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Rio de la Plata
Rio de la Plata, Province of Buenos Aires
The Rio de la Plata, translating literally to “river of silver,” is a 290-kilometer long gulf of water separating Uruguay and Argentina. The Spanish named the river “River of Silver” because of the assumption that there were large silver deposits upstream. Many mistakenly call this river “River Plate,” translating plata into plate rather than silver. Now, one of Buenos Aires’ major football teams is called “River Plate.” Discovered in 1516 by Spanish conqueror Juan Diaz de Solis, the Rio de la Plata was more thoroughly explored in 1520 by famed Portuguese voyager Ferdinand Magellan and from 1526 to 1529 by Sebastian Cabot—son of John Cabot, explorer of Eastern Canada and founder of Newfoundland. It was not until 1536 when settlers, led by Pedro de Mendoza, began to colonize Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires was officially established in 1580).
The Rio de la Plata is the widest river in the world, with its widest point being 48 kilometers. It has many ports along the coasts and the capital cities of Montevideo and Buenos Aires that lie along the banks. The rare La Plata Dolphin lives in the Rio de la Plata and so do many fish and sea turtles. According to legends, silver riches are located upstream in the river, although there is no evidence to support the myth.
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