Those first hunting tribes coming from the continent 30,000 years ago arrived from Asia in America through the Bering Strait.

Tools

Mountainous region   The oldest human traces found in mountains of the Argentine. In the so called "early" period, the oldest culture is located in Tafí (Tucumán), 2,500 years back.                                                                      

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Zonda, San Juan.Pictograph.

Colonization was begun in 1535 by the Spanish soldier Pedro de Mendoza. In February 1536, Mendoza, who had been appointed military governor of the entire continent south of the Rio de la Plata, founded Buenos Aires. Santiago del Estero, the first permanent settlement on what is now Argentine soil, was established in 1553 by Spanish settlers from Peru. Santa Fe was founded in 1573, and in 1580 the resettlement of Buenos Aires was begun.. Buenos Aires, the center of a flourishing trade in smuggled goods, grew steadily. By the middle of the 18th century, its population numbered close to 20,000.

                 In early nineteenth century the

revolution against Spanish rule took place. The South American countries helped each other in fighting wars against Spain.                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                     

President Fernando DE LA RUA (since 10 December 1999); Vice President Carlos "Chacho" ALVAREZ resigned 6 October 2000 and a replacement has not yet been named; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Population:38,740,807 (July 2003 est.)

Ethnic groups: white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%,

mestizo, Amerindian, or other nonwhite groups 3% Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4% Languages

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

Industries:

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Agriculture - products:

sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

Exports:

$25.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Argentine MatambreIngredients

800 g two equal, wide and thin slices of flank or shoulder 10 cl vinegar 2 garlic cloves 1 branch of thyme 600 g spinach 400 g carrots 6 eggs 1 large onion 8 sprigs of flat parsley 1 litre fat-free beef or poultry stock large grain salt, ground pepper chili powder

PreparationPlace slices in a hollow plateCover the plate with foil for 5 hoursTake the meat out and dry it offPut spinach, strips of carrot and boiled eggs on the meatRoll it length wise and preheat oven to 21 00 for about 20 minPlace the meat in the oven and leave it for 1 hourRemove the dish, turn the meat and put it back in for 15 min

Churrasco is a typical holyday food in Argentina. It is barbequedmeat with salt and pepper which make the taste of the Chimichurri Sauce. You have to grill the meat on a hot fire, for couple of hours. You can also add chopped garlic, olive oil, and a cup of vinegar. With all these ingredients you end up with the tastiest meat in the universe.

It’s a highball drink that will remind you of freshness andcolors.

Indigents:•Pina colada•White rum•Vodka•Blue curacao•Lemon ice cream•Cracked ice

                  

Preparation:

You need an iced highball glass. Than you have to blend all the ingredients up.Than you just pour it in the glass with the cracked ice, and you get the best drink everrrrr.

"I, myself, alone, have more memories than all mankind since the world began," he said to me. And also: "My dreams are like other people's waking hours." And again, towards dawn: "My memory, sir, is like a garbage heap."

Jorge Luis Borgesreporting on the memory of Ireneo Funes

in Funes el Memorioso, 1944