Argentina

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Argentina}}
[[File:Argentina topo blank.jpg|thumb|Topographical map of Argentina]]

With a mainland surface area of {{convert|2780400|km2|0|abbr=on}},{{efn-ua|name=excl_area}} Argentina is located in [[Southern Cone|southern South America]], sharing land borders with Chile across the [[Andes]] to the west;<ref>{{harvnb|Young|2005|p=52}}: "The Andes Mountains form the "backbone" of Argentina along the western border with Chile."</ref> Bolivia and Paraguay to the north; Brazil to the northeast, [[Uruguay]] and the [[South Atlantic Ocean]] to the east;<ref name=igngeo>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.gob.ar/node/46|last=Albanese|first=Rubén|title=Información geográfica de la República Argentina|trans-title=Geographic information of the Argentine Republic|publisher=Instituto Geográfico Nacional|place=Buenos Aires|year=2009|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031020728/http://www.ign.gob.ar/node/46|archive-date=31 October 2013|url-status = live}}</ref> and the [[Drake Passage]] to the south;{{sfnm|1a1=McKinney|1y=1993|1p=6|2a1=Fearns|2a2=Fearns|2y=2005|2p=31}} for an overall land border length of {{convert|9376|km|0|abbr=on}}. Its coastal border over the [[Río de la Plata]] and [[South Atlantic Ocean]] is {{convert|5117|km|0|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=igngeo />

Argentina's highest point is [[Aconcagua]] in the [[Mendoza province]] ({{convert|6959|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level),<ref name=ignmax>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.gob.ar/AreaProfesional/Geografia/DatosArgentina/MaximasAlturas |last=Albanese |first=Rubén |title=Alturas y Depresiones Máximas en la República Argentina |trans-title=Maximum peaks and lows in the Argentine Republic |publisher=Instituto Geográfico Nacional |place=Buenos Aires |year=2009 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723041514/http://www.ign.gob.ar/AreaProfesional/Geografia/DatosArgentina/MaximasAlturas |archive-date=23 July 2013 |url-status = dead}}</ref> also the highest point in the [[Southern Hemisphere|Southern]] and [[Western Hemisphere]]s.{{sfn|Young|2005|p=52}} The lowest point is [[Laguna del Carbón]] in the ''San Julián Great Depression'' [[Santa Cruz province, Argentina|Santa Cruz province]] ({{convert|-105|m|0|abbr=on}} below sea level,<ref name=ignmax /> also the lowest point in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, and the seventh lowest point on Earth).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geology.com/below-sea-level/|last=Lynch|first=David K.|title=Land Below Sea Level|publisher=Geology – Geoscience News and Information|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327144243/http://geology.com/below-sea-level/|archive-date=27 March 2014|url-status = live}}</ref>

The northernmost point is at the confluence of the [[Río Grande de San Juan|Grande de San Juan]] and Mojinete rivers in [[Jujuy province]]; the southernmost is [[Cape San Pío]] in [[Tierra del Fuego province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego province]]; the easternmost is northeast of [[Bernardo de Irigoyen, Misiones]] and the westernmost is within [[Los Glaciares National Park]] in Santa Cruz province.<ref name=igngeo /> The maximum north–south distance is {{convert|3694|km|0|abbr=on}}, while the maximum east–west one is {{convert|1423|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=igngeo />

Some of the major rivers are the [[Paraná River|Paraná]], [[Uruguay River|Uruguay]]—which join to form the Río de la Plata, [[Paraguay River|Paraguay]], [[Salado River, Argentina|Salado]], [[Río Negro River, Argentina|Negro]], [[Santa Cruz River, Argentina|Santa Cruz]], [[Pilcomayo River|Pilcomayo]], [[Bermejo River|Bermejo]] and [[Colorado River, Argentina|Colorado]].{{sfn|McCloskey|Burford|2006|pp=5, 7–8, 51, 175}} These rivers are discharged into the [[Argentine Sea]], the shallow area of the Atlantic Ocean over the [[Argentine Shelf]], an unusually wide [[continental platform]].{{sfn|McCloskey|Burford|2006|p=8}} Its waters are influenced by two major ocean currents: the warm [[Brazil Current]] and the cold [[Falklands Current]].{{sfn|McCloskey|Burford|2006|p=18}}

