Maldonado is a Uruguayan city of the Maldonado Department, from which it is its capital. Its population, as of 2004, is 54,603. The Maldonado Department in Uruguay is located east of the Uruguayan capital Montevideo. ...

Its foundation, carried out by decision of the Governor of Montevideo Joaquin de Viana, started in 1755 and finished in 1757, with the definitive settlement of 104 people. Its original name was Maldonado, but years later its name was changed to San Fernando de Maldonado, in honour to the King Fernando VI of Spain. Ferdinand VI, (September 23, 1713 - August 10, 1759), king of Spain from 1746 until his death, second son of Philip V, founder of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty (as opposed to the French Bourbons), by his first marriage with Maria Louisa of Savoy, was born at Madrid on September 23 1713. ...

Remarkable sights are:

• San Fernando de Maldonado Cathedral: A neoclassic cathedral, whose construction began in 1801 and finished in 1895.

• Cuartel de Dragones (Dragoons' Barracks): Construction began in 1771 and finished in 1797.

• Torre del Vigia (Watchtower): Built in 1800 under the direction of Rafael Pérez del Puerto. Its function was to inform Buenos Aires authorities of the entrance of any ship to the Río de la Plata.

• Maldonado bridge, a stressed ribbon bridge, where the roadbed swoops up, down, and back up and down again, employing exceptional economy of material.

Coordinates: 34°54′S 54°57′W A stressed ribbon bridge is a tension structure (similar in many ways to a simple suspension bridge) in which the roadway follows a catenary arc between supports which in turn support upward thrusting arcs that allow the grade to be changed between spans (where multiple spans are used). ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...