Uruguay is located on the East Coast of South America. It was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1527, when an expedition overcame the Rio de la Plata and settled down in one of the margins of the river. The Republica Oriental del Uruguay takes its name from its location to the east of the Uruguay river. The word "Uruguay" comes from guaraní language and is translatable by "river of the colored birds". Its capital city, Montevideo, is in the south of the country, in front of the Rio de la Plata, with 25 kilometers of beaches, that continue to the east in the districts of Canelones, Maldonado and Rocha and to the west by those of San José and Colonia.  

Weather

The country is located on a typical subtropical tempered zone. It enjoys a climate that knows neither extreme colds nor heats. Its annual temperature average varies between 20 and 12 degrees in winter to 27 degrees in summer. Rains are quite abundant, mainly in autumn and spring, and in winter frosts and fog are registered with relative frequency. The predominant winds are those of the north with tropical origin, humid and warm, and the "Pampero", coming from the southwest, dry and cold. The origin of winter storms called "sudestadas" are the southeast winds, very humid. Autumn (April-June) is the rainiest station; the average of precipitations varies between  950 and 1300 millimeters each year.
   

Population

The population of Uruguay has European origin, mainly Spanish and Italian, without damage of other nationalities, product of an immigratory policy of open doors. The predominance of the white race is almost absolute, the presence of the black race that arrived at the country from Africa being reduced in the days of the Spanish domination.

As far as the indigenous population concerns, it was more than one century ago that the last Indians disappeared of all national territory. This makes a significant difference between the population of Uruguay and the ones form the rest of America. According to population census of 1996 the population of Uruguay is 3,151,662 inhabitants, amount that adapted to the square kilometers of the national territory is translated by a low density (18 hab/km2).

However, being Uruguay a cattle country, its population is essentially urban (80%), concentrated on its capital city, Montevideo. Its rate of natality is low, the lowest of South America but on the other hand, its life expectancy is high reaching  72 years for men and 74 for women, which indicates a satisfactory degree in health and feeding.

Capital City

The capital city of Uruguay is Montevideo, with a surface of 528.65 km2 and a population of 1,334,290 inhabitants.

Religion

The Constitution of the Republic guarantees freedom of cults, existing in the country diverse religions. But catholic religion is the predominant one.

Official Language

The official language is Spanish

Flora & Fauna

More than 400 species of native birds occupy different habitats. The "Humedales" to the East are the intermediate point in the migration of birds that pass from Antarctica to Canada. Of the 72 species of native fauna that inhabit the Uruguayan territory, the ones that stand out are: the field deer, the guazubirá, the capybara, the mulita. All these species are protected by the government.

The indigenous flora counts 2000 different species including shrubs, grass, plants and trees. Five types of natural mounts occupy a surface of 667.400 hectares; the gallery mount that presents the "Ceibo", the national tree; the park mount with "algarrobal" "espinillar"; the gorges mount; Serrano mount and Palmares Mount. Uruguay has, in Rocha, the most extensive ombues forest in the world. Several exotic species have adapted to the Uruguayan ground and also conform extensive mounts of pines, acacias and eucalyptuses.

Marine Life

This is an area of particular importance in the distribution of the fishing resources, by the confluence of waters of the Rio de la Plata (that constitutes the second fluvial river basin of importance of South America, after the Amazonian), with the oceanic system known like subtropical convergence, constituted by the Current Brazil and the Current of Malvinas. This zone is therefore characterized by the formation of oceanic fronts. The presence of different masses of water with particular its  temperature and salinity, which causes an alternation of climatic situations related to the influence of each one of them according to the different stations from the year. That causes that the zone has characteristics of predominance of subtropical fauna (during the months corresponding to summer) and that at other moments the predominance of species of tempered origin (during the winter). This is much more evident in the outer continental platform, whereas in the coastal region, the internal platform and the Rio de la Plata the differences are not so well-known. This system constitutes a zone where different areas of reproduction and young different species from fish and other marine organisms are located. The oceanic fronts that characterize this zone as much determine the fluctuations of the fauna as the abundance of the species.

