Buenos Aires (Spanish: Buenos Aires, meaning: “good air" or “tail wind”) is the capital and the largest city of Argentina. Opposite to Uruguay (in the east), it lies on the south bank of Río de la Plata (meaning: River of Silver) and in the southeast of South America and is opposite to Uruguay (east). The Great Buenos Metropolitan Area, the second largest in Latin America, ranks after the St. Paul Metropolitan Area (with a population of 19,956,590 in 2012). Buenos Aires now serves as the political center of Argentina as well as its economic, technology, culture and transportation center. With over 80,000 industrial enterprises, the total industrial output value of the city occupies two-thirds of that of the country, which indicates its significant role in national economy. It is known as “Paris in South America”.