Argentina

The Republic of Argentina is situated south of latitude 34° 40′ 0″ S and east of longitude 58° 24′ 0″ W (Figure 1). It has an area of 2,791,810 km² (1,077,923 mi²) and a population of 40 million in 2010 (INDEC 2011). The country has significant mineral reserves and a strong industrial sector, but agriculture, developed by the great influx of primarily Italian immigrants and particularly cattle breeding, forms the basis of its wealth. At the end of the eighteenth century, landowners selling cattle to meet growing demand for meat in Europe became wealthy and began to spend a large part of the year overseas. This elite also sought summer holiday destinations within the country itself. Mar del Plata was the beach resort par excellence for this elite, until they were displaced by other social strata and found refuge in Punta del Este, Uruguay (Sebreli 1984).

Argentina, Figure 1

Map of Argentina