The Southern Grassland Countries

Southern Grassland Countries

Argentina

Uruguay

Paraguay

Population 41.45 million

Population 3.41 million

Population 6.8 million

Society

Climate

Religion

• A majority of citizens in all three countries are Catholic
• 90% in Argentina are Roman Catholic
• Only 47% in Uruguay are Catholic due to their secular nature and religious freedom
• 92% in Paraguay are Catholic

Sports

• Soccer is the most popular sport in all three countries
• Rugby union is also popular, which is a form of soccer where they hold the ball instead of kick

• The countries of the southern grasslands have a humid and warm climate
• Winter can have lows down to -40°F while summer can have highs well over 100°F
• The grasslands can get around 10-40 inches of rain per year
• Grassland fires are common, and can be important; allowing new grass to grow

Aspects of Society

Problems

• Environmental issues plague the southern grasslands, particularly in Argentina
• Poor water and air quality, large amounts of deforestation, and soil degrading are all problems in Argentina
• Both Uruguay and Paraguay have a growing number of issues with drugs and drug trafficking
• Drugs from these areas travel through Central America and into the U.S.

Economics

Language

• Spanish is the official language of all three countries
• Argentina has at least 40 spoken languages
• Portunol is popular in Uruguay, which is a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish
• Paraguay has a second official language known as Paraguayan Guarai

Food

• Argentinian cuisine has a lot of Italian and Spanish influence as well as influence from indigenous groups
• The staple of the Paraguayan diet is meat. They also have unique dishes such as Sopa Paraguaya which is similar to corn bread.
• Food in Uruguay has various European and Mediterranean roots; well known for their barbeque, asado, and Dulce de Leche

Landmarks

• All countries are among some of the most prosperous countries in South America
• The countries of the southern grasslands, because of their location, have economies focused in agriculture
• The economies of Argentina and Uruguay are based largely on an export-oriented agricultural sector
• Paraguay has a large number of peasant farm laborers and a large portion of the population is uninvolved in the formal economy

Politics in Uruguay

• The highest point of the Andes Mountains; Aconcagua in Argentina
• Rio de la Plata (a large estuary); 4 rivers in the Plata system-the Uruguay, the Paraguay, the Pirana, and the Pilcomayo
• The Pampas of South America; known for their cattle ranching

• Uruguay is one of the only countries in the world that it is a requirement for the citizens to vote and they are fined if they don't
• Former President José Mujica has made progress that has reaffirmed that Uruguay is the most socially liberal country in Latin America
• Has legalized gay marriage, marijuana, and abortion; all controversial topics in American government

Sources

• http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/argentina/envissues

• http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/uruguay-president-jose-mujica

Politics

• http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/uruguay-drug-addiction.html

Popular Attractions

• http://www.studylands.com/guide/UY-language.htm

• All three of the southern grassland countries have presidential representative democratic republics
• The president of each country is both head of the state and head of government
• Each have three branches of their government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
• Each also have their own Constitutions

• Casapueblo in Uruguay-includes a museum, art gallery, cafe and hotel
• The National Pantheon of the Heroes in Paraguay
• Iguazu Falls in Argentina-contains 250 waterfalls

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_South_America

• www.slideshare.net/stanwood/sa-southern-grasslands

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_cuisine

• http://www.argentour.com/en/argentina/argentina_religion.php

• http://www.turismo.gub.uy/index.php/en/information/climate-language-and-religion