The Eastern Republic of Uruguay (Spanish: República Oriental del Uruguay) is a small country located in southern South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north, the Uruguay River to the west, the estuary of the Río de la Plata (literally "Silver River", 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 one-half of its people live in the capital and largest city, Montevideo. This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... The Uruguay River (Spanish: Rio Uruguay) is a river in South America. ... A satellite view of the estuary Another satellite view of the estuary The River Plate ( Spanish: Río de la Plata) is the estuary formed from the combination of the Uruguay River and the Parana River. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ... Montevideo, Minnesota, Montevideo is the capital, chief port and largest city in Uruguay (population 1. ...

The nation is the second-smallest country in South America and is one of the most politically and economically stable.

(Flag of Uruguay) (Coat of Arms of Uruguay)
National motto: Libertad o Muerte (Spanish, Liberty or Death)
Official language:	Spanish
Capital:  - Population:	Montevideo 1,330,405(1996)
Largest city:	Montevideo
President:	Tabaré Vázquez
Area:  - Total:  - % water:	Ranked 90th 176,220 km² ¹ 1.5%
Land borders: Coastline:	1,564km 660km
Population:  - Total:  - Density:	Ranked 130th 3,399,237 (2002) 19/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Recognized	From Brazil August 25, 1825 August 28, 1828
Religions:	Roman Catholic  (~66%), Protestant  (2%), Jewish  (1%)
GDP (2002):  - Total:  - GDP/capita:	Rank 90th, 85th, 92nd, 75th $26,820 $7,900
Currency:	Uruguayan Peso
Time zone:	UTC -3
National anthem:	Orientales, la Patria o la tumba
Internet TLD:	.uy
Calling Code:	598

History

Main article: History of Uruguay This is the history of Uruguay. ...

The name "Uruguay" comes from Guaraní, the language of the native people of the region. It means "River of the Painted Birds". The Guarani are primarily a tribal people indigenous in Paraguay, Uruguay and some regions of Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. ...

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 Río de la Plata. Montevideo, however, was thought of as a military center for the Spanish empire, while Buenos Aires was a commercial center. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... The Kingdom of Spain or Spain (Spanish and Galician: Reino de España or España; Catalan: Regne dEspanya; Basque: Espainiako Erresuma) is a country located in the southwest of Europe. ... The Vikings were the first Europeans to reach the Americas, starting but then abandoning a colonisation process. ... Montevideo, Minnesota, Montevideo is the capital, chief port and largest city in Uruguay (population 1. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Buenos Aires (Good Winds in Spanish, but more akin to Fair Winds, as in navigation) is the capital of Argentina and its largest city and port, as well as one of the largest cities in South America. ...

In the early 19th century, independence movements sprung up across South America, including Uruguay (then known as the Banda Oriental, or "eastern bank" in English). Uruguayan territory was contested between the nascent states of Brazil and Argentina. Brazil annexed the area in 1821, but a revolt began on August 25, 1825, after which Uruguay became an independent country with the Treaty of Montevideo in 1828. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... Events February 23 - The Philadelphia College of Apothecaries founds the first pharmacy college. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... Events January 4 - King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies dies and is succeeded by his son Francis I of the Two Sicilies. ... There were several treaties signed in Montevideo. ... Events January 4 - The Vicomte de Martignac succeeds the Comte de Villèle as Prime Minister of France. ...

European settlers exterminated the original population of Charrúa Indians. The last four Charruas, including the warrior Tacuabe, were taken to Paris in 1833 to be displayed as circus attractions. Formerly a tribe in southern South America, the Charrua were slowly killed and integrated into the prevailing cultures of Uruguay and southern Brazil following the arrival of European settlers. ... Tacuabe was Charrua, natives of the region which is now Uruguay. ...

In the latter part of the 19th century, Uruguay participated in the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay. War of the Triple Alliance also known as the Paraguayan War in 1864-1870, was the bloodiest conflict in Latin-American history, fought between Paraguay and the allied countries of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. ... The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked republic in South America. ...

