Argentina

The complete western border of Argentina runs through the Andes, where numerous 6000 m peaks rise into the sky. One of them is the 6961 m high Aconcagua, the highest peak of the South American continent and therewith one of the “Seven Summits“.

In the north-east of the country there is the Argentine capital Buenos Aires with approximately 15 million inhabitants. Around this immense conurbation stretches the vast pampas – a region that is mainly characterized by cattle and sheep breeding. A typical symbol for the inhabitants of the pampas is the gaucho – a cattle breeder or drover on horseback, whose role is reminiscent of the American cowboy.

The Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges once described his compatriots as „Italians who speak Spanish, would like to be British and believe that they live in Paris“. Until the early 19th century Argentina was part of the Spanish colonial empire. A huge wave of immigration from Europe, primarily Italy, continues to shape the demography and culture of the people to this day. Culturally, Argentina is particularly well known for the music and dance of the tango.

Tourism in Argentina is concentrated in relatively small areas – a large part of the country is uninhabited and sometimes even inaccessible. Popular destinations for holidaymakers are the seaside resorts on the Atlantic coast, the famous Iguazu waterfalls on the border with Brazil and the Patagonian Andes, which attract mainly outdoor sportsmen and adventurers.