Argentina Introduction
Introducing Argentina
Stretching from the tropical heart of South America down to the frozen ends of the Earth, Argentina is a vast and varied country that cannot easily be pinned down in one sentence. Covering an area of 2,791,810 square kilometres, it is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest in the world, and undoubtedly one of the most interesting. Argentina is home to every type of climate imaginable, from snow-capped mountains and imposing glaciers, to golden beaches and colourful jungle fauna.
Sport in Argentina
Though it is perhaps best known for its footballers, the range of sports played in Argentina is almost as diverse as the country’s ethnic heritage. The national sport of Argentina is Pato, a game played on horseback that combines elements of polo and basketball. Early versions of the game were played with a live duck, over large areas between neighbouring estancias; the first team to reach their own ranch house with the duck being declared the winner. Nowadays, however, the game is played with a special type of ball which teams must throw through a vertically positioned ring to score.