Overview
Argentina, officially known as the Argentine Republic, is a country located in the Southern Cone of South America. It is the second-largest country in South America, surpassed only by Brazil, and ranks as the fourth-largest country in the Americas and the eighth-largest in the world. With a total area of 2,780,085 square kilometers (1,073,397 square miles), Argentina spans a vast and diverse landscape.
Geography and Borders
Argentina shares the majority of the Southern Cone region with Chile, its neighbor to the west. The country's other borders include:
- Bolivia and Paraguay to the north
- Brazil to the northeast
- Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east
- The Drake Passage to the south
This expansive geography gives Argentina access to a wide range of natural environments, from northern subtropical regions to the southern reaches near Antarctica.
Political Structure
Argentina is organized as a federal state, comprising twenty-three provinces along with one autonomous city. This autonomous city, Buenos Aires, serves as both the federal capital and the largest city in the country. Each province, as well as the capital, maintains its own constitution, though all operate within the broader federal system that governs the nation as a whole.
Territorial Claims
Argentina asserts sovereignty over several disputed or remote territories, including:
- The Falkland Islands
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- The Southern Patagonian Ice Field
- A portion of Antarctica
These claims reflect Argentina's historical and geopolitical interests extending into the South Atlantic and Antarctic regions.