Argentina facts for kids: tango, glaciers and culture

Nature: Iguazu Falls and Patagonia's glaciers

On Argentina’s border with Brazil, the Iguazu River plunges over a cliff in a curve about 2,700 meters wide and about 80 meters high.^[2] The Iguazu waterfalls are among the most spectacular in the world, and the national parks on both sides of the border are UNESCO World Heritage sites.^[2]

Far to the south, in Patagonia, Los Glaciares National Park covers about 600,000 hectares near the border with Chile.^[3] About half of it is covered by glaciers, many fed by the South Patagonian Ice Field, the largest remaining ice field of its kind in South America.^[3]

The Perito Moreno Glacier pushes into Lake Argentino. Its front rises up to 60 meters, and huge pieces of ice break off with a thunderous noise and float away as blue icebergs.^[3] The park’s highest peak, Cerro Fitz Roy, reaches 3,375 meters.^[3]

On the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, in the province of Chubut, Península Valdés is one of the best places in the world to see sea mammals.^[8] It has an important breeding population of the endangered southern right whale, along with southern elephant seals and southern sea lions.^[8] Orcas there use a special hunting method along the shore.^[8] UNESCO calls the peninsula a site of global importance for protecting marine mammals, and it is a World Heritage site.^[8]

History along the Quebrada de Humahuaca

In northwestern Argentina, the Quebrada de Humahuaca is a long mountain valley along the Río Grande, in the province of Jujuy.^[4] People have used it as a route for trade and travel for about 10,000 years.^[4]

UNESCO explains that the valley holds traces of early hunter-gatherers, Indigenous towns from before the Spanish arrived, the Inca Empire, Spanish colonial churches and the struggles for independence.^[4] At Coctaca, stone-walled farming terraces about 1,500 years old are still in use.^[4]

Spain ruled the region for centuries. In the 1800s Argentina won its independence and became a republic, with Buenos Aires as its capital. The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a UNESCO World Heritage site that tells this long story in one landscape.^[4]

Tango

Tango is Argentina’s most famous music and dance. It developed among working-class people in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, the two cities on the Río de la Plata.^[5]

UNESCO explains that tango mixed the customs of European immigrants, descendants of enslaved Africans and the local criollo population.^[5] Its music, dance and poetry express a shared identity.^[5] Tango joined UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2009, shared by Argentina and Uruguay.^[5]

Today tango is danced in traditional dance halls called milongas in both cities, and it is taught by musicians, dancers and teachers around the world.^[5] Its music often uses the bandoneón, an accordion-like instrument, along with violin, piano and double bass.

Gauchos and the game of pato

Gauchos are the skilled horse riders and cattle herders of Argentina’s grasslands, called the pampas. They are a symbol of Argentine tradition, with their own clothing, music and games.

Pato is a game played on horseback that grew out of gaucho life. It was declared Argentina’s national sport by decree in 1953.^[6] Two teams of four riders try to grab a ball with six leather handles and throw it through a ring at the end of the field.^[6] A player holding the ball must hold it out so that opponents can try to take it.^[6]

The game is very old: a chronicle from 1610 describes it in Buenos Aires.^[6] It became an organized sport with written rules in the late 1930s.^[6] Soccer is also extremely popular in Argentina, and the country’s national team is famous around the world.

People, language and food

About 46 million people live in Argentina.^[1] Spanish is the main language. Many Argentine families have Spanish and Italian ancestors, and Indigenous peoples and immigrants from many other places are also part of the country.

Argentine food is famous for asado, beef and other meats grilled slowly over wood or charcoal, shared with family and friends on weekends. Empanadas, stuffed pastries, and dulce de leche, a sweet caramel spread, are other favorites.

Argentina has many UNESCO World Heritage sites, from glaciers to ancient valleys.^[7] Students can compare Argentina with its neighbors, such as Brazil and Chile, on our South America page.