ARGENTINA COUNTRY PROFILE Think of Argentina and many images come to mind - Tango dancers precisely executing the sensuous steps of the national dance; a smiling Evita Peron waving to adoring crowds; Gauchos outfitted in their traditional cowboy-style garb while herding cattle; steaks sizzling on huge open-air grills; Diego Maradona scoring a dramatic goal for the Argentine national soccer team; and the 150-foot high obelisk dominating 16-lane wide Avenida Nueve de Julio in the center of Buenos Aires. There are also a lot of images associated with this fascinating country that perhaps do not immediately come to mind - getting measured for a high-quality, inexpensive leather jacket; sipping afternoon tea at one of Buenos Aires' thousands of elegant cafes; attending an opera at the magnificent Teatro Colon; strolling past hundreds of ornate mausoleums resembling small mansions at Cemeterio Recoleta; and witnessing the breathtaking beauty of the enormous waterfalls at Iguazu. Argentina is a diverse and colorful nation in almost every respect, making it a fascinating destination for the traveler seeking new and different experiences. BUENOS AIRES Argentina's capital city, Buenos Aires, is a world-class cosmopolitan city of some 10 million people, located on the shores of the Rio de la Plata, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Considered by many to be the most sophisticated city in the Americas after New York, Buenos Aires' character is typified by its citizenry, a large part of which has traveled to Europe and the U.S. and possesses a worldliness usually found only in the world's most cultured cities. The sophistication of this city is evident in the abundance of elegant mansions and other buildings constructed in the appealing turn-of-the-20th-century French Beaux Arts style of architecture. Its many leafy parks, graced by dramatic and imposing statues, are reminiscent of European capitals, such as Paris, Rome and Madrid. Buenos Aires' busy boulevards, some as many as twelve lanes wide, project the metropolis' energy, drive, and fast pace. Its never-ending supply of cafes, restaurants, and other entertainment options, speak of the city's appreciation of a certain joie-de-vivre. ARGENTINA - LAND OF MANY CONTRASTS For all of its allure and compelling attractions, Buenos Aires is just the gateway to Argentina's many fascinating attractions. These include Iguazu Falls, the magnificent and extensive waterfalls located in the jungle region bordering Brazil to the north; Bariloche, the delightful alpine-style city nestled on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi; Patagonia, the legendary lake and mountain wilderness; Salta, Jujuy, and Tucuman, site of Argentina's early colonial settlements in the northwest mountain desert region; Puerto Madryn, where whale-watching and other wildlife prevail; the Perito Moreno glacier, with its overwhelming beauty; and Ushuaia, southernmost city in the world located in the Tierra del Fuego region filled with natural wonders. These are just some of the highlights available to visitors in the wide and diverse country known as Argentina.