Argentina covers an area of 2,, km 2 1,, sq mi , [ B ] making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil , the fourth-largest country in the Americas , and the eighth-largest country in the world.
It shares the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, and is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is a federal state subdivided into twenty-three provinces , and one autonomous city , which is the federal capital and largest city of the nation, Buenos Aires.
The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system. The earliest recorded human presence in modern-day Argentina dates back to the Paleolithic period.
The country has its roots in Spanish colonization of the region during the 16th century. The declaration and fight for independence β was followed by an extended civil war that lasted until , culminating in the country's reorganization as a federation.
The country thereafter enjoyed relative peace and stability, with several waves of European immigration , mainly Italians and Spaniards , influencing its culture and demography. Argentina is a regional power , and retains its historic status as a middle power in international affairs.
