Highest peaks

Interesting facts on Argentina
Argentina is the second largest country in South America, occupying most of the southern portion of the continent. The 1993 estimated population is 33.5 million with more than 90% of the population of European origin, Spanish and Italian being the most prominent. More than one third of the population lives in and around Buenos Aires, the capital city. Two other major cities, Rosario and Cordoba, have over a million inhabitants. Argentina is bordered by Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile. The Andes mountains, which border with Chile, are the second highest mountain range in the world.

The highest peak, Aconcagua, rises to 22,831 feet above sea level. In the year 1514, Explorer Sebastian Cabot spent four years in and around the present location of Rosario, Argentina, where he built a fort. In 1536 the city of Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza. (An interesting bit of history was that John Strickland, of Sebastian Cabots crew, is credited with taking turkeys from Argentina and introducing them for the first time into England). The Argentine Constitution declares Catholicism to be the official religion and Catholic church personnel are on the government payroll. The State church claims 92% of the population but few of this number attend church with regularity. The literacy rate of about 95% is the highest in South America, and the country has 24 national universities and many state and private universities.