Motorcycle Explorer December 2014 Issue 3 | Page 85

• Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world , after Australia and India .
• The country gets its name from Argentenum , the latin word for silver . Given the Spanish pillaged the length and breath of the country for silver and gold , the name they assigned the region was fitting .
• Its population is 43 million people , with almost a third of those living in the greater Buenos Aires Metropolitan area . The country is very unpopulated - with only 14 souls per sq . km . Compare that to UK with 255 .
• Argentina became independent from Spain in 1816 .
• Mate is the national drink , derived from Yerba mate leaves which are dried , and chopped up and mixed with warm water . The Argentineans drink more Mate than coffee .
• Argentina has its own version of cowboys called Gauchos . They served as a nationalistic symbol during the Argentinean revolution , and a large amount of Argentineans pray to a Gaucho called Gaucho Gill , or Gauchito .
• The Argentine city of Ushuaia in Terra Del Fuego , is the southernmost city in the world .
• The currency is the peso , and at the time of writing , you can get 9 of those for 1 US Dollar .
• The Ruta 40 is often called the backbone of Argentina because it connects so many small towns and villages . It crosses 18 important rivers , 20 National Parks and Natural Reserves and passes through 11 provinces on its long journey south to Rio Gallegos .
• In Salta , at Abra del Acay the Ruta 40 rises to almost 5000m , the highest pass in South America .
• Even though the official maps of Argentina show many sections of the Ruta 40 paved , the actual paving has turned into a political hot potato with areas diverting funds to upgrade other roads in their districts which connect larger population bases , the net result is that vast sections continue to remain unpaved despite what it may show you on the map .
• The 40 itself is almost 80 years old , but in many places it follows the same path as the Inca trail , built around 1450 by the Inca empire .
• In Patagonia , the road follows ancient paths followed by the Tehuelche Native Americans 15,000 years ago .

Interesting facts about Argentina in general , and the Ruta 40

• Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world , after Australia and India .
• The country gets its name from Argentenum , the latin word for silver . Given the Spanish pillaged the length and breath of the country for silver and gold , the name they assigned the region was fitting .
• Its population is 43 million people , with almost a third of those living in the greater Buenos Aires Metropolitan area . The country is very unpopulated - with only 14 souls per sq . km . Compare that to UK with 255 .
• Argentina became independent from Spain in 1816 .
• Mate is the national drink , derived from Yerba mate leaves which are dried , and chopped up and mixed with warm water . The Argentineans drink more Mate than coffee .
• Argentina has its own version of cowboys called Gauchos . They served as a nationalistic symbol during the Argentinean revolution , and a large amount of Argentineans pray to a Gaucho called Gaucho Gill , or Gauchito .
• The Argentine city of Ushuaia in Terra Del Fuego , is the southernmost city in the world .
• The currency is the peso , and at the time of writing , you can get 9 of those for 1 US Dollar .
• The Ruta 40 is often called the backbone of Argentina because it connects so many small towns and villages . It crosses 18 important rivers , 20 National Parks and Natural Reserves and passes through 11 provinces on its long journey south to Rio Gallegos .
• In Salta , at Abra del Acay the Ruta 40 rises to almost 5000m , the highest pass in South America .
• Even though the official maps of Argentina show many sections of the Ruta 40 paved , the actual paving has turned into a political hot potato with areas diverting funds to upgrade other roads in their districts which connect larger population bases , the net result is that vast sections continue to remain unpaved despite what it may show you on the map .
• The 40 itself is almost 80 years old , but in many places it follows the same path as the Inca trail , built around 1450 by the Inca empire .
• In Patagonia , the road follows ancient paths followed by the Tehuelche Native Americans 15,000 years ago .
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