Animals and Plants

Animals and plants in Argentina

In the rainforests in the north, the nature of Argentina looks very different than in the barren Patagonia, where even penguins live in the south. The country’s long coastline attracts more marine animals and water birds. So what animals and plants are there in Argentina?

What animals are there in Argentina?

In the rainforests of the north, the biodiversity is much greater than in the vastness of the pampas or in the barren south. Jaguars, ocelots and pumas can be found in the rainforest, as can ant and coatis, tapirs, armadillos and umbilical pigs. Parrots, toucans and hummingbirds are typical birds in the tropical north.

Typical animals of the Andes in the west are llamas, guanacos and vicuñas, which belong to the camels. Puma, mountain cat and Andean jackal also roam here. And the Andean condor, one of the largest birds in the world, glides through the air.

It looks different in the pampas. There are fewer animal species. They include the pampas fox, the pampas hare (mara), the pampas deer and rheas. These ratites also occur as far as Patagonia. There is the large rhea and the smaller Darwin rhea. You can often find warning signs in front of them on the streets. Pampas deer and rheas also like to form herds mixed with guanacos and vicuñas.

The national bird of Argentina is the rust potter who builds clay nests on trees that look like small ovens.

The dwarf armadillo lives in Patagonia. In the far south-west there are two species of deer: the little pudu and, to the south, the southern Andean deer.

The coasts of Patagonia are home to Magellanic penguins, cormorants and Magellanic woodpeckers, but also to maned seals and South American fur seals. Whales and dolphins swim around here as well.

Why do penguins wear tails?

Penguins look as if they are wearing a black suit with long laps, a so-called tailcoat, over a white shirt. There is a reason for this: seals, sharks or killer whales that want to attack the penguin from below see the white belly. That camouflages the penguin well against the bright sky. Skuas or giant petrels, which could see the penguin from above in the water, look at the black side that camouflages it in the dark sea.

What is growing there in Argentina?

Even the distribution of plants and trees is very different in Argentina. In the rainforest the trees stand close together, in the pampas only sporadically. In Patagonia it remains much drier in the east than in the west. And in the Andes it depends on how much is still growing there. The coral tree with its pretty flowers spreads in the north of the country. It has been declared the country’s national tree.

A tree that can be found in many places in the Gran Chaco is the quebracho wood. Prosopis trees also grow here. In the driest areas, cacti and thorn bushes spread. The ombu tree, one of the few trees originally found in the pampas, forms a mighty trunk. Otherwise it is mainly grasses that survive in the pampas.

It is similar in the east of Patagonia, where stony ground also prevents agriculture. Here, as in the foothills of the Andes, there are conifers such as the Patagonian cypress or the araucaria. In the west towards the Andes and also in Tierra del Fuego it is more humid, forests grow here.

Economy

Soy, cattle and cars

Argentina is one of the G20 countries, the group of the twenty most important industrial and emerging countries. After Brazil and Mexico, it is the country with the third strongest economy in Latin America. Nevertheless, the country has economic problems. The inflation and public debt are very high.

Agriculture in Argentina

Agriculture used to play the most important role for Argentina. Today, however, only five out of 1000 people work in agriculture and it only contributes 10.8 percent to the entire economy.

Agriculture in Argentina is still of great importance for export, i.e. the sale of goods abroad. Soybeans and corn are the main products. Argentina is the third largest producer of soy in the world and the fourth largest for corn. Wheat, apples, sunflower seeds, and peanuts are also sold.

Argentina is still a country of cattle, but far less beef is sold abroad than it was a few years ago. High taxes are levied on beef when it is exported. Beef makes less than one percent of export profits. So it is mainly eaten in the country itself. In fact, Argentina is the country with the second highest consumption of beef. But cows are also kept as milk suppliers. There are cattle mainly in the pampas. Sheep are also kept in the western, dry parts of the country.

Industry in Argentina

Oil and gas are the country’s most important natural resources. Argentina can meet its own needs and sell a small part. To get more information on Argentina and South America, check recipesinthebox. Gold is also mined and contributes 3 percent to exports.

Factories exist for cars, steel, clothing, chemical products (such as fertilizers, plastics, medicines) and food. Beef, soybeans and wheat are processed. A quarter of Argentines work in industry. Industry contributes almost a third to the country’s economic output.

Tourism and more

Most of the Argentines, almost three quarters, work in the field of services. 61 percent of economic output comes from here. This includes retail, banks, restaurants, transportation and much more. Tourism also plays an important role. 7 million people come to Argentina every year.