Argentina
Argentina
- Capital
- Buenos Aires
- Population
- 45,376,763
- Region
- Americas
- Languages
- Spanish, Guaraní
Argentina is home to the world's widest avenue, the Avenida 9 de Julio, which spans up to 14 lanes of traffic across an entire city block in Buenos Aires. The country also pioneered several global innovations, including being the first to use fingerprinting as a primary method of criminal identification in 1892. Additionally, public radio broadcasting made its world debut in Argentina in 1920 when a small group of enthusiasts broadcast a performance of Parsifal from a local theater roof.
Currency
The official currency is the Argentine peso, identified by the ISO code ARS. Throughout its history, the currency has undergone several revaluations and name changes; interestingly, the current version was introduced in 1992 as the 'convertible peso,' which was initially pegged at an equal one-to-one value with the U.S. dollar.
Flag symbolism
The flag consists of three horizontal bands of light blue and white, which represent the sky opening up to reveal the sun during the 1810 revolution against Spain. Centered in the middle white band is the Sun of May, a radiant golden sun with a human face that symbolizes Inti, the Incan sun god. The specific shade of 'celeste' blue is historically linked to the colors of the House of Bourbon, used by Argentine patriots to demonstrate loyalty to the deposed King Ferdinand VII while asserting their own autonomy.
Emblem history
The Argentine national coat of arms features a pair of clasped hands symbolizing the unity and brotherhood of the different provinces. These hands hold a pike topped with a Phrygian cap, a traditional emblem of liberty and pursuit of freedom dating back to the French Revolution and Roman antiquity. Behind the central shield, the Sun of May rises to signal the birth of a new nation, while laurel branches encircling the emblem represent military triumph and peace.