South America: Plan your Journey

Uruguay

The Eastern Republic of Uruguay (Spanish: Republica Oriental del Uruguay) is a country located in southern South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north, the Uruguay River to the west, the estuary of the Rio de la Plata (literally "River of Silver", but commonly known in English as "River Plate") to the southwest, with Argentina on the other bank of both, and finally the South Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. About half of its people live in the capital and largest city, Montevideo. The nation is the third smallest country in South America, larger than only Suriname and French Guiana, and is one of the most politically and economically stable. more...

National name: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Full country name: Uruguay
Area: 68,039 sq mi (176,220 sq km)
Population: ,415,920 (growth rate: 0.5%); birth rate: 14.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 11.9/1000; life expectancy: 76.1; density per sq mi: 50
Capital City: Montevideo
Language: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero
Government : Constitutional republic
President Tabare Vazquez (2005)
Largest city:Montevideo
Religion: Roman Catholic 66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%
Monetary unit: Uruguay peso
Ethnicity/race: white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%

History of Uruguay

The name "Uruguay" comes from Guarani, the language of the native people of the region. It means "river of the painted birds." The first Europeans arrived in the area in the early 16th century. Both Spain and Portugal pursued the colonization of Uruguay, with the Spanish eventually gaining control. The future capital, Montevideo, was founded in the early 18th century and became a rival to Buenos Aires across the Rio de la Plata. Montevideo, however, was thought of as a military center for the Spanish empire, while Buenos Aires was a commercial center. more...

Overview of Uruguay's Economy

Literacy rate:98% (2003 est.)
GDP/PPP (2004 est.):
$49.27 billion
Per capita:
$14,500
Real growth rate:
10.2%.
Inflation:
7.6%
Unemployment:
13%
Arable land:
7%
Agriculture:
rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Labor force:
1.56 million; agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Industries:
food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Natural resources:
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Exports:
$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2003 est.): meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products.
Imports:$2.071 billion (f.o.b., 2003): machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
Major trading partners:
Brazil, U.S., Argentina, Germany, China, Mexico, Italy, Russia (2003).

Also Read: A Brief insight in The Economy of Uruguay | Demographics of Uruguay | Activities of Uruguay | Tourist Attractions of Uruguay

Political System of Uruguay

- Politics in Uruguay

Climate, Vegetation and Faunau

- Climate: Uruguay has an exceptionally fine temperate climate, with mild summers and winters. more...
- Food and Drink:The majority of Uruguayan restaurants are parrilladas (grill-rooms), which specialize in the...more
- Nightlife: Theater, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January. more...
- Culture: The culture of Uruguay is rich, reflecting that the country dates back to the 16th century. more...

Facts for Travellers

Visa:United States entry requirements are the same in all states, with most foreign travelers requiring a visa. The US State Department issues all US visas. more...
Time Zone:
GMT - 3.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz
Location: South America
Country dialing code: 598
Highest Point: Cerro Catedral Cerro (514 meters) (1,686 ft)
Official Currency: Uruguayan Peso
Latitude/Longitude: 33º S, 56º W

Geography of Uruguay

Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America, after Suriname. The landscape features mostly rolling plains and low hill ranges (cuchillas) with a fertile coastal lowland, most of it grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising. The highest point in the country is the Cerro Catedral at 514 m. To the southwest is the Rio de la Plata (River of Silver), the estuary of the Uruguay River, which forms the western border, and the Parana River, that does not run through Uruguay itself. The only other major river is the Rio Negro. Several lagoons are found along the Atlantic coast. more...

Shopping in Uruguay

Special purchases include suede jackets, amethyst jewelry and paintings. The Tristan Narvaja Market is famous for its antiques and there are many antique shops in the Old Town. more...

Also Read: Militray of Uruguay | Foreign relations of Uruguay | Sports in Uruguay | Music of Uruguay

Climate of Venezuela Weather The climate varies according to altitude. Lowland areas have a tropical climate. The dry season is from December to April and the rainy season from May to December. During the rainy season, there is the possibility of flooding in certain low-lying areas, such as the Llanos and in some valley of the [...]
Activities in Venezuela Hiking and trekking Venezuela has 42 national parks and around 20 nature reserves (monumentos naturales) which, together, cover some 15 per cent of the total land mass. All types of walks, ranging from signposted trails to mountain climbing and jungle paths, are possible. Visitors should note that a permit, issued by central [...]
Tourist Attractions in Venezuela Venezuela offers a great variety of landscapes - tropical beaches, immense plains, enormous rivers, forests, jungle, waterfalls and great mountains. Unfortunately, the flash floods and mudslides which hit Venezuela in 1999 severely damaged the country’s infrastructure; some of which may still not have been fully restored. Travelers should check prior to [...]
Nightlife in Venezuela There are many nightclubs and discos in the major cities of Venezuela. The National and Municipal Theaters offer a variety of concerts, ballet, plays, operas and operettas. There are other theaters - some of which are open-air - in Caracas, as well as several cinemas.
Food and Dining in Venezuela Cumin and saffron are used in many dishes but the distinctive and delicate flavor of most of the popular dishes comes from the use of local roots and vegetables. Some local specialties are tequenos, a popular hors d’oeuvres (thin dough wrapped around a finger of local white cheese and fried crisp); [...]
Shopping in Venezuela There are many handicrafts unique to Venezuela that are made by local Indian tribes. Good purchases are gems and jewelry, cacique coins, gold, pearls, pompom slippers, seed necklaces, shoes and handbags, Indian bows, arrows, mats, pipes and baskets, alpargatas (traditional local footwear of the Campesinos), chinchorros (local hammocks) and many other [...]
Caracas: Venezuela Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. It is located in the north of the country, following the contours of a narrow mountain valley. The valley’s temperatures are springlike, and the urbanizable terrain of the Caracas Valley lies between 2,500 and 3,000 ft (760 and 910 m) above sea level. The Valley is close to [...]
Military of Venezuela As of 2000, the national armed forces of Venezuela (FAN Fuerza Armada Nacional) enlisted 87,500 individuals in four service branches–the Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps), Air Force, and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the National Guard. As of 2005, about 100,000 soldiers were integrated in the military through [...]
Foreign relations of Venezuela Venezuela’s priorities in the international arena are: Respect for human rights; The right of all people to self-determination; Nonintervention in the internal affairs of other nations; Peaceful settlement of disputes between nations, including border disputes; The right of all people to peace and security; and Support for democracy. Hemispheric cooperation and integration are two pillars of president Hugo Chavez’s [...]
Music of Venezuela Venezuelan pop music has been largely overshadowed on the international scene by its neighbors, especially Brazil, Trinidad and Colombia. It is known for its own salsa, merengue and other imported styles, as well as the distinct llanera music. Originally a rural form of the llanos, or plains, llanera spread to musically creative artists like [...]

Travel Mantra: South America Destination Guide

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Food and Dining in Venezuela
Food and Dining in Venezuela Cumin and saffron are used in many dishes but the distinctive and delicate flavor of most...

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