From dizzying mountain landscapes in the Andes, to ancient glaciers forever on the move, Argentina is a land of extreme contrasts. It is also an invitation to criss-cross one of the world’s greatest wilderness areas, and to discover a vibrant people famous for exuberant national pride.

Geographically this South American country occupies a vast slice of scenic South America, much of it virtually uninhabited. There are islands, deep lakes and glaciers in the extreme south, towering snow-capped mountains in the west, and an undulating coast of bays and beaches hugging the South Atlantic Ocean. Stretched-out in between are the famous wide-open plains called “Pampas”, famous for its cowboy ranches and cattle herding.

And then there are The Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil considered one of the world's natural wonders. The Iguazu river flows into 275 waterfalls that plunge more than 70 meters, creating a rain-cloud of spray that sustains an incredible variety of local fauna and flora.

From the steep gorges and peaks in the north -- some still bearing traces of ancient pre-Columbian forts and villages -- right down to the Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world at the tip of the South American continent, Argentina’ is interwoven with a legendary cultural heritage every bit as remarkable as its varied landscape.

Then there is the Argentina of the new millennium: the bustling, hustling, tango-scented experience called Buenos Aires, home to a third of the 38-million population; the city is a mesmerizing mix of old and new, with ornate Spanish colonial facades contrasting superbly with a modern city in the process of reinventing itself.

Visitors to Argentina can also look forward to exceptional cuisine, meat dishes being a particular speciality. There is also a burgeoning wine industry to explore. Buenos Aires boasts many celebrated restaurants and pubs where local conversation turns quickly to football – the country’s favourite sporting obsession.

But whatever your passion – the great outdoors, arts and culture, strolling through an unfamiliar marketplace – Argentina has something extraordinary to offer.

Bobby JORDAN