=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Environment of Argentina}}
[[File:Aconcagua2016.jpg|thumb|alt=Mountain tops, with clouds shown.|[[Aconcagua]] is the [[Extremes of Altitude|highest mountain]] outside of Asia, at {{convert|6960.8|m|ft}}, and the highest point in the [[Southern Hemisphere]].<ref name="UNC-Sigma">{{cite web|url=http://www.uncu.edu.ar/novedades/index/informe-cientifico-que-estudia-el-aconcagua-el-coloso-de-america-mide-69608-metros |title=Informe científico que estudia el Aconcagua, el Coloso de América mide 6960,8 metros |language=es |trans-title=Scientific Report on Aconcagua, the Colossus of America measures 6960,8&nbsp;m |year=2012 |publisher=[[Universidad Nacional de Cuyo]] |access-date=3 September 2012 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908061725/http://www.uncu.edu.ar/novedades/index/informe-cientifico-que-estudia-el-aconcagua-el-coloso-de-america-mide-69608-metros |archive-date=8 September 2012}}</ref>]]
[[File:Perito Moreno (39986110524).jpg|thumb|Argentina features geographical locations such as this glacier, known as the [[Perito Moreno Glacier]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=Hylke E. |last2=Zimmermann |first2=Niklaus E. |last3=McVicar |first3=Tim R. |last4=Vergopolan |first4=Noemi |last5=Berg |first5=Alexis|author6-link=Eric Franklin Wood |last6=Wood |first6=Eric F. |title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution |journal=Scientific Data |date=30 October 2018 |volume=5 |page=180214 |doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214 |pmid=30375988 |pmc=6207062 |language=en |issn=2052-4463|bibcode=2018NatSD...580214B}}</ref>]]
Argentina is one of the most [[biodiverse]] countries in the world<ref name=cbd>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=ar|title=Argentina – Main Details|publisher=Convention on Biological Diversity|place=Montreal, Canada|year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019023006/http://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=ar|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status = live}}</ref> hosting one of the greatest [[ecosystem]] varieties in the world: 15 continental zones, 2 marine zones, and the Antarctic region are all represented in its territory.<ref name=cbd /> This huge ecosystem variety has led to a biological diversity that is among the world's largest:<ref name=cbd /><ref name=wcmc>{{cite web |title=Biodiversity 2005. Cambridge, UK: UNEP–WCMC – World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme. 2005 |url=https://www.bipindicators.net/system/resources/files/000/000/393/original/801.pdf?1480337758 |website=www.bipindicators.net |access-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170515/https://www.bipindicators.net/system/resources/files/000/000/393/original/801.pdf?1480337758 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status = live}}</ref> 9,372 cataloged [[vascular plant]] species (ranked 24th);{{efn-ua|Includes higher plants only: [[fern]]s and fern allies, [[conifer]]s and [[cycad]]s, and [[flowering plant]]s.<ref name=wcmc />}} 1,038 cataloged bird species (ranked 14th);{{efn-ua|Includes only birds that breed in Argentina, not those that migrate or winter there.<ref name=wcmc />}} 375 cataloged [[mammal]] species (ranked 12th);{{efn-ua|Excludes marine mammals.<ref name=wcmc />}} 338 cataloged [[reptile|reptilian]] species (ranked 16th); and 162 cataloged [[amphibian]] species (ranked 19th).

The original [[pampa]] had virtually no trees; some imported species like the [[Platanus occidentalis|American sycamore]] or [[eucalyptus]] are present along roads or in towns and country estates (''estancias''). The only tree-like plant native to the pampa is the evergreen [[Ombú]]. The surface soils of the pampa are a deep black color, primarily [[mollisols]], known commonly as ''humus''. This makes the region one of the most agriculturally productive on Earth; however, this is also responsible for decimating much of the original ecosystem, to make way for commercial agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/pampas|title=Pampas|publisher=[[ScienceDirect]]|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219080121/https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/pampas|url-status=live}}</ref> The western pampas receive less rainfall, this ''dry pampa'' is a plain of short grasses or [[steppe]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Maenza|first1=Reinaldo A.|last2=Agosta|first2=Eduardo A.|last3=Bettolli|first3=María L.|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315369042|title=Climate change and precipitation variability over the western 'Pampas' in Argentina|journal=[[International Journal of Climatology]]|volume=37|issue=Suppl.1|pages=445–463|doi=10.1002/joc.5014|date=21 February 2017|bibcode=2017IJCli..37..445M |s2cid=132539062 |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/grasslands-explained|title=Grasslands Explained|work=[[National Geographic]]|access-date=19 December 2022|quote=Grasslands go by many names. In the United States Midwest, they're often called prairies. In South America, they're known as pampas.|archive-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219080108/https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/grasslands-explained/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[National Parks of Argentina]] make up a network of 35 [[national park]]s in Argentina. The parks cover a very varied set of terrains and [[biotope]]s, from [[Baritú National Park]] on the northern border with [[Bolivia]] to [[Tierra del Fuego National Park]] in the far south of the continent. The [[Administración de Parques Nacionales]] (National Parks Administration) is the agency that preserves and manages these national parks along with [[Natural monument]]s and [[National Reserve]]s within the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parquesnacionales.gob.ar/institucional/objetivos-de-la-administracion/ |language=es |title=Objetivos de la Administración |publisher=Administración de Parques Nacionales |access-date=15 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029082936/https://www.parquesnacionales.gob.ar/institucional/objetivos-de-la-administracion/ |archive-date=29 October 2018 |url-status = live}}</ref> Argentina had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 7.21/10, ranking it 47th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Argentina|Climatic regions of Argentina}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_ARG_present.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] in Argentina]]

