Argentina’s Independence Day: 10 things that make Argentines unique

(CNN Spanish) – The cultural, natural and historical wealth of Argentina is inexhaustible. From its grand landscapes to personalities that have won world accolades, the nation is vastly diverse.

On the occasion of the 205th anniversary of the Independence of Argentina, which was signed on July 9, 1816, we remember 10 things that make Argentines unique.

1. The tango

Let’s start with the obvious: the tango. The typical dance was recognized in 2009 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.

“The Argentine and Uruguayan tradition of tango, today known throughout the world, was born in the Río de la Plata basin, among the popular classes of the cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo”, Unesco details.

2. The first Latin American pope

The then Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio became the first Jesuit and Latin American pontiff in history in 2013.

“He is an outstanding figure of the entire continent and a simple and well-loved pastor in his diocese, who has visited far and wide, even traveling by means of public transport, in the fifteen years of episcopal ministry,” the biography mentions. of Pope Francis in the Vatican page.

3. The Buenos Aires filleting

In 2015, UNESCO recognized this traditional pictorial technique that constitutes “a form of collective memory” as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“The Buenos Aires Buenos Aires steak is a traditional pictorial technique that combines bright colors with specific typographic styles. Its achievements can be seen on city buses, trucks, and shop and warehouse signs, and are increasingly common in home decoration “, indicates Unesco.

4. Los Glaciares National Park

For its “exceptional natural beauty”, Unesco declared Los Glaciares National Park a World Heritage Site in 1981. It is located in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz.

“Los Glaciares National Park is a site of exceptional natural beauty with impressive jagged peaks and numerous glacial lakes, such as Lake Argentino, which is 160 kilometers long. At the end of this three glaciers converge that precipitate huge icebergs in its icy waters. milky gray in the middle of a thunderous din “, says Unesco.

5. Five Nobel Prize winners

Argentina He has two Nobel Peace Prize winners (Carlos Saavedra Lamas, winner in 1936; and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, in 1980), two in Medicine (Bernardo Alberto Houssay, winner in 1947; and César Milstein, in 1984) and one in Chemistry (Luis Federico Leloir, who won in 1970).

6. Name of ‘silver’

Argentina comes from the Latin “argentum”, which means silver, and which refers to the metals that the conquerors brought to Spain.

“We found your record written in the expression Terra Argentea included in a cartographic piece by the Portuguese Lopo Homen from 1554. There are reliable testimonies from the time that give an account of the association that existed at that time between the territory and the Río de la Plata, but it is in 1602 that the appearance of a book was to fix The denomination”, explains the Argentine government.

7. “The hand of God”

Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona and his “hand of God” marked the 1986 World Cup, in which Argentina was champion.

Diego scored 2 goals in a historic quarter-final performance against England. That day the famous “Hand of God” was born.

8. The Mennonites of La Pampa

An Argentine town lives without electricity, does not teach children biology or history, and speaks a dialect of Old German.

8. The widest avenue

The Avenue July 9 of Buenos Aires is considered the widest of the world, with 140 meters. According to the government of the country, this traditional artery of the city honors the declaration of Independence. That’s where his name comes from.

10. Pioneers in radio

In 1920, Argentina it was the first Latin American country to make a radio broadcast. This was carried out from the Coliseo Theater. On August 27, it will celebrate its 101st anniversary.