Interesting & Fun Argentina Facts for Kids (2024 Updated!)
Argentina, or the Argentine Republic, is a beautiful country in South America. Known as the “land of silver,” Argentina means silver in Latin. It is the 8th largest country in the world, with over 46 million people living as of 2023.
There are a lot of fun facts about Argentine for kids. Here are 25 fun facts about Argentina that we selected to share with you!
The Diverse Landscape and Environments!
Argentina has it all.
- They share the Andes Mountains along its western border with Chile. It is spread over a distance of 5,500 miles. The highest Andes peak is Mount Aconcagua, which is 22,841 ft tall- that’s over 4 miles high.
- The southern end of Argentina is the Patagonia desert region. It contains the Tierra del Fuego. It is an archipelago (group of islands) and is situated off the southern tip of south america. Tierra del Fuego has cold, windy weather.
- Pampas, which is the flat and grassy plains, covers the fertile central region of the country.
- The Mesopotamia zone in the far north is covered by lush subtropical forests.
- The Iguazu Falls, a waterfall system in Argentina, has 275 separate waterfalls!
How do they protect all these different types of landscapes? Argentina has over 30 national parks protecting its ecosystem and all these diverse landscapes. How many national parks does your country have?
Cultural Facts and Traditions
- The famous Tango dance form was born here! This ballroom dance originated in the capital city of Argentina, Buenos Aires.
- Like anywhere on earth, they also have cowboys and cattle herders. They’re called Gauchos, and they live on ranches and grasslands.
- A type of tea made from the leaves of a type of holly tree called Yerba mate is the national drink of Argentina.
- The Argentine-style barbecue called Asado is made of beef and pork.
- Argentina’s cakes and cookies have a sweet caramel treat called Dulce de leche.
Argentina’s Unique Wildlife
- Penguins! Specifically, Magellanic penguins are hosted in Argentina more than any other country.
- There are animals like llamas called guanacos and large flightless rheas here!
- The Iberá Wetlands harbor alligators, giant river otters, howler monkeys, and many exotic bird species made homes here!
- Rugged Patagonia is home to pumas, fur seals, elephant seals, and sea lion colonies
Argentina’s Sports and Leisure Activities
Most popular sport? Football (soccer!)
You might already know their famous football team and their legendary players like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona!!
- Though football is the most popular sport, the official national sport of Argentina is pato. It is a combination of polo and basketball played on horseback.
- There are sporting activities disguised as leisure activities. Skiing and rock climbing in the Andes Mountains. Hiking through Argentina’s 30+ national parks! Fishing for trout and salmon in Patagonian rivers and lakes. The list keeps on going.
Historic Events and Figures
- Who inhabited Argentina first? Diverse native people like the nomadic Tehuelche.
- In 1516, Spain claimed the territory that would become Argentina, and later, in 1816, Argentina declared independence from Spain after intense battles.
- Juan and Eva, the political couple, fought for workers’ rights in the 1940s. Juan Perón was the president of Argentina in the 1940s. His wife, Eva “Evita” Peron, was a popular and influential first lady.
- In the 20th century, Argentina faced the Dirty War (1976 – 1983) and failed the Falklands War with the UK over ownership of a disputed island territory.
Quirky and Fun Facts
- Did you know that Argentina was way ahead of its time? In 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage.
- Ask your teacher what political turbulence is. Argentina had 5 different presidents in just 10 days back in 2001! If that doesn’t define political turbulence, I don’t know what does.
- After winning the 2022 World Cup led by Lionel Messi, his hometown banned parents from naming kids “Messi” to avoid confusion.
- Do you think 300 is a large number? Based on what comes after, right? Argentina is home to over 300 glaciers. It is a lot! Great for ice hiking.
- Light blue, white, and then again light blue are the three horizontal bands in the Argentina flag. There is a yellow sun in the middle of the flag. Might be familiar with their football jersey.
FAQs
Why is Argentina called the Land of Silver?
Argentina gets its name from the Latin word for silver, “Argentum.” It was dubbed the Land of Silver after early Spanish explorers discovered large silver deposits there.
What is asado?
Asado refers to traditional Argentine-style barbecues. It typically involves cooking beef, pork, and sausages over an open wood fire or grill.
Who are some of Argentina’s Nobel Prize winners?
Renowned Argentine scientists and researchers who have received Nobel Prizes include physiologist Bernardo Houssay, biochemist Luis Leloir, and immunologist César Milstein.
How many glaciers are there in Argentina?
Argentina contains over 300 glaciers, many concentrated across Andean mountain regions like Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The largest is the Perito Moreno glacier, which is 97 square miles long.
What does the Argentina flag look like and symbolize
The Argentine flag has three equal horizontal bands (light blue, white, and light blue) plus a yellow sun in the middle. The sun image honors the Sun of May, a symbol of the Inca empire, while blue and white were the colors of Argentina’s independence movement.
Conclusion
Argentina is a big country. It shares borders with 5 other countries, namely Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay. You might already know that the main language spoken here is Spanish, but they also speak Italian, German, and indigenous tongues.
There are a ton of more facts available about this country. After all, they span over a million square miles! It is only fair that the facts match the size!
Do not believe me? Ask your parents to take you to Argentina next time and see for yourself!