What color are the outer bands on Argentina's national flag?

The outer bands on Argentina’s national flag are light blue. They flank a central white band, creating the country’s familiar horizontal triband.

The flag was created by Manuel Belgrano and first raised at Rosario on 27 February 1812 during Argentina’s war of independence. The colors were associated with the national cockade and became symbols of the emerging Argentine state. The Spanish term celeste, meaning sky blue, is often used for the flag’s distinctive shade.

A common mix-up is calling the bands simply “blue.” Argentina’s official specifications identify a light or sky blue, not a dark navy blue. The center may also feature the golden Sun of May, whose 32 alternating straight and wavy rays connect the flag to Argentina’s early national symbolism.