Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Size: total: 2,766,890 sq km, land: 2,736,690 sq km, water: 30,200 sq km

Bordering Countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Population: 39,921,833 (July 2006 est.)

Ethnicities: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Government: Republic

Capital City: Buenos Aires

Dialling Code: +54

Currency: Peso

Time: -3 hours GMT

Visas: No need if from N. America or European citizen

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz; adapters – two rounded prongs or three angled flat prongs

Highlights: Buenos Aires, Southern Patagonia, Lake District and the Iguaza Falls