Landscape & Climate
Argentina has a variety of landscape features, which together with the fact it
stretches over so many lines of latitude, has led to a range of climatic
conditions within the country. Although there are variations throughout the
country, the climate of Argentina is generally temperate. The north is more
subtropical though and parts of the south subantarctic. The summer months are
December to February and winter is from June to September.
Paranà River, Rosario – northeast Argentina
The highest temperatures in Argentina are found in the northeast where the
distance from the sea and continuous daytime sunshine produce the only
frequently recorded air temperatures over 45ºC anywhere in South America. The
northwest is cooler due to the effects of altitude, rainfall here occurring
here largely in the summer months.
Catamarca – northwest Argentina
The landscape of Argentina can be divided into four sections:
The Andes
This mountain range lies to the West of Argentina, along its border with Chile.
The highest point in Argentina can be found here, near Mendoza, it is Mt.
Aconcagua, at 6960m. There can be a variety of weather conditions in the Andes
area, with unpredictable rainfall and sometimes flash floods in the summer.
Heat in the lower areas and snow on the higher peaks and even a hot dry wind
known as the Zonda. However, the foothills of the Andes are sheltered and
sunny, ideal for vineyards. The climate here, along with rivers and irrigation
systems, have made the area around Mendoza a successful wine region, with
grapes being grown there since the 1600s.
The Itaipú Dam
Northern Argentina borders Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil. The area is
characterised by rivers, waterfalls (on the Brazilian border) and fertile
lowland with subtropical rainforest that supports numerous plants and wildlife.
The Itaipú dam, which is owned jointly by Argentina and Paraguay, is found
here. This dam is the basis for the World’s biggest Hydroelectic power (HEP)
scheme. Over 40% of Argentina’s electricity comes from HEP. The fertile land
and subtropical climate also supports farming, particularly between the Paraná
and Uruguay rivers.
The Pampas
The Central and most populated area of Argentina is the Pampas region, one of
the three largest fertile plains in the world. Extending almost 1,000 km from
north to south and a similar distance from east to west, the Pampas is
characterised by flat, fertile grassland, from which the gauchos originated.
These were tough cowboys, who used the Pampas to herd and raise cattle for
beef.
Though Argentina is famous for its excellent beef, cattle were not indigenous
to the Pampas. Juan de Garay in 1580 first brought cattle from Paraguay. The
animals roamed wild on the fertile plains, reproducing so quickly that by the
time the Spanish returned to the Pampas in 1780, there were 40 million cattle.
Cattle ranching and the production of beef are still a very important part of
the Argentine economy. The climate in this area is a mix of humid and dry. The
winters can be very dry and the summers very hot. However, the area can also be
vulnerable to flooding.
A distinction is often made between the `wet’ Pampa and the `dry’ Pampa. The
former, inland from Rosario and Buenos Aires is the centre of wheat, maize and
other cereal production and the latter, west of 64ºW, is where cattle ranching
predominates.
Patagonia
Moreno Glacier
The southern part of Argentina is called Patagonia. This is very different,
with mountains, forest, glaciers, lakes and in the southern area, wildlife like
penguins. It is a large area, which can be quite dry, as the Andes shields it
from rain. Parts are windy, but the eastern side remains mild. The further
south you go, the colder it becomes, with parts of Southern Argentina being
glacial. At Santa Cruz is the Moreno Glacier. This is made from heavy ice that
breaks off, exploding in the river. More information on Patagonia can be found
in our Oceans and
Patagonian factfile.
Salinas Chicas
One other important landscape feature of Argentina is Salinas Chicas. This is
found on the Peninsula Valdes, where the east coast meets the South Atlantic
Ocean and is the lowest point on the continent at 40m below sea level.
Peninsula Valdes
The Peninsula Valdes is an important nature reserve, which was listed as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Marine mammals, like eared seals and
elephant seals inhabit the coastline. Southern right whales can be found in the
Golfo Nuevo between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen
whales come here during the second half of the year, for mating and giving
birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open
sea. Orcas can be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula.
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