Argentina is a territory that defies a single definition. It has the power to amaze or exasperate, but it is never less than fascinating .
From the sub-tropical jungles and steamy falls of Iguazu to the frozen Antarctic waste of Tierra del Fuego , that one territory can contain so much diversity beggars belief. This diversity is reflected in the enigmatic but colourful Argentine people. They define the fiery Latin American temperament - fiercely patriotic as they are their history tells of the more than one occasion that they seemed hell-bent on self-destruction of their country. And this split personality seems to run through every aspect of their lives - the romance of Evita sits alongside the swaggering machismo of the gaucho cowboys, and the daily siesta is still adhered to while life around it moves at a blinding pace.
However, strange as it may seem at first, after a few days it all seems to make sense. Why sleep at night when you can sleep in the day and party all night? It's not all tango either, visit Buenos Aires and you'll find a city capable of rivalling any other in the world for the range and variety of entertainment on offer.
But to come here just to sample city life, no matter how unique a city Buenos Aires is, is to miss out on the best of the country. In its northern reaches and the far-south Argentina has two of the world's greatest natural wonders - the Iguazu falls, larger than Niagara , and the Moreno Glacier , one of the world's few growing ice-fields. In between there is a veritable wealth of history mingled with nature. The colonial towns of early Spanish rule remain relatively untouched, while in the shadow of the Andes , high on the puna , you can find a way of life that pre-dates even these centuries-old invaders.
Argentina has its problems but, while it's wrong to dismiss them, few people let it affect their outlook on life. It all goes towards the country's immeasurable romanticism , where a street kid from Buenos Aires can become the world's greatest footballer, and throw it all away again, and an actress can capture the heart of a nation. Come and fall in love for yourself.
CLIMATE
Argentina 's vast territory and variations in terrain from coast to mountain means that there is a large variation in climate depending on where you go in the country.
Most people arrive in Buenos Aires and around the capital as well as in the Northeast the climate is more or less sub-tropical. Humid throughout the year the region is characterised by abundant plant growth and high temperatures. The Pampas enjoys a climate more continental in character. Warm summers (Oct-Mar) combined with cold winters are ideal for agriculture and cattle rearing.
The high plateau of the Andes to the west and north is less hospitable. At an average elevation of over 4,000m, vegetation is sparse and, although the climate is hot through summer days the temperature at night consistently drops well below freezing. In winter the region is snow-covered and bitterly cold. Patagonia further south is similarly a rocky land, characterised by a huge diurnal change in temperature and frequent high winds throughout the year.
Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of the continent endures a sub-arctic climate. Permafrost in higher areas and glaciers produce a bleak but fascinating landscape. Temperatures are always low, averaging a little higher than 10 degrees centigrade in summer and permanently below freezing in winter.
Peak periods for visitors vary by region, Buenos Aires with its year-round warmth could comfortably be visited at any time, but is probably best seen in the shoulder months, October-November and February-March when the temperatures aren't at their peak. If you're heading for the beaches only the peak months of December-February are really hot enough. In the interior Patagonia and the Andes are at their most hospitable in the December-February period, although even then the temperature can drop below freezing at night.
