FACTS

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Area (only Total) total: 2,766,890 sq km

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

Population: 40,677,348 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Spanish

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Buenos Aires

Capital (Time Difference): UTC-3

Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)