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Major Cities of Argentina
Home » Argentina » Argentina: Major Cities and Regions » Major Cities of ArgentinaArgentina is truly a beautiful country, bursting with bright colors and beautiful landscapes. It contains impressive cities and picturesque regions of natural wonder. It is no wonder why so many people call Argentina home, and so many others make this country a key vacation spot.
The country of Argentina consists of several major cities. The capital of Argentina is Buenos Aires, however, there are many other popular cities. Below is a brief description of each of these cities:
• Buenos Aires: The city of Buenos Aires is perhaps the most popular city in Argentina. It is the capital of the country, and was founded in 1580. Buenos Aires is located inland from the Atlantic Ocean, on the western bank of the Rio de la Plata. The Plaza de Mayo, which is found near the waterfront, is where this city was first established, and it continues to spread out in increasingly larger semi-circles. Buenos Aires has been the doorway to Argentina for centuries as it is a lively and intricate port city. The city has a rich cultural heritage as Buenos Aires significantly values its European heritage. The lifestyle and architecture of Buenos Aires reflects Europe more than any other city in South America. The structure of the city is a mosaic, with no governing monument or focal point. Instead, Buenos Aires is made up of many small places and intimate details. 19th century Victorian houses stand in the shadow of glass-encased skyscrapers. The neighborhoods of Buenos Aires possess a lot of character and are favorably individualized.
• Cordoba: Cordoba is the colonial capital city of Argentina, and was established on the Rio Primero in central Argentina. The city is named for the surrounding province, which consists of an extremely picturesque portion of the Andes, known as the Sierras de Cordoba. It is bursting with beauty as it found on the edge of the mountain range known as the Sierra Chica. Before Buenos Aires became the bustling city it is today, Cordoba was heralded as the center of learning in Argentina, where scholars, priests, churches, and universities all came together. Though Cordoba has fallen in the shadow of Buenos Aires, it still maintains its own independence and character. The principal natural landmark of the city is the Suquia River. Cordoba is also home to the National Meteorological Institute and an astronomical observatory. In addition, the city is a favorite summer haunt as travelers try to get away from the heat of Buenos Aires.
• El Calafate: This tiny village in Santa Cruz Province is located in the extreme south of Argentina, 1,700 miles south of Buenos Aires. El Calafate is found in the Patagonia region, with the Cordilleras and the Andes Mountains serving as a picturesque background. The city is close to the National Glacier Park, where the popular Perito Moreno Glacier is located. El Calafate is a great city to make yourself at home in, if exploring the Argentine Patagonia area.
• San Carlos de Bariloche: This city is found in western Argentina, located on the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi. San Carlos de Bariloche has a distinctively Alpine feel to it as Austrians and Germans settled in the area around 1895. The city is perhaps the most popular ski resort location in the Southern Hemisphere. Found on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains nearly 1,000 miles southwest of Buenos Aires at 2,500 feet above sea level, the city appeals to skiers in the winter and hikers during the summer. The mountains surrounding San Carlos de Bariloche reach 8,000 feet. Boating and fishing are also popular activities in this city.
• Mar del Palta: This is the place Argentines go to vacation and relax. Located 400 km south of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic Coast, the city of Mar del Palta provides miles of some of the most excellent beaches in South America. The natural beauty of Mar del Palta is breathtaking with its striking cliffs and exquisite dunes; however, the fun in this city does not stop here. The nightlife is vibrant in Mar del Palta, and it is a fairly new city compared to the other cities in Argentina. Mar del Palta is a hot spot for tourists and is clearly a city to the middle class.
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