land from other regions. This vast territory includes varied landscapes, from high mountains to vast plains. The country's scale makes it a significant regional power in South America.

The name "Argentina" has deep linguistic roots. It comes from the Italian word "argento," which means silver.

This name likely originated from Venetian and Genoese navigators. These explorers heard legends about mountains made of silver in the La Plata Basin. The first written use of the name appeared in a 1602 poem by Martín del Barco Centenera. Before it was the Argentine Republic, the region was the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. A presidential decree in 1860 finally settled the official name. In the past, English speakers often called the country "the Argentine."

Human history in this region stretches back tens of thousands of years. Evidence shows humans were present as early as 21,000 years ago.

In Santa Cruz, the Cueva de las Manos features ancient stenciled handprints. These paintings offer a look into hunter-gatherer lives between 7,300 BC and 700 AD. Diverse cultures inhabited the land before European arrival. Some groups, like the Selkʼnam, were hunters in the far south. Others, like the Guaraní, were farmers in the northeast. In the northwest, the Inca Empire expanded into the territory around 1480.

Spanish colonization began in the 16th century. Explorers like Juan Díaz de Solís and Sebastian Cabot visited the area. Pedro de Mendoza founded a small Buenos Aires in 1536, though it was later abandoned. Many other cities, such as Córdoba and Mendoza, were established throughout the 1500s. The Spanish Empire eventually organized the area as the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776. This change made Buenos Aires a central capital. The region's wealth was often tied to silver and gold mines in nearby Peru and Bolivia.

Argentina gained independence through a period of intense conflict. The May Revolution of 1810 replaced Spanish rule with a local government. On July 9, 1816, the Congress of Tucumán formally declared independence.

General José de San Martín was a key military leader during this era. He led armies across the Andes to secure independence for Chile and Peru. Following independence, the country faced long civil wars between Centralists and Federalists. These conflicts lasted until 1880, when the nation reorganized as a federation. Later, waves of European immigration, mostly from Italy and Spain, shaped the modern culture.

The 20th century brought significant political instability. The Great Depression triggered a coup d'état in 1930.

This began a period of military interference in government. Several more coups occurred in 1943, 1955, 1962, and 1966. After President Juan Perón died in 1974, his widow Isabel Perón became president. She was later overthrown in a 1976 coup by a military junta. This junta led the Dirty War, a period of state terrorism and civil unrest. This era of political violence ended when Raúl Alfonsín was elected president in 1983.

Today, Argentina is a major player in the global economy and international politics. It has the second-largest economy in South America.

The country also has the second-highest Human Development Index in Latin America, after Chile. Argentina is a member of several important groups, including the G20 and Mercosur. It is also a founding member of the United Nations and the World Bank. As a developing country, it maintains a status as a significant middle power in international affairs.