Uruguay then experienced a series of elected and appointed presidents and saw conflicts with neighboring states, political and economic fluctuations and modernization, and large inflows of immigrants, mostly from Europe. The work of President José Batlle y Ordóñez made Uruguay an advanced nation with a complex welfare system; for most of the 20th century Uruguay was on par with European nations. Due to its advanced social system and its stable democracy, Uruguay came to be known as "the Switzerland of the Americas". This is a list of Presidents of Uruguay. ... Jos&eacute Batlle y Ordóñez (May 21, 1856 - October 20, 1929) was the president of Uruguay from 1903 until 1907 and for a second term from 1911 to 1915. ... There are three main interpretations of the idea of a welfare state: the provision of welfare services by the state. ... The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland is a landlocked federal state in Europe, with neighbours Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. ... The Americas (sometimes referred to as America) is the area including the land mass located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, generally divided into North America and South America. ...

The Uruguayan economy relies largely on agricultural exports. The world wars brought prosperity as Uruguayan beef and grain went to feed a war-ravaged Europe. World food prices dropped precipitously following the end of WWII, which triggered years of decline for the Uruguayan economy. By the 1960's, the stable social system began to break down as the economy spiralled. The government started losing popular support as students, workers and lower-class families felt the pain of an economy unable to adapt to a post-agricultural world economy. The Tupamaros, a radical leftist group, responded to the crisis with violence, which triggered government repression that ended with the suspension of individual rights by the president, Jorge Pacheco Areco, and his succesor, Juan María Bordaberry. Finally, in 1973, the army seized power, ushering in 11 years of military dictatorship in what was once one of the most stable democracies in the region. In 1984, democracy was finally restored with the election of Julio María Sanguinetti. Tupamaros, also known as the National Liberation Army, was an urban guerrilla organization in Uruguay in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Jorge Pacheco Areco was President of Uruguay from December 6, 1967 to March 1, 1972. ... Juan Maria Bordaberry is a Uruguayan statesman, who served as President from 1972 to 1976, when he was ousted in a military coup. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Julio María Sanguinetti Coirolo (born 1936) was President of Uruguay from 1 March 1985 to 1 March 1990 and from 1 March 1995 to 1 March 2000. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Uruguay Uruguay is a democracy and representative republic with its capital in Montevideo. ...

Uruguay's Constitution of 1967 created a strong presidency, subject to legislative and judicial checks. The president, who is both head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, with the vice president elected on the same ticket. Thirteen cabinet ministers, appointed by the president, head executive departments. An organizations constitution defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... This is a list of Presidents of Uruguay. ... A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... This article is about the political process. ... Alternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation) A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Executive can mean: Executive (government), a branch of government; A functionary in a commercial or non-commercial organisation. ...

The parliament is the bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General, which consists of a 30-member senate (Cámara de Senadores), presided over by the vice president of the republic, and a 99-member Chamber of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes). Members for both houses are elected by popular vote for a five-year term. Alternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

The highest court is the Supreme Court; below it are appellate and lower courts, and justices of the peace. In addition, there are electoral and administrative ("contentious") courts, an accounts court, and a military justice system.

For most of Uruguay's history, the Colorado and Blanco parties had alternated in power. The elections of 2004, however, brought the Frente Amplio, a coalition of various leftist parties, to power with majorities in both houses of parliament and the election of President Tabaré Vázquez Rosas by an absolute majority. The Broad Front (Frente Amplio in Spanish, also known as Encuentro Progresista) is a Uruguayan political party. ... Tabaré Vázquez Tabaré Ramón Vázquez Rosas (born 17 January 1940) is the current President of Uruguay. ...

Departments

Map of Uruguay

Main article: Departments of Uruguay Map of Uruguay from the CIA Factbook 2002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Map of Uruguay from the CIA Factbook 2002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Uruguay consists of 19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) (capitals in parentheses): Artigas (Artigas). ...

Uruguay consists of 19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento):

• Artigas
• Canelones
• Cerro Largo
• Colonia
• Durazno
• Flores
• Florida
• Lavalleja
• Maldonado
• Montevideo
• Paysandú
• Río Negro
• Rivera
• Rocha
• Salto
• San José
• Soriano
• Tacuarembó
• Treinta y Tres

Colonia is a departamento in southwestern Uruguay. ... Flores is a department of Uruguay. ... Florida Department is a department of Paraguay. ... The Department of Maldonado in Uruguay is located east of the Uruguayan Capitol, Montevideo. ... The Río Negro Department is a department located in the western part of Uruguay. ... Rocha is in the east of the republic. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Uruguay Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of Washington...

