Argentina is a federal republic situated in the most southern part of the American continent. It shares most of the Southern Cone with its western neighbour, Chile. The country is also neighbours with Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Uruguay and Atlantic Ocean to the east, Brazil to the northeast and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world, with a land area of 2.8 million km2 and a population of 43 million people. It is the largest Spanish-speaking country, subdivided into 23 provinces each with its own capital and constitution. However, altogether they exist and function under a federal system. The federal capital is in Buenos Aires and their currency is Argentinian Pesos.

Argentina was the first South American country my sons and I ever visited. After skiing in most parts of the world, we decided we wanted to try skiing during our summer holiday in a new place that we have never been to before- South America. At first we chose Bariloche, which is in the country’s Patagonia region close to the Chilean border and in the middle of the Andes mountains. This resort is known for its Swiss alpine-style architecture. However, it was during this time in June 2011 that the Chilean volcano Puyehue erupted and most of the ski resorts in the area, both in Chile and Argentina, were closed and all flights were cancelled. We were therefore diverted to Ushuaia, also part of Patagonia, which is situated in the most southern part of the continent and is the southernmost city in the world.

It is believed that earliest traces of human life in today’s Argentina date back to prehistoric Paleolithic times, more than two million years ago and continued onto the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Prior to European colonization, Argentina was sparsely inhabited by a wide number of cultures and social groups in many different areas of the country- all conquered by the Mapuche from what is Chile today. Then came the Inca Empire in late 15th century and took control of these widespread areas. The first Europeans to arrive was Amerigo Vespucci in 1502. He was followed by the Spanish navigators Juan Diaz de Solis in 1516 and Sebastian Cabot in 1526. Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza in 1536, but the city was subsequently abandoned in 1541. Further colonisation efforts came from Paraguay, Peru and Chile, but it was in 1580 that Spain established a permanent colony based in Buenos Aires and together with Bolivia and Peru, the three countries became a part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. It was not until 1776 that Spain established further control over the territory by setting up the Vice Royalty of Rio de la Plata. This opened the gate for the city of Buenos Aires to become a flourishing port.

The years 1806 and 1807 witnessed a series of unsuccessful invasions by the British Empire over Argentina and Uruguay, as part of the Napoleonic Wars when Spain was an ally of France. The country fought for independence in 1810 and gained it on 1818, but this was followed by a civil war until 1861, which led to the country’s reorganising its provinces with Buenos Aires as its federal capital. By this time, Argentina welcomed massive waves of European immigration which radically reshaped its cultural and demographic outlook and eventually became the seventh wealthiest nation by early 20th century. In the early 1930s, the country fell into political instability and economic crises that pulled them back into underdevelopment. Today, it remains one of the richest countries in the world, as well retaining its status as a prominent regional power and second largest economy in South America. Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over some parts of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, as well as the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.