| GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS |
 From
the point of view of geography, Argentina can be divided into eight different
regions defined by a homogeneous climate and relief; these, in turn,
are sub-divided according to its most salient features:
PLATA PLAIN:
This
great surface of 463,322 sq. mi. (1,200,000 km2 ) is located
in the north-east of the country and its boundaries are set to the north
by Pilcomayo, Paraguay and High Paraná Rivers;
to the south, by Colorado Rivers; and the west boundary is set by
the foot of the big mountainous masses.
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The
Plata Plain is, in turn, divided into the following regions:
Chaco Plain: It occupies the north part
of the region and integrates four morphological units: the High Chaco,
whose soil has thick sands and slime; the Depressed Chaco, which
presents wide surfaces covered by swamplands and marshlands; the Low
Chaco, characterized by its clayish-sandy soil and by the numerous swamplands
and frequent floods; finally, there is the Fluvial Diagonal of Santiago
del Estero, with its vast swamplands.
Corrientes Marshlands: This is a depressed area. Different changes
of relief and climate determined the formation of marshlands; the most important
ones in this area are those of Iberá, Maloyas, Batel y Santa Lucía.
Pampean Plain: It is located in the south of the region. Three different
types of low sierras are found in this area: Mahuidas, Tandilia y Ventania.
The Pampa Plain is divided into three parts: the undulating Pampa,
whose territory presents soft slopes, where you can distinguish ravines
and fluvial terraces; the depressed Pampa, with permanent floods
and the high Pampa, where some salty lagoons, salt-pits and dune
formations can be found. |
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Entre Ríos Slopes: This sub-region can
be found towards the east of this region and the south of the Corrientes
Marshlands.
With a slightly undulating relief, it presents clayish soils and copious
rainfalls. |
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Deltaic Plain: The islands characterizing this
region were formed by the constant deposit of sediments from Paraná
River. A slow and permanent delta forming process determines the constant
change in the shape and size of the islands.
Sub-tropical Plain:
This
region is located towards the north-east area of Argentina, its boundaries
coincide with those of Paraguay and Brazil, and it is separated from the
Plata Plain by the Aguapey River. |
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The
frequent rains determine the vaulted relief of this plateau due to the erosion
they produce. Furthermore, it presents some hills which are about 3,280
ft (1,000 m) high. The rivers in this area usually have waterfalls and brooks
and define the important hydraulic potential of the region.
The North-West:
As
indicated by its name, it is located in the north-west area of the country.
It is divided into three sub-regions:
Puna: It is a vast altiplane going beyond the
boundaries of Argentina.
The place is characterized by plateaus between 9,842 and 11,483 ft (3,000
and 3,500 m) high, separated by sierra ranges. |
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| Eastern Cordillera: It presents three different
kinds of relief; one of them is mountainous, within which you distinguish
two chains, the Western and the Eastern; another relief kind is represented
by quebradas (the Humahuaca and de Santa María-Guachipas are
among the most important); and finally, the valley, generally wide
and with soft slopes. |
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| Sub-Andean Sierras: They are low, parallel sierras,
looking from north-east to south-west. |
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Cuyo:
Located along the west border of the country and extending from the south
of the Puna up to latitude 37º South, this region is basically mountainous.
High summits and constant snowfalls are their main characteristics. In the
Main Cordillera there is the Aconcagua, the highest peak in America,
with 22,381 ft (6,959 m). |
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The foot of the mountains, to the east of the mountainous
ranges constitutes the plain area within this region.
In hydrographical terms, this area presents rivers with a thawing regime,
making up the Desaguadero system in one of the driest places in the country. |
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Pampas sierras:
This
region is in the center of the country, occupying part of the provinces
of Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba,
San Luis and San Juan. |
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The
predominance of sierra ranges with flat tops, separated by valleys, fields
or hollows, is the main characteristic of the area. These ranges are the
following: the Eastern or the Aconquija, Austral, Central or Velasco,
and Western or Fátima system. Patagonia:
Located
towards the south of Colorado River, Patagonia is divided into two sub-regions:
Andean Patagonia: It is compounded by mountain ranges separated
by valleys and lakes, whose summits are covered by glaciers. |
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| Extra-Andean Patagonia: It is a plateau, and
its morphology is varied and complex, presenting stair-shaped plateaus,
sierras, depressions and wide fluvial valleys. |
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Argentine Sea:
With
a 386,102 sq. mi.(1,000,000 km2) surface, the Argentine
shelf is one of the largest ones in the world and it is covered by the Argentine
Sea.
It
progressively widens towards the south and is morphologically similar to
the Extra-Andean Patagonia, due to the stair-shaped plateaus.
The
Malvinas Islands are within the Argentine platform.
The
Argentine Sea generally presents a moderate surge and its tidal-range increases
towards the south. |
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Argentine Antarctica:
Being
the southernmost region of the Argentine territory, it is covered by ice
and snow most of the year. The swift winds reach 124 mph (200 kmph).
This
region is compounded by these islands: South Orcadas, South Shetland,
Decepción, Palmer, Biscoe, Belgrano, Elephant, Clarence, Berkner,
Portillo and Quijada. |
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Subtropical Plain
