An 1868 photo of an
Argentinegaucho. The term "gaucho" is used to describe residents of the
South Americanpampas,
chacos or
Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Argentina,
Uruguay,
Southern Chile and
Southern Region, Brazil. It is a loose equivalent to the
North American "
cowboy" and often connotes the 19th century more than the present day. In those days, gauchos made up the majority of the rural population, herding
cows on the vast
estancias, and practicing hunting as their main economic activities.Photo: Courret Hermanos; Restoration:
Lise Broer