It comes from the Latin term "argentum", which means silver. The origin of this name goes back to the first voyages made by the Spanish conquerors to the Río de la Plata. The survivors of the shipwrecked expedition mounted by Juan Díaz de Solís found indigenous people in the region who gave them silver objects as presents. The news about the legendary Sierra del Plata - a mountain rich in silver - reached Spain around 1524. As from this date, the Portuguese named the river of Solís, Río de la Plata (River of Silver). Two years later the Spanish used the same name. The National Constitution adopted in 1853 included the name "República Argentina" (Argentine Republic) among the official names to designate the government and the country's territory.
Located in South America, and thus, in the southern hemisphere, Argentina has an area of almost 3.8 million square kilometers, 2.8 on the continent – approximately 54% are plains (grasslands and savannahs), 23%, plateaus, and the other 23%, mountains - and the remainder in the Antarctic. It is 3,800 Km. long and is located between latitude 22º and 55º. Its border with Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile has a perimeter of 9,376 Km, while the territory bordered by the Atlantic Ocean is 4,725 Km long.

"This is my wine" to find out more about this Project go to www.thisismywine.com

For more Developments go to the website below:

http://www.euromayor.com/

http://www.invertir.com/

Population

Argentina's current population is more than 36 million inhabitants, almost half of which live in the city and the province of Buenos Aires. Population density calculated on a national basis is 13 inhabitants per square kilometer.

95% of the population is white and most are descendants of Italians and Spaniards. As a result of the massive European immigration, the white and Indian half-castes were slowly reduced and at the present they amount only to 4.5% of the population. The pure indigenous population - Mapuches, Collas, Tobas, Matacos and Chiriguanos - amount to 0.5% of the population.

Language

Spanish is the official language of the Argentine Republic. In Buenos Aires, some "lunfardo" expressions -city slang - are used.

Religion

There is complete religious freedom in Argentina, although the official religion is Roman Catholic. Other religions practiced in the country are Protestant, Jewish, Moslem, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others.Currency

The official Argentine currency is the Peso. There are bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pesos, and coins of 1 peso and 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents.

Constitution and Government

Argentina consists of 23 provinces plus a federal district, the City Buenos Aires. The Argentine Constitution establishes a Republic under a representative and federal system, and three separate branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial.

The executive branch is exercised by the President and Vice-president of the Nation, elected for a 4-year term, and who may be reelected for a single additional term. The legislative branch is bicameral: the Senate (composed of three senators from each province and from the City of Buenos Aires) and the House of Representatives (composed of representatives elected directly and in proportion to each district's population). The judicial branch "is vested in the Supreme Court and lower courts of justice".

Each province has adopted its own Constitution in accordance with the National Constitution, to rule its administration.

The current National Constitution dates from 1853. Nevertheless, it was amended in 1860, 1898, 1957 and 1994. The last amendment made in August 1994, allows the President's reelection for an additional term.Two historic dates

May 25, 1810. The first "Gobierno Patrio" or National Government Assembly was constituted July 9, 1816. Proclamation of Independence by the "Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata".

National emblems

The Argentine flag has three horizontal stripes: the one in the middle is white and bears the golden sun, and the two outside stripes are light blue. The national flower is the ceibo, and the national stone is the manganese spar (rodocrosita) or "Inca Rose".

The view from Tierralta / Eco Pueblo

The sunset in Argentina

The Tango in Buenos Airis

Cordoba

Euromayor/ Grupo Ecipsa in Cordoba

Building Business Relationships

Argentina Housing Boom Lures Foreigners; Shuts Out Locals

April 2--Accustomed to seeing starter homes for $500,000, American tourists in Buenos Aires often do a double-take when they see ads asking $45,000 for a downtown loft or $1.5 million for a winery and 120,000 acres of land in Central Argentina. Although such listings seem like a bargain to many foreigners, they don't look that way for most Argentines. In some areas of the country, real estate prices have exceeded their pre-crisis levels, putting once-affordable homes out of reach of most local buyers.

Real estate transactions are commonly carried out entirely in cash, and most Argentines have poor access to credit and are unable to pay for a home outright. Analysts believe Argentina's current property boom will be enjoyed primarily by foreign investors and wealthy locals. Foreigners now account for as much as 25 percent of sales in most tourist-friendly neighborhoods like Palermo and Recoleta.

The mortgage lending market is miniscule compared with most other countries, and does not provide enough funds to meet the demands of middle-class buyers. Argentina's cash-only culture is also limiting growth of the domestic property market. Argentines traditionally accumulated money over the years from salaries, saving millions in mattresses and safe-deposit boxes, but many lost substantial portions of their savings in the financial crisis of 2001. With home prices rising fast and so many Argentines struggling to regain what they lost, many wonder if they will ever be able to save enough to buy into the property boom.

Source: Dow Jones International News (Mar. 2, 2006)
Note: Abstract provided by NAR's Information Central

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