Oberá, Argentina

Capital City

This humid, jungle-bound city of 77,803 people is a far cry from the European idyll many immigrants likely envisioned. The relentless rainfall, oppressive heat, and need to "start from scratch" in a "virgin forest" have made Oberá a grueling place to put down roots. Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, with the town only officially founded in 1928 after its original Swedish name, Svea, was changed by the government. While Oberá's diversity - over 15 immigrant communities coexist here - is celebrated annually, the sheer hardship of life in this remote corner of Argentina makes it a tough sell for all but the most resilient pioneers.