Argentina is one of the largest countries in the world, and is the second largest in South America behind Brazil. It has a total area of 2.8 million sq. km. It is about 3900 km long from north to south and a distance of 1400 km from east to west at its widest. The country can be conveniently divided into 4 parts based on their widely different terrains:
1. Pampas, the enormous fertile plains in the center of the country
2. Gran Chaco, the subtropical forested lowland in the north which borders Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia
3. Patagonia, the wind-swept plateau neighboring the Andes from south of Pampas to Tierra del Fuego
4. the Andes mountain range on the west bordering Chili
The highest point above sea level in Argentina is the mountain Cerro Aconcagua, at 6,959 meters. There are many major rivers and lakes throughout the country. The longest river is Rio Parana, which has its source in Brazil, flows out of Brazil to become a natural border between Paraguay and Argentina, and flows through Argentina before finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the lakes are in Patagonia, which has the largest salt water lake in South America.
Log In