A country of southeast South America stretching about 3,700 km (2,300 mi) from its border with Bolivia to southern Tierra del Fuego. The region was sparsely populated by indigenous peoples before the Spanish founded settlements there in the early 1500s. In 1776 Spain established a viceroyalty in present-day Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Argentina achieved its independence from Spain in 1816. Buenos Aires is the capital and the largest city.