Uruguay: Sovereign state in South America

Uruguay (officially named Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country in South America.

The language spoken there is Spanish. Its capital and largest city is Montevideo. Uruguay is bordered by two large neighbors, Brazil and Argentina. The only country in South America that is smaller than Uruguay is Suriname. The land is mostly flat, and there are many farms in the countryside.

Oriental Republic of Uruguay
  • República Oriental del Uruguay  (Spanish)
Coat of arms of Uruguay
Coat of arms
Motto: "Libertad o Muerte" (Spanish)
"Freedom or Death"
Anthem: Himno Nacional de Uruguay
National Anthem of Uruguay
Uruguay: History, Departments, Geography
Capital
and largest city
Montevideo
Official language
  • Spanish
  • Uruguayan Sign Language
Ethnic groups
()
Demonym(s)Uruguayan
GovernmentUnitary presidential constitutional republic
• President
Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou
Beatriz Argimón
LegislatureGeneral Assembly
Chamber of Senators
Chamber of Deputies
Independence from the Empire of Brazil
• Declaration
25 August 1825
• Recognition
28 August 1828
• Constitution
18 July 1830
Area
• Total
176,215 km2 (68,037 sq mi) (91st)
• Water (%)
1.5
Population
• 2011 estimate
3,318,535 (133rd)
• 2011 census
3,286,314
• Density
18.65/km2 (48.3/sq mi) (196th)
GDP (PPP)2013 estimate
• Total
$56.338 billion
• Per capita
$16,607
GDP (nominal)2013 estimate
• Total
$55.412 billion
• Per capita
$16,334
Gini (2010)45.3
medium
HDI (2013)Increase 0.792
high · 51st
CurrencyUruguayan peso (UYU)
Time zoneUTC−3 (UYT)
• Summer (DST)
UTC−2 (UYST)
Driving sideright
Calling code+598
ISO 3166 codeUY
Internet TLD.uy
Location of Uraguay
Location of Uraguay

The area around Uruguay was fought over by the Portuguese and Spanish Empires in the 18th century. In the 1810s it was the center of the Banda Oriental, a Federal League of states in the Río de la Plata region. Argentina and Brazil took the majority in wars, leaving Uruguay as independent.

History

Before Europeans came to the land, no more than 10 thousand native people lived here. Spanish explorer Juan Díaz de Solís first explored the land in 1516.

Departments

Uruguay: History, Departments, Geography 
Map of the departments of Uruguay

Uruguay is divided into 19 different Departments.

Department Capital Area Population (2011 census)
Artigas Artigas 11,928 km2 (4,605 sq mi) 73,162
Canelones Canelones 4,536 km2 (1,751 sq mi) 518,154
Cerro Largo Melo 13,648 km2 (5,270 sq mi) 84,555
Colonia Colonia del Sacramento 6,106 km2 (2,358 sq mi) 122,863
Durazno Durazno 11,643 km2 (4,495 sq mi) 57,082
Flores Trinidad 5,144 km2 (1,986 sq mi) 25,033
Florida Florida 10,417 km2 (4,022 sq mi) 67,093
Lavalleja Minas 10,016 km2 (3,867 sq mi) 58,843
Maldonado Maldonado 4,793 km2 (1,851 sq mi) 161,571
Montevideo Montevideo 530 km2 (200 sq mi) 1,292,347
Paysandú Paysandú 13,922 km2 (5,375 sq mi) 113,112
Río Negro Fray Bentos 9,282 km2 (3,584 sq mi) 54,434
Rivera Rivera 9,370 km2 (3,620 sq mi) 103,447
Rocha Rocha 10,551 km2 (4,074 sq mi) 66,955
Salto Salto 14,163 km2 (5,468 sq mi) 124,683
San José San José de Mayo 4,992 km2 (1,927 sq mi) 108,025
Soriano Mercedes 9,008 km2 (3,478 sq mi) 82,108
Tacuarembó Tacuarembó 15,438 km2 (5,961 sq mi) 89,993
Treinta y Tres Treinta y Tres 9,529 km2 (3,679 sq mi) 48,066
Total¹ 175,016 km2 (67,574 sq mi) 3,251,526

Geography

The highest point in the country is the Cerro Catedral whose peak reaches to 514 metres (1,686 ft).

Uruguay has 660 km of coastline.

There are nine National Parks in Uruguay. Five in the wetland areas of the east, three in the central hill country and one in the west along the Rio Uruguay.

  • 2nd smallest country on continent
  • South America
  • Sandy beaches near Montevideo
  • In the north, a series of low mountains run north into the highlands of Brazil
  • 176,220 square kilometers
  • Mostly hills
  • A lot of water rich lands
  • Near Brazil and Argentina

Economy

Agriculture

According to FAOSTAT, Uruguay is one of world's largest producers of: soybeans (9th); greasy wool (12th); horse meat (14th); beeswax (14th); quinces (17th); natural honey (19th); cattle meat (20th). On December 20, 2013, Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize the cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis.

Demographics

Colour/Race (self-reported, 2008)
White 95.4%
Black/African 3.4%
Indigenous 1.1%
Asian/Amarillo 0.1%

Uruguayans are mostly of European origin. 88%, or 88 of 100 people, are from European descent.

Sports

Uruguay: History, Departments, Geography 
Centenario Stadium

Football is the most popular sport in Uruguay. The Uruguay national football team has won the FIFA World Cup on two occasions.

References

Official Websites

Tags:

Uruguay HistoryUruguay DepartmentsUruguay GeographyUruguay EconomyUruguay DemographicsUruguay SportsUruguay Official WebsitesUruguayArgentinaBrazilCapital (city)CityMontevideoSouth AmericaSuriname

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