Orography & Hydrography

The ground of Uruguay is characterized smoothly by being waved not presenting neither high mountains nor expanded to plains, dominating the "penillanura", which allows its total cross without obstacles. Its highest parts are called "blades" by its function that cut the waters that run. A hill succession and mountainous areas stand out and beautify the landscape, marking the hill Cathedral, with 514 meters high, the highest point of the national territory. It is followed  by the Cerro de las Animas with 501 meters high, located in the mountain ranges with the same name. Of tourist interest are the Hill of Montevideo, the Arequita in the district of Lavalleja, the Pan de Azucar in the district of Maldonado, etc.
The fluvial network is dense and rich, great rivers crossing the Uruguayan territory, distinguishing four important hydrographic basins: the one of the Rio de la Plata, the one of the Uruguay River, the Merín Lagoon and the Negro River. It seems obvious to indicate the importance of these rivers and their affluents as routes of communication, potable water providers and generators, through the great dams, of the energy that the country requires.

Culture

The Uruguayan society has always been characterized by its high level of education, of health and of social security. The alphabetization index reaches 95.3 percent. The primary education and of first secondary cycle is lay, gratuitous and obligatory. The University of the Republic, also gratuitous, counts on ten faculties and exists, in addition, private education in all levels. Art and Intellect have in Uruguay names that prestigize the Universal Culture. It could not be otherwise in a country that privileges education. The national culture began to lay its foundations with the consolidation of the Republic. Already at the beginning of S. XIX, the "Cielitos" and the "Patriotic Dialogues" of Bartholomeo Hidalgo initiated what was called "gauchesca" literature in the continent, and Zorrilla de San Martín inspired in national culture to create his own literature. Since then, the Uruguayan letters gave the country and the world the inmortal poetry of Juana de Ibarbourou, the nationalism of Silva Valdez, the thoughts of Vaz Ferreira, the narrative vigor of Horacio Quiroga, the critical stature of Rama Angel and Rodriguez Monegal, the depth of Onetti, the social painting of Benedetti, the bright observation of Carlos Maggi, only to name a few - a llitle - amongst many that are the proud of Eastern intellectuality. From that first House of Comedies erected in 1793 in an estate that today occupies the Taranco Palace, the taste for the dramatic art has been a national characteristic. The Uruguayan scene was rewarded with the putting of universal pieces; in the national, it gained identity with the works of Florencio Sanchez and it laid the foundations with the task of personalities like Xirgu Daisy, Curotto Angel, Zabala Muniz, Juan Carlos Brussa and Atahualpa del Cioppo. As much the National Comedy as the independent theater permanently offers spectacles an excellent production and a high artistic level.

In painting, Juan Manuel Blanes was first in reflecting, in his works, facts and personalities of the history of the country, in addition to "gauchos" and their routine. With him  begins a long list of artists who place the Uruguayan painting in an outstanding position throughout the world. In the work of Pedro Blanes Viale, the Eastern landscape vivified its lights when submerging in the impresionist current. From him, almost all the Uruguayan teachers would form in Europe, but all would return. Some to die, like Carlos Federico Sáez, el "macchiaiolo". Or like Rafael Barradas, who would live in Spain after rambling by Italy, reaching in his pictures a personal variant of  futurism, he would alternate with Dalí, Towers Garcia, Borges, Garcia Lorca, and would shape the faces of the Aragonese farmers. Others would evolve in going and coming enriching. So is the case of Jose Cúneo, who would paint moons and farms in an expresionist language, would reach surrealism with his remote landscapes, would return the Punta del Este its pines and finally, using his mother's last name, Perinetti, will introduce himself in the abstract. Or Pedro Figari, whose historical-custom painting rescues the colonial past: celebrations, backyards, scenes of the daily life in a luck of personal impresionism. With the appearance of Joaquin Torres García, creator of Universal Constructivism school, the Uruguayan art marked its influence in Europe and initiated a school that gave more names to painting: Augusto and Horacio Torres, To Ribeiro, J. Gurvich, G. Fonseca, F. Matto, M. Lima.

Music in Uruguay was and is cultivated in all its sorts, from choral and camera works of Eduardo Fabini to native folkloric music. Flamenco and Milonga were perhaps the first styles, the Tango was born in bars and brothels, in the "borders" of the cities. Later, it introduced itself in the halls until conquering the popular taste completely. From Francisco Canaro and Geraldo Matos Rodriguez, author of "the Cumparsita", to Horacio Ferrer, without forgetting the inmortal Carlos Gardel, many are the names that illustrate the Eastern history of the "two by four". At the present time, the Joventango association takes care of the diffusion of this musical expression. The Festival of the Tango is a forced appointment, into which groups burst with citizen music into the Solis Theater. Another rythm that has deep roots in the Uruguayan spirit came form the African culture: the Candombe. Three or four drums are sufficient for it to begin the game of musical improvisations and street movement that, invoked like a mantra, captivates body and spirit. Associated to popular celebrations or in "comparsas lubolas", Candombe is always a spectacle of color and contagious joy. During the Carnival tambouril groups cross the streets in a dance of masks and disguises. Folklore generated, during the sixties, the called Popular Songs that initiated as protest expression. They arrive at the present with smaller ideological load but equal force. The Olimareños, Alfredo Zitarrosa, Jose Carbajal are just some of their many singers.

As the "mate", soccer identifies the Uruguayan people and unites them in a passion which is discussed until fatigue before or after each game. With this sport Uruguay has conquered two Olympic titles, two world-wide championships, fourteen Americans and the Glass of Gold in the championship of Champions of the World 1980. At local level, tens of clubs of all the country promote soccer from childhood, but undoubtedly two of them dispute the preference of Uruguayan people: Peñarol and Nacional, classic rivals, whose encounters in the capital Stage are always waited for with anxiety. The equestrian, motoring and basketball also have numerous followers, and the cycling, another Uruguayan passion, has prized the country with several international laurels. Two annual competitions reunite cyclists of all the country: Routes of America, in carnival, and the Cycling Round of Uruguay in Tourism Week.

Main economic resources

Uruguay is a country with clear land-cattle characteristics since it counts on a bovine population of 10,690,050 heads of which 2 % are of Bulls and Oxen, 32 % young cows, 16 % vaquillonas, 25 % Young bulls, 19 % calves and 6 % Cows of wintertime. And an ovine population of 19,852,950 heads, has a great wool production with an annual number of 85,346 tons. Also it is good mentioning that milk production has reached 991,000,000 annual liters. Also Agriculture occupies part of its exportations since 7 % of their fields 363,500 (basically Wheat and Sunflower) are worked, occupying to a 15% of the population.
As far as the tourism activity, it has a great importance since only in a year more than 2,450,000 tourists arrive mainly from Argentina, followed by Brazilian, Chilean, Paraguayan and other countries of the world. They arrive normally in the first trimester of the year, which means 598 million dollars of income and 164 million dollars of outcome. The main destinies of the tourists are: Punta del Este, Piriápolis, Atlantida, Montevideo, Colonia, Costa de Oro (several towns on the coasts of the Rio de la Plata) and Rocha.
Uruguay is a member of the MERCOSUR (Common Market of the South) formed by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (Bolivia and Chile are also part of the Treaty.) Montevideo is the Administrative city from 1º of January of 1997 (Host of the Administrative Secretary) in the agreement signed in March of 1991. Mercosur is nowadays the fourth commercial power of the world behind the United States, the European Union and Japan, with population bigger than 20 million inhabitants, a surface of 12 million square kilometers that means 70 % of all South America and Internal Gross Product (PBI) of a trillion of dollars (80 % of all South America).

Transportation

The railway network, property of the State, has 3,300 km and the highways reach 49.954. The fluvial network has a low use, but however the airplane navigation has been developed quickly.

Administrative Structure

Administratively, Uruguay is divided in 19 districts, each one counts with a municipal government constituted by a Intendent and a district legislative assembly.

Political Data

Government: Unitary Republic. 
Political Regime: Democratic Representative Republican. 
Headquarters of the State: President of the Republic (chosen every 5 years). 
Executive authority: President of the Republic and Ministers. 

Legislative Power: Bicameral general assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) 
Political Parties: National (White), Colorado, Frente Amplio, etc.

Documentation

The documentation necessary to enter the country from member countries of the MERCOSUR (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay) is the national document of identity; from the rest of the world, the passport in use.

National Flower

The Ceibo (erythrna cristagalli).