February 2

On this day - Feburary 2 1536 - Buenos Aires was founded 

The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, was founded by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza. Mendoza was a Spanish explorer who in 1529 offered to travel to South America to establish Spanish colonies on his own expense. Buenos Aires was first given the name Ciudad de Nuesta Señora Santa Maria del Buen Ayr. In the 17th century became the shorter Buenos Aires the common used name for the city. The first Spanish settlement was driven away by the indigenous already in 1542. It wasn't until 1580 that a permanent settlement in Buenos Aires was established. In 1816 declared Argentina its independence and in 1880 was Buenos Aires selected as the country's capital. It is today the biggest city in Argentina, and one of the biggest in South America.