The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

icing from

       October to May; strategic location between North America and Russia;

       shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia,

       floating research stations operated by the US and Russia

      :Arctic Ocean Economy

      Overview:

       Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources,

       including crude oil, natural gas, fish, and seals.

      :Arctic Ocean Communications

      Ports:

       Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

       Telecommunications:

       no submarine cables

       Note:

       sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage

       (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Asia) are important seasonal

       waterways

      :Argentina Geography

      Total area:

       2,766,890 km2

       Land area:

       2,736,690 km2

       Comparative area:

       slightly more than four times the size of Texas

       Land boundaries:

       9,665 km total; Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay

       1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

       Coastline:

       4,989 km

       Maritime claims:

       Continental shelf:

       200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation

       Exclusive economic zone:

       nm limits unknown

       Territorial sea:

       12 nm (overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm)

       Disputes:

       short section of the boundary with Uruguay is in dispute; short section of

       the boundary with Chile is indefinite; claims British-administered Falkland

       Islands (Islas Malvinas); claims British- administered South Georgia and the

       South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica

       Climate:

       mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

       Terrain:

       rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of

       Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

       Natural resources:

       fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese,

       crude oil, uranium

       Land use:

       arable land 9%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 52%; forest and

       woodland 22%; other 13%; includes irrigated 1%

       Environment:

       Tucuman and Mendoza areas in Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are

       violent windstorms that can strike Pampas and northeast; irrigated soil

       degradation; desertification; air and water pollution in Buenos Aires

       Note:

       second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location

       relative to sea lanes between South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans

       (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage)

      :Argentina People

      Population:

       32,901,234 (July 1992), growth rate 1.1% (1992)

       Birth rate:

       20 births/1,000 population (1992)

       Death rate:

       9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

       Net migration rate:

       NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)

       Infant mortality rate:

       34 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       67 years male, 74 years female (1992)

       Total fertility rate:

       2.8 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Argentine(s); adjective - Argentine

       Ethnic divisions:

       white 85%; mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhite groups 15%

       Religions:

       nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%,

       Jewish 2%, other 6%

       Languages:

       Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

       Literacy:

       95% (male 96%, female 95%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

       Labor force:

       10,900,000; agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)

       Organized labor:

       3,000,000; 28% of labor force

      :Argentina Government

      Long-form name:

       Argentine Republic

       Type:

       republic

       Capital:

       Buenos Aires

       Administrative divisions:

       23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 district**

       (distrito); Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes,

       Distrito Federal**, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza,

       Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa

       Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, Tucuman; note - the national

       territory is in the process of becoming a province; the US does not

       recognize claims to Antarctica

       Independence:

       9 July 1816 (from Spain)

       Constitution:

       1 May 1853

       Legal system:

       mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory

       ICJ jurisdiction

       National holiday:

       Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

       Executive branch:

       president, vice president, Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber

       or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de

       Diputados)

       Judicial branch:

       Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

       Leaders:

       Chief of State and Head of Government:

       President Carlos Saul MENEM (since 8 July 1989); Vice President (position

       vacant)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Justicialist Party (JP), Carlos Saul