Photo

Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America. The landscape features mostly rolling plains and low hills (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 Río de la Plata (Silver River), the estuary of the Uruguay River, which forms the western border, and the Paraná River, that does not run through Uruguay itself. The only other major river is the Río Negro. Several lagoons are found along the Atlantic coast. Download high resolution version (691x786, 1205 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (691x786, 1205 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... A satellite view of the estuary Another satellite view of the estuary The River Plate ( Spanish: Río de la Plata) is the estuary formed from the combination of the Uruguay River and the Parana River. ... The Uruguay River (Spanish: Rio Uruguay) is a river in South America. ... Overlooking the Paraná River from Encarnación, Paraguay. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of its surface. ...

The climate in Uruguay is temperate, but fairly warm, as freezing temperatures are almost unknown. The predominantly flat landscape is also somewhat vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts, as well as to the pampero, a chilly and occasionally violent wind blowing north from the pampas plains in Argentina. Map of the climate of the Earth The climate (ancient Greek: κλίμα) is the weather averaged over a long period of time. ... In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ... The pampas (from Quechua for plain) are the fertile lowlands that extend across c. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Uruguay Uruguays economy remains dependent on agriculture. ...

Uruguay's economy is characterised by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending, as well as a developed industrial sector. After averaging growth of 5% annually in 1996–1998, in 1999–2001 the economy suffered from lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, which together account for nearly half of Uruguay's exports. Despite the severity of the trade shocks, Uruguay's financial indicators remained more stable than those of its neighbours, a reflection of its solid reputation among investors and its investment-grade sovereign bond rating — one of only two in South America. In recent years Uruguay has shifted most of its energy into developing the commercial use of IT technologies and has become the leading exporter of software in Latin America. Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ...

While some parts of the economy appeared to be resilient, the downturn had a far more severe impact on Uruguayan citizens, as unemployment levels rose to more than twenty percent, real wages fell, the peso was devalued, and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty reached almost 40%. These worsening economic conditions played a part in turning public opinion against the free market economic policies adopted by the previous administrations in the 1990s, leading to popular rejection of proposals for privatization of the state petroleum company in 2003 and of the state water company in 2004. The newly elected Frente Amplio government, while pledging to continue payments on Uruguay's external debt, has also promised to undertake a crash jobs programs to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment. A free market is an idealized market, where all economic decisions and actions by individuals regarding transfer of money, goods, and services are voluntary, and are therefore devoid of coercion and theft (some definitions of coercion are inclusive of theft). Colloquially and loosely, a free market economy is an economy... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or, especially in India, disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership and/or transferring the management of a service or activity from the government to the private sector. ... The Broad Front (Frente Amplio in Spanish, also known as Encuentro Progresista) is a Uruguayan political party. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Uruguay Uruguayans share a Spanish linguistic and cultural background, even though about one-quarter of the population is of Italian origin. ...

As a Spanish-speaking country of Latin America, most Uruguayans share a Spanish cultural background, even though about one-quarter of the population is of Italian origin. Some 88% of the population is of European descent, with mestizos (8%) and blacks (4%) forming the only significant ethnic minorities. Church and state are officially separated, with most adhering to the Roman Catholic faith (66%), with smaller Protestant (2%) and Jewish (1%) communities, as well as a large nonprofessing group (31%). This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... The Kingdom of Spain or Spain (Spanish and Galician: Reino de España or España; Catalan: Regne dEspanya; Basque: Espainiako Erresuma) is a country located in the southwest of Europe. ... The Italian Republic or Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Mestizo (Brazil Portuguese. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... For a discussion of Jews as an ethnicity or ethnic group see the article on Jew. ...

Uruguay is distinguished by its high literacy rate, large urban middle class, and relatively even income distribution. During the past two decades, an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans have emigrated, principally to Argentina and Brazil. As a result of the low birth rate, high life expectancy, and relatively high rate of emigration of younger people, Uruguay's population is quite mature. This article or section should include material from New literacy studies. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... In demography, life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average, or mathematical expected value, of the remaining lifetime of an individual in the given group. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Uruguay The culture of Uruguay is rich, reflecting that the country dates back to the 16th century. ...

