Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world and the second largest in South America after Brazil. It is bordered by the Andes and Chile to the west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Apart from the mainland, Argentina also has territorial claims over the Falkland Islands, the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, and a portion of Antarctica. The country is broadly divided into four main geographical regions:

• • • The Andes: A roughly 3,700-kilometre-long mountain range that forms a natural border with Chile.

    • The North: Predominantly lowland regions with a mix of dry and subtropical climates, where many of the country’s larger cities are located.

    • The Pampas: Vast, flat grasslands found in the centre of the country that form the agricultural heartland.

    • Patagonia: A cold, windy region characterised by dramatic landforms, steppe landscapes, and coastal plains.

Because Argentina spans a vast range of latitudes, altitudes, and geographical features, its climate varies considerably by region. The four main climate types are cold, arid, temperate, and warm. As expected, the northern regions tend to have a subtropical climate, while the southernmost areas approach subpolar and polar conditions.

Given that Argentina has one of the widest ranges of ecosystems in South America, it is no surprise that the country ranks among the most biodiverse in the world.

Aconcagua stands at 6,961 metres, making it the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalayas. You can be trekking through vineyards one day and staring at near-Himalayan altitudes the next.