LA CUMBRE It is one of the most beautiful and famous towns in the Córdoba hills. It is situated only 90 km from the capital of the province in the far north of the Punilla Valley. Its mild climate, beautiful surroundings and attractive, English style architecture make La Cumbre a uniquely welcoming place. It has among the best tourist infrastructure in the province, not only in lodging but also in the rich variety of options it offers the tourist.

Geography With an area of about 2.8 million square kilometers, Argentina is the world's eighth - largest country.  From  the  tropical  latitudes  of  the Bolivian border,  at  about  22º  S, it  stretches  more  than  3,700 km, to almost exactly 55º S at the city of Ushuahia, on the Argentine side of Tierra del Fuego.  It is more than 1,300 kilometers  across  at  its widest,  in  the  north,  but  narrows  to  barely  400  kilometers  at the  tip  of  the  continent. Most of Argentina is temperate lowlands, but  its natural  landscapes run the  gamut  from  the  subtropical  wetlands of the northeast to the endless grasslands of the pampas, the uplands of the Andes, and the steppes of Patagonia.  Language The  national  language  of  Argentina  is  Spanish.   Argentine  Spanish  has  diverged  in many ways from Castilian, showing the effects of the vast influx of foreigners into  Buenos Aires, as well as of Spaniards from Andalucía, Galicia, and the Basque provinces. First- and second-generation Italians have added their touch to the language, and French settlers have contributed many Gallicisms. English has become increasingly popular as a second language, especially in metropolitan areas and in the business and professional community.  Population Total Population:  38.700.000 inhabitants (est. in 2005) Nearly  a third  of  all  Argentines  live  in  the  Capital  Federal  and  the  24  counties  of Gran  Buenos  Aires.  Argentines  are a fusion of diverse national and ethnic groups, with descendants of Italian and Spanish immigrants predominant.  Waves  of immigrants from many European countries arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Regions Pampas: On the right bank of the Rio de la Plata, the capital city of Buenos Aires sits atop the coastal margin of the flat, fertile, sedimentary pampas. Receiving up to 1,200 millimeters of rainfall per annum, Buenos Aires Province is easterly pampas are lush, green; rainfall diminishes as the landscape stretches westward into Cordoba and La Pampa, where it is nearly desert. Mountains: Argentina's most imposing physiographic feature is the longitudinal Andean range that extends from its northern borders with Chile and Bolivia to southernmost Patagonia. The highest point in America is the 6,967-meter summit Cerro Aconcagua, but northern Andes and altiplano (puna) exceeds 4,000 meters. The southern Patagonian Andes are not so high, but possess many glaciated peaks. Near the country's geographical center, Sierras top out around 1,500-3,000 meters. Steppes: In the northwestern provinces, pasture grasses and shrubs cover the broad level areas of the high-altitude altiplano, between the soaring volcanoes along Chile and Bolivia. The place is characterized by plateaus between 9,842 and 11,483 ft (3,000 and 3,500 m) high, separated by sierra ranges. Wetlands: Mesopotamian provinces are home to lush forest, jungles and a  mix of lowlands and marshes. The terrain is slightly undulated and presents clayish soils and copious rainfalls. The Lake District: It is compounded by mountain ranges separated by valleys and lakes, whose summits are covered by glaciers.  Climate Due to its vast territory, Argentina presents a remarkable climatic diversity. Warm: It is found in the north-eastern angle of Argentina. Due to the decrease of the oceanic influence towards the west and to the modifications of the mountainous relief, there are three varieties of this kind of climate: sub-tropical without dry season, sub-tropical with dry season and sub-tropical of the sierras. Mild: The amount and distribution of rainfalls determine two varieties of mild climate: to the east, the humid and to the west, there is a transition band towards arid climate. The average temperature is 59º F (15º C). Cold: There are two kinds: the humid or oceanic cold, with an average temperature of around 45º F (7º C), and the glacial cold prevailing in Antarctica. Arid: According to the altitude and latitude, this climate shows four varieties: "high-mountain" arid, with a temperature depending on altitude and a very wide thermal range; "sierras-and-fields" arid with an average temperature of about 18º C; the "steppe" arid, with an average temperature of around 18º F (15º C) and presenting frequent frosts, which occur even in summer; and "cold" arid, with an average temperature of about 50º F (10º C), a fairly wide thermal range and frosts occurring the whole year. Check the current weather  here Government Republic. Argentina is composed of 23 provinces and one federal district (Buenos Aires). It is governed by the 1853 constitution as modified in 1898 and amended in 1994. It has a federal system of government. Beginning with the 1995 elections, the president and vice president are elected by popular vote for four-year terms and can be reelected once. The popularly elected bicameral national congress is composed of 72 senators (three from each province, the federal district, and the national territory), who serve six-year terms, and 257 deputies (based on proportional representation), who serve four-year terms. The supreme court of justice, the nation's highest court, has nine members. Each province has its own elected governor and legislature and its own judicial system.  Religion 93% Roman Catholic, 2.5% Protestant, 2% Jewish, 1.5% Ukrainian Catholic, 1% Armenian Orthodox.  Education Argentina has one of the most educated populations in Latin America with a literacy rate of 98.5 percent, which is reflected in its large number of schools and a nearly universal literacy rate. Primary education is compulsory and free; secondary and higher education (colleges and universities) is offered in free public schools and in private schools subsidized by the state.  Flora - Fauna More than 10% of the world's flora varieties are found in Argentina. The magnificent grasslands have figured prominently in the development of Argentina's world-famous cattle industry. Evergreen beeches and Paraná pine are common. From yerba maté comes the national drink immortalized in gaucho literature, while the shade-providing ombú is a national symbol. Many tropical animals thrive in the forests and marshes of northern Argentina; among them are the capybara, coypu, puma, and various wildcats. In the grasslands and deserts are the guanaco, rhea, and many types of rodents. The cavy, vizcacha, tuco tuco, armadillo,  otter, weasel, nutria, opossum, various types of fox, and hog-nosed skunk are common. The ostrich, crested screamer,  and ovenbird are a few of the many species of birds. Caimans, frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles are present in great numbers. The dorado, a fine game fish, is found in larger streams, and the pejerrey, corvina, palameta, pacú, and zurubí abound in the rivers. Spanish cattle on the pampas multiplied to such an extent that the role of wild cattle herds in Argentine history was the same as that of the buffalo herds in the US West. Argentina is richly endowed with fossil remains of  dinosaurs and other creatures

BARILOCHE Bariloche is in Patagonia, a vast, beautiful area in Southern Argentina. With its magnificent mountains, valleys and spectacular blue lakes surrounded by forests, this region is a dazzling display of beautiful landscapes and exuberant wildlife. National parks are home to a variety of wildlife, and colorful vegetation. The eastern Patagonian coast line is an interesting place to visit, with enormous gulfs and bays framed by dramatic cliffs that extend for miles. The beaches are host to worldwide natural wildlife reserves of penguins, seals, birds and whales.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home       Destinations       Facts       Activities       Photo Gallery       Advertising       Terms & Conditions       About us       Contact us
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All rights reserved.   © Copyright 2005  :: Total or partial reproduction forbidden.

Design by  Horus Degins