Officially the Argentine Republic, Argentina is the second largest South American country - only Brazil being larger - and the eighth largest country in the entire world. Located on the southern reaches of South America, Argentina is located between the Andes Mountains range on the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, covering a total land mass of 2,766,890 square kilometers, making up the nations 24 provinces.

Argentina shares its northern border with Paraguay and Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay are to the northeast with Chile to the south and west. Argentina has laid claim to 969,464 square kilometers of Antarctica, known as Argentine Antarctica, overlapping similar claims made by both Chile and the United Kingdom.

The country got its name from the term Tierra Argentina, which translates to Land of Silver, as dubbed by Ruy Díaz de Guzmán, author of "Historia del descubrimiento, población, y conquista del Río de la Plata" (History of the discovery, population, and conquest of the Río de la Plata) in 1612. The label hailed from the legend of Sierra del Plata (a mountain rich in silver), which reached Spain in 1524. By 1536, the legend of silver appeared on a Venice map. An expedition was underway to uncover the silver, following its trail up the rivers to what became the city of Potosí in 1946. Unfortunately for Spain, when they arrived, the source of the silver had already been discovered and claimed by an earlier expedition setting out from Peru.

Argentina has approximately 4,665 kilometers of coastline, varying from sandy beaches to cliffs. There are 8 major lakes, two of which share title with Chile - The Lake Buenos Aires and San Martin Lake - and 8 major rivers, the largest of which is Paraná. Dams were constructed, creating a number of man-made reservoirs. Natural hot springs can be found around the country, including those found in Termas de Río Hondo, with temperatures ranging from 30 to 65°C.

The climate in Argentina varies dramatically by region, with subtropical temperatures in the north and subpolar in the far south. Sultry summers and war, dry winters are common in the north, experiencing periodic droughts. In the central region, hot summers with frequent thunderstorms and mild winters are common. This are of the country has recorded some of the world's largest sized hail on record. Farther south, the summers are warm but the winters can be extremely cold with heavy snowfall.

Argentina's economy is quite diverse, relying mostly upon natural resources, agricultural exports, a variety of industries and a highly literate population. A devastating fall in the economy began after the 1940's that has taken the entire 20th century to recover from, but the economy took a great turn in the early 2000's. In 2003, the poverty rate was a staggering 48%, but has fallen dramatically to 26.9% in 2007. Economic growth has been on a steady incline averaging about 9% per year since 2003.

Tourism isn't one of Argentina's larger economic growth factors, which is somewhat surprising since the country has so much to offer. From the sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast to the majestic mountain ranges in the west, with some of the most lush trees and plant life in the world found on the central plains.

Vacationing In Argentina

Argentina's rich history and diverse nature are an excellent reason to vacation in Argentina. The geographical layout provides an immensely diverse topography of coastline, plains and mountainous regions, suitable for any style or preference. Being less of a tourist attraction than many of its Latin American neighbors, vacationers who wish to avoid the immense crowds commonly found on the beaches of Costa Rica, Panama and other common resorts seek Argentina as a perfect alternate destination. Argentina is an ideal, not to mention cost effective, solution to the vacationers decision making dilemma.

For those interested in planning an Argentina vacation, you will find Argentina.Rica24 is the perfect starting point. We provide in-depth resources regarding every aspect of an Argentina vacation. From travel agencies, accommodations, dining and tourist attractions to public and private transportation - anything you may need to know before and during your stay in the beautifully diverse regions of Argentina can be found right here.

Moving to Argentina

With such a massive land area available, purchasing property and building a home in Argentina is perhaps the easiest way to move to this beautiful nation. However, there are plenty of Argentina real estate options available as well. Though not the most popular Latin American destination, that very fact may be inspiring enough convince foreigners to move to or retire in Argentina. The demand for real estate and land is less than that of most Latin American countries; therefore the price of property is significantly lower, while the beauty and wonder of the scenery remains virtually the same.

Argentina.Rica24 provides Argentina Real Estate listings, along with a complete Guide to Purchasing Real Estate in Argentina, which includes in-depth descriptions of property rights and type, purchasing procedures and methods, taxes and fees and most importantly, how to protect your investment. You'll also find detailed materials describing how to buy a car, how to obtain a driver's license, a temporary or permanent residency visa, educational and employment opportunities - virtually everything you could possibly need to know before moving to Argentina.

At Argentina.Rica24, our number-one goal is to shepherd you towards, and assist in the completion, of a wondrous vacation or successful real estate acquisition in Argentina. With a little help and expertise from Rica24, you can make your dreams a reality, whether they be investing your way to a wealthy future, or retiring in the magnificently diverse landscape of Argentina.