Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between
North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes
of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated
by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20
to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10
months

Economy Arctic Ocean

Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural
resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Transportation Arctic Ocean

Ports and terminals:
Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation - note:
sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest
Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are
important seasonal waterways

Transnational Issues Arctic Ocean

Disputes - international:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@Argentina

Introduction Argentina

Background:
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their
independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay
went their own way, but the area that remained became Argentina. The
country's population and culture were subsequently heavily shaped by
immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and
Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860
to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's
history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict
between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era of Peronist authoritarian rule
and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a
military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983,
and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable
of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent
public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.
The economy has since recovered strongly since bottoming out in
2002. The government renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid
off its remaining obligations to the IMF in early 2006.

Geography Argentina

Location:
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlanti