Argentine Republic

(ur'jen-tīn,) formerly the CONFEDERATION OF LA PLATA, in South America, a confederation of states occupying the territory between Lat. 22° and 41° S., and bounded N.by Bolivia,E. by Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Atlantic Ocean, S. by Patagonia, and W. by the Chilian Andes. Length 1,740 m.; breadth 1,000. Area, 603,271 sq. m. Gen. Desc. The A. R. forms almost an oblong parallelogram, with its surface for the most part level. The S. portion is composed of the Pampas (flat gra y prairies), while the Andine pro vs., on the other hand, are very mountainous in their character. The principal rivers are the La Plata, Paraná, and Paraguay, with their numerous affluents; a chain of salt lakes intersects the S. division of the country. The mountain system of the republic comprehends some of the outliers of the Andes and Chiquitos chains. Both extremes of temperature are met with the climate, though generally humid, is infinitely a healthy one. Soil generally fertile; the cereals, cotton and fruits being the chief staples. Vast herds of horses and cattle run wild on the pampas, and form the principal source of trade and wealth of the natives. The republic is divided into 14 pro vs. Cap. Rosario. Chief towns. Buenos Ayres, Concepcion, Corrientes, Tucuman, Salta. The interior of the country is populated by many nomad Indian tribes. Govt. The executive power is vested in a president; the legislature consists of two houses - a senate and chamber of deputies. Roman Catholicism is the prevailing religion, but all others are tolerated. Great Britain, France, and the U. States monopolize the bulk of the foreign commerce. Value of exports in1868, Fig. 41. INDIAN OF THE RIO VERMEJO. $22,871,200; imports, $35,502,800. The railroads comprised, in 1878, 1,330 m. in operation and course of construction. Miles of telegraph, 13,000.-Hist. The Rio de la Plata was discovered in 1516 by the Spaniards, who, in 1535, founded the city of Mendoza. In 1776, the Plate pro vs. were formed into the viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres. In 1808, the states secured their independence of Spain, the mother country, from which time till 1860 the country was a prey to civil strife. In1868, the A. R. allied itself with Brazil and Uruguay in the war against Lopez, the despot of Paraguay. In 1870, an insurrection broke out in the prov. of Entre Rios, which was not wholly suppre ed till early in 1871. Pop. 1,736,922. [s. 45]