In general, Argentina has four main climate types: warm, moderate, arid, and cold, all determined by the expanse across latitude, range in altitude, and relief features.<ref name=arggov>{{cite web|url=http://www.argentina.gov.ar/argentina/portal/paginas.dhtml?pagina=1483 |title=Geography and Climate of Argentina |publisher=Government of Argentina |access-date=28 August 2015 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220215355/http://www.argentina.gov.ar/argentina/portal/paginas.dhtml?pagina=1483 |archive-date=20 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=Hylke E. |last2=Zimmermann |first2=Niklaus E. |last3=McVicar |first3=Tim R. |last4=Vergopolan |first4=Noemi |last5=Berg |first5=Alexis |last6=Wood |first6=Eric F. |title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution |journal=Scientific Data |date=30 October 2018 |volume=5 |page=180214 |doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214|pmid=30375988 |pmc=6207062 |bibcode=2018NatSD...580214B}}</ref> Although the most populated areas are generally [[temperate climate|temperate]], Argentina has an exceptional amount of climate diversity,<ref name = FAO>{{cite web |url= http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/AGPC/doc/Counprof/Argentina/argentina.htm |title= Argentina |work= Country Pasture/Forage Resource Profiles |publisher= Food and Agriculture Organization |access-date= 7 June 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150525011748/http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/AGPC/doc/Counprof/Argentina/argentina.htm |archive-date= 25 May 2015 |url-status = live}}</ref> ranging from [[subtropical]] in the north to [[Polar climate|polar]] in the far south.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830193152/http://www.turismo.gov.ar/eng/Information/fsinformations.htm |archive-date=30 August 2015 |url=http://www.turismo.gov.ar/eng/Information/fsinformations.htm |title=General Information |publisher=Ministerio de Turismo |access-date=21 August 2015 |url-status = dead}}</ref> Consequently, there is a wide variety of [[biomes]] in the country, including subtropical rain forests, semi-arid and [[arid]] regions, temperate plains in the Pampas, and cold subantarctic in the south.<ref name =Fernandez>{{cite web |last1=Fernandez |first1=Osvaldo |last2=Busso |first2=Carlos |title=Arid and semi–arid rangelands: two thirds of Argentina |url=http://www.rala.is/rade/ralareport/fernandez.pdf |publisher=The Agricultural University of Iceland |access-date=23 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924084601/http://www.rala.is/rade/ralareport/fernandez.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status = dead}}</ref> The average annual precipitation ranges from {{convert|150|mm|in|0}} in the driest parts of [[Patagonia]] to over {{convert|2000|mm|in|0}} in the westernmost parts of Patagonia and the northeastern parts of the country.<ref name = FAO /> Mean annual temperatures range from {{convert|5|C|0}} in the far south to {{convert|25|C|0}} in the north.<ref name=FAO />

Major wind currents include the cool [[Pampero Winds]] blowing on the flat plains of Patagonia and the Pampas; following the cold front, warm currents blow from the north in middle and late winter, creating mild conditions.{{sfn|Menutti|Menutti|1980|p=69}}
The [[Sudestada]] usually moderates cold temperatures but brings very heavy rains, rough seas and [[coastal flooding]]. It is most common in late autumn and winter along the central coast and in the Río de la Plata estuary.{{sfn|Menutti|Menutti|1980|p=69}}
The [[Zonda wind|Zonda]], a [[foehn wind|hot dry wind]], affects Cuyo and the central Pampas. Squeezed of all moisture during the {{convert|6000|m|0|abbr=on}} descent from the Andes, Zonda winds can blow for hours with gusts up to {{convert|120|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, fueling wildfires and causing damage; between June and November, when the Zonda blows, snowstorms and [[blizzard]] (''viento blanco'') conditions usually affect higher elevations.{{sfn|Menutti|Menutti|1980|p=53}}

[[Climate change in Argentina]] is predicted to have significant effects on the living conditions in Argentina.<ref name=cambioclimatico2009>{{cite web |url=http://www.ambiente.gov.ar/archivos/web/UCC/File/09ccargentina.pdf |language=es |title=El Cambio Climatico en Argentina |publisher=Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable |access-date=20 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052049/http://www.ambiente.gov.ar/archivos/web/UCC/File/09ccargentina.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>{{rp|30}} The [[climate of Argentina]] is changing with regards to precipitation patterns and temperatures. The highest increases in precipitation (from the period 1960–2010) have occurred in the eastern parts of the country. The increase in precipitation has led to more variability in precipitation from year to year in the northern parts of the country, with a higher risk of prolonged [[droughts]], disfavoring agriculture in these [[regions]].