Fact 1: Claim to Fame – The Tango
The Tango, a passionate and captivating dance form, was born in the late 19th century in Argentina's night clubs. Originating in the city neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, it is now a globally recognized dance, and strongly associated with Argentina's cultural identity.
Fact 2: Iceberg Tourism
Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the country's largest tourist attractions, is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are not retreating. The glacier covers an area of 97 square miles, and interestingly, the rupturing process of this massive ice body create floating icebergs that attract thousands of tourists each year.
Fact 3: Pato: The National Sport You've Never Heard Of
Argentina might be known for football, but Pato, a game that combines elements of basketball and polo, is the country’s official national sport. It dates back to the 1600s and it involves throwing a basketball-sized ball through a vertically positioned hoop while riding on horseback.
Fact 4: The Land of Dinosaurs
Argentina is a palaeontologist's dream come true. The country has been the site of numerous significant dinosaur discoveries, including Argentinosaurus, the largest dinosaur ever found, and Giganotosaurus, one of the biggest carnivorous dinosaurs.
Fact 5: Literacy Prowess
With a literacy rate of over 98%, Argentina has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. This accomplishment is largely due to the country's strong emphasis on education and its availability to all citizens.
Fact 6: An Interesting Christmas Celebration
Unlike many other countries, Christmas falls during the summer season in Argentina due to its location in the southern hemisphere. As such, many Argentine Christmas traditions include barbecue and picnics, fireworks, and outdoor parties.
Fact 7: Fingerprinting Innovation
In the field of criminal investigation, Argentina was a pioneer. It was the first country in the world to use fingerprinting as a method of identification in criminal cases, back in 1892.
Fact 8: A Prolific Pope
Pope Francis, the current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, hails from Argentina, making it the first time a pope has come from this country, and indeed, the first from the Americas.
Fact 9: A Grape Named Malbec
Malbec is Argentina's flagship grape, boasting plush, dark fruit flavors and smooth tannins, producing some of the world's best red wines. Argentina's Malbec World Day is celebrated globally on April 17th annually.
Fact 10: Land of the Sun
Argentina's name derives from the Latin "argentum", which means silver. The Spanish explorers who were first to arrive in the country believed it was full of silver, and hence the name.
Fact 11: A Nation of Carnivores
Argentina is renowned for its beef. On average, each Argentine consumes about 55 kilograms of beef annually, as part of their daily meals. Their famous barbecue, asado, is a social event which revolves around grilling large quantities of beef.
Fact 12: Penguin Packed
Argentina’s Punta Tombo is home to the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in the world, boasting over a million of these adorable, flightless birds during breeding season.
Fact 13: A Subaquatic Town
Villa Epecuén, hidden in Buenos Aires province, was a bustling resort town until it was flooded in 1985. The water has since receded and now the ruins of the town are revealed, providing a hauntingly beautiful locale for adventurous visitors.
Fact 14: Love for Mate
Argentinians have a distinct high regard for a traditional drink called mate (pronounced ma-teh). It is a type of herbal infusion made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant, and it's not uncommon to see Argentinians carrying thermoses and mate gourds for both private and social consumption.
Fact 15: Innovators in Animation
Argentina has a significant breakthrough in film history. In 1917, Quirino Cristiani, an Argentine animator, created the world's first animated feature film, 'El Apóstol', using cut-out animation.
Fact 16: The Highest Peak in the Americas
Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in both North and South America, towers at a height of 6,960.8 meters. This mountaineering destination is located in the Argentine province of Mendoza.
Fact 17: A Country of Immigrants
Argentina, alike America, is a nation built largely by immigrants, primarily Italians, Spaniards and Germans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This heavily influenced the diverse culture, cuisine, and even the Argentine Spanish dialect.
Fact 18: Radio Pioneers
Argentina takes pride in its role in radio broadcast history. The country broadcast one of the world's first regular radio programmes, a fixture called 'The crazy people of the hot air' in 1920.
Fact 19: A Home for Wildlife
Argentina boasts a vast array of native wildlife, including capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, and the Argentine Horned Frog, also known as Pacman frog, which got its nickname for its large mouth and voracious appetite.
Fact 20: A Waterfall Wonder
Argentina boasts the world's widest waterfall, the Iguazu falls. Longer than Niagara Falls and twice as wide, the Falls are a system of 275 different waterfalls spanning nearly three kilometers in width.