Table of Contents
Argentina
Carlos Romuald Gardel
Carlos Romuald Gardel is considered by Argentines to be the greatest of those who ever sang the tango and one of the greatest composers of the genre; he permanently introduced lyrics into Argentine tango. In 1917 he recorded Mi noche triste, the first tango written specifically as a sung piece. Gardel's tango “Por una cabeza” can be heard in such films as True Lies (Arnold Schwarzenegger's dance scenes), Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino, Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton, and in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning Schindler's List. 1)
Argentum
The first Spanish winners expected to find silver in Argentina. The country's name comes from the Latin Argentum (silver - Ag). Although there are no silver resources in the La Plata Basin, the Spaniards came to the area lured by legends of silver mountains. La Plata literally means “Silver River.” 2)
First known person to be born in Antarctica
Emilio Marcos de Palma (born January 7, 1978, in Antarctica) is an Argentine citizen and the first known person to be born in Antarctica. This fact was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Palma was the first person to be born so far south of the Earth. 3)
The Dirty War
The Dirty War (Spanish: Guerra sucia) was a period of government terror in Argentina from 1976 to 1982. In 1976, General Jorge Videla's right-wing military dictatorship seized power in Argentina in a coup. The military began terrorizing the opposition. Arrests, torture, and murder became the norm. The crimes of the military junta are called genocide in Argentina today (about 30 thousand victims). 4)
Gran Chaco
Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated semi-arid region divided between Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. These countries were not particularly interested in the region until the 1930s when a rumor spread that it was rich in oil. A dispute over boundaries led Paraguay and Bolivia, to war over the area (1932-1935), known as the Gran Chaco War. 5)
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest peak in Argentina and all of America. In the Quechua language, it is called Acconcahuac, which translated means Stone Guardian. 6)
The flag
The rectangular-shaped Argentine flag consists of three equal horizontal stripes. A white stripe runs through the center, while the top and bottom are light blue. In 1818, the yellow sun was placed in the center. The May Day sun commemorates the May Revolution of 1810. The light blue color symbolizes the clear sky. The white stripe refers to the snow lying on the peaks of the Andes. 7)
Catholicism
The leading religion is Catholicism professed by 62% of the population. 8)
Five presidents
The Christmas 2001 period was no time for rest for Argentine politicians. From December 21 to January 2, five people held the position of president of the country. 9)
Avenida 9 de Julio
Located in the heart of Buenos Aires, 9th of July Avenue is the widest avenue in the world consisting of 14 lanes. The name itself refers to the day Argentina gained its independence in 1816. 10)
Football riot
A refereeing decision in a 1964 soccer match between Argentina and Peru led to disastrous consequences. Riots broke out in the stands, resulting in the deaths of 300 fans. 11)
The Argentine Paradox
“The Argentine Paradox” is when a country that is booming suddenly experiences an economic recession and is on the verge of bankruptcy. The term emerged when Argentina went from being one of the wealthier countries in the world to being bankrupt. 12)
Messi
One of the best football players in the world Lionel Messi was born in Rosario. The authorities of this city introduced a ban on naming newly-born children with the name “Messi”. As you can see Messi is the only one. 13)
Humanlike rights
The country's authorities have granted orangutans the right to life, justice, and freedom from harm. 14)
Pope
Pope Francis was working as the bouncer at a pub in Buenos Aires. 15)
Political parties
Political parties in Argentina have their own brands of beer. 16)
Fingerprints
The Argentines were the first to introduce fingerprint examination into forensic science. All because of a murder committed on June 19, 1892, in a small Argentine town called Necochea. 17)
El juego el pato
The national sport among Argentines is Pato, a combination of polo and basketball. According to the rules, Pato players move around the playing area on horseback and try to hit the ball into a basket. The very name of the sport (Spanish for “duck”) refers to its origins when a live bird was thrown into the basket. 18)