• List of Uruguayans
• Music of Uruguay
• Mario Benedetti, Uruguay's best-known novelist
• Eduardo Galeano, writer and social commentator renowned throughout Latin America

Politics/Military rulers José Gervasio Artigas Jorge Batlle Aparicio Saravia José Batlle y Ordóñez Luis Batlle Juan María Bordaberry Baltasar Brum Manuel Oribe Fructuoso Rivera Julio María Sanguinetti Raúl Sendic Gabriel Terra Tabaré Vázquez Writers Pilar Barrios Mario Benedetti Juan Carlos Onetti Juana Fernández... Uruguay has a number of local musical forms. ... One of Latin Americas best known writers Mario Benedetti (born September 14, 1920) is an Uruguayan journalist, novelist, and poet. ... Eduardo Hughes Galeano (born September 3, 1940) is a radical Uruguayan journalist whose books have been translated into many languages. ...

Sports

Main article: Sports in Uruguay

Soccer (fútbol in Spanish) is the most important sport in Uruguay. Uruguay won two Olympic gold medals in soccer in 1924 and in 1928. The first World Cup in soccer was held in 1930 in Montevideo, which Uruguay won. Uruguay also won the World Cup in 1950, beating Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. At present Uruguayan soccer is devalued as a consequence of the economic crisis as well as corruption in the sport's administration. The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ... The Football World Cup (official name: FIFA World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer). ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... Ipanema beach A NASA satellite image of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro (meaning River of January in Portuguese) is the name of both a state and a city in southeastern Brazil. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Uruguay
• Transportation in Uruguay
• Military of Uruguay
• Foreign relations of Uruguay
• Reporters without borders World-wide press freedom index 2002: Rank 21 out of 139 countries (3 way tie)

Telephones - main lines in use: 622,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: 40,000 (1995) Telephone system: some modern facilities domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 94, FM 115, shortwave 14 (seven... Railways: total: 2,073 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1. ... The armed forces of Uruguay are constitutionally subordinate to the president through the Minister of Defense. ... Uruguay traditionally has had strong political and cultural links with its neighbors and Europe. ... Reporters Without Borders, or RWB ( French: Reporters sans frontières, or RSF) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to freedom of the press. ...

External links

Government resources

• Portal del Estado Uruguayo (http://www.uruguay.gub.uy/) - Uruguayan State portal (in Spanish)
• Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/) - Official presidential site (in Spanish)
• Poder Legislativo (http://www.parlamento.gub.uy/) - Official site of the Uruguayan Parliament (in Spanish)
• Poder Judicial (http://www.poderjudicial.gub.uy/) - Official site of the Uruguayan Judiciary (in Spanish)

General information

• Uruguay Total (http://www.uruguaytotal.com/) - Uruguayan portal (in Spanish)
• Uruguay.com (http://www.uruguay.com/) - Uruguayan portal (in Spanish, with English links)
• Wine Uruguay (http://www.vino-uruguay.com/index.php?Lang=en) - Uruguayan Wine Guide (in English, Spanish, German)

Commercial links

• Ministerio de Turismo del Uruguay (http://www.turismo.gub.uy/index.php) - Government tourism information site (in Spanish, Portuguese and English)
• Travel to Uruguay (http://www.traveltouruguay.com/) - Tourism portal (in English)
• Uruguay XII (http://www.uruguayxxi.gub.uy/) - Investment and Export Promotion (in Spanish and English)

This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Republic of Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... The Republic of Chile is a country in South America occupying a long coastal strip between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. ... The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. ... The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. ... The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is a nation along the northern coastline of South America. ... Panama (Spanish: Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. ... The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked republic in South America. ... The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ... The Republic of Suriname, more commonly known as Suriname or Surinam, (formerly known as Netherlands Guiana and Dutch Guiana) is a country in northern South America, in between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. ... The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a nation located in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. ... The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela)1 is a country in northern South America. ... The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic consisting of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and a number of smaller islands. ... French Guiana (French: Guyane) is an overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located on the Caribbean coast of South America. ...