Buenos Aires, Argentina

Geography: Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, which is located in South America.  Argentina boarders the South Atlantic Ocean and is located between Chile and Uruguay.

Currency:  Argentine Peso (ARS)

National Symbol: Sun of May (a sun with a face symbol)

National Anthem: "Himno Nacional Argentino"

Language:  Spanish

Area Comparison: Argentina is slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Distance from Pittsburgh:  8,643km or  5,371miles

Terrain: The land is rich plains of the Pampas in the northern half with falt to rolling plateaus of Patagonia in the south and rugged Andes mountains along the western border.

Highest Point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960m

Weather You Should Expect: Buenos Aires has a mostly temperate climate with 4 distinct seasons. Diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south to an arid climate the southeast and a subantarctic climate in the southwest. The warmest month is January!

Average Temperature in January: Low of 68 and High of 86

What You Must See: A tango show at Cafe Tortoni - the most famous cafe in Buenos Aires. Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada which is the famous square in the city.  Be sure to go to Recolleta Cemetery where Eva Peron is buried and Teatro Colon, the opera house. Stroll down the neighborhoods of Palermo Soho and San Telmo.  While in Palermo, go to La Cabrera where they are known for their steak. 

Historical Fact: In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Boliva, Paraguay and Uruguay went their spearate ways, the area that remained became Argentina.

Science Trivia:  Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere - both of which are located in Argentina. 

Interesting Fact: Argentina is in a strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans - Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage.

Fun Fact:  Argentina is the  second-largest country in South America, after Brazil.

Everything You Need to Know About the Flag:

The flag consists of three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue. Centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May - the national symbol. The colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes. The sun symbol commemorates the appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the first mass demonstration in favor of independence. In addition, the sun features are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun.