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Argentina

kilometers) in length, faces the Atlantic Ocean. Triangular in shape, Argentina stretches approximately 2,300 miles (3,701 km) from its broad northern region near the tropic of Capricorn to Tierra del Fuego, an island shared with Chile, in the south. Argentina can be divided into six geographical regions—the Paraná Plateau, the Gran Chaco, the Pampas, the Monte, the plateau known as Patagonia, and the Andes Mountains. The Paraná Plateau in the extreme northeast is an extension of the high- lands of southern Brazil. It is the wettest part of Argentina and, despite its dense forest cover, is extremely hot during the summer. Tobacco, timber, and yerba maté (a tea-like beverage) are the chief products here. The spectacular Iguazú Falls (spelled Iguaçu in Portuguese-speaking Brazil) are in a national park located at the point where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. alluvial— composed of material (such as clay, silt, sand, and gravel) deposited by flow- ing water. continental divide— an extensive stretch of high ground from each side of which the river systems of a continent flow in opposite directions. cordillera— a long chain of mountains or mountain ranges. estuary— the arm of the sea that goes inland to meet the mouth of a river. flax— a plant that yields fine textile fiber and linseed oil. frontier— the area along an international border. savanna— flat grassland of tropical or subtropical regions. Words to Understand in this Chapter