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__**Río de la Plata** __ **GENERAL INFORMATION:** A direct english translation of the Río de la Plata means Plate River or River Plater.[1]. However when the Spanish named the new land that it stood for "Silver River."[1]. This land is located formed by the joining of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River.[1]. This area of land is about 30 miles wide stretching along the atlantic coastline of South America. [1]. The Río de la Plata has the widest estruary in the world. [2]. The mouth of the estruary is about 120 miles wide. [2]. This Area also forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. [1]. "An estimated 57 million cubic metres (2 billion cubic feet) of silt is carried into the estuary each year." [1]. Because of this the shipping route is constantle being dredged in order to be kept open. [1]. The Río de la Plata is a very important economical site for the countries that lie around the basin. [2]. The estuary of the basin is the main fishing ground of the region. [2].
 * HISTORY:** This land was first discovered by the famous Spanish explorer Juan Díaz de Solís.[1]. It was later explored by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520. [4]. The port was very important commercially when it came to the importing and exporting of goods. [4]. The viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata was established in 1776. [4]. In 1806 the British successfully occupied the area of the Río de la Plata. [3]. A year later the British attempted to take complete control of the Río de la Plata however they were defeated by a militia group. [4]. Shortly after, the British retreated from the area. [4]. In 1816 the Río de la Plata successfully achieved its independence and elected Juan Martin Pueyrredon as supreme chief of the area. [4]. Several years later in the early stages of World War II a naval battle between German and British ships erupted in the Battle of the River Plate. [1].

Reference: [1] "Río de la Plata." __Wikipedia__. 18 Apr 2008. Wikimedia Foundation Inc.. 4 May 2008 . [2] "Rio de la Plata." __South America__. 2008. United States Environmental Protection Agency.. 4 May 2008 <[[3 Steams, Peter N.. "The Rio de la Plata."__The Encyclopedia of World History__. 6th ed. 2001. [4] "Plata, Rio de la." __The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia__. 2007. COlumbia University Press. 4 May 2008 .

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