Uruguay (Spanish: Uruguay) is a state in the southeastern part of
South America, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It borders Brazil
in the north, Argentina in the west, and the Atlantic Ocean in the
east and south. The land borders are 1,564 km long, and the
coastline is 660 km long.
As of 2022, according to the CIA
World Fact Book, Uruguay is the 132nd state in the world in terms of
population (3,407,213 people). The composition of the population of
Uruguay by religion as of 2021: Catholics - 44.8%, irreligious -
44.5%, adherents of other Christian denominations - 9.5%, adherents
of other religions or denominations - 1.2%.
Member of the UN,
MERCOSUR, WTO. Unitary state, presidential republic.
The
capital is the city of Montevideo. Uruguay, along with Chile, Costa
Rica and Panama (with the exception of some island states of the
Caribbean region), is considered one of the most democratic, not
corrupt, safe and wealthy countries in Latin America. Uruguay is
also among the countries in which there are individual freedoms such
as same-sex marriage, legalized cannabis, prostitution and abortion.
The country is in 13th place (between Canada and Luxembourg) in the
ranking of world democracy.
Colonia del Sacramento: city founded by the
Portuguese in 1680, located on the Uruguay River facing Buenos Aires,
which maintains much of its architecture and bucolic appearance
unchanged.
Punta del Este: place where the international jet set
meets every summer for more than 50 years. A privileged coast on the
Atlantic Ocean and a lot of nature in its natural state, together with
5-star hotels.
Piriápolis: is a city and resort in the department of
Maldonado, located one hour and forty minutes from Montevideo and twenty
minutes from Punta del Este. It was the first spa in the country,
founded by Francisco Piria.
Punta del Diablo: a fishing village near
the border with Brazil, which welcomes tourism that seeks the most
rugged coast and the roughest sea.
La Paloma: is one of the main spas
on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay, located 240 km from Montevideo. Its
beaches, with an extension of approximately 20 km, constitute one of the
main tourist attractions in the country.
La Pedrera: 230 km from
Montevideo. It has beautiful beaches and a spectacular panoramic view.
It is characterized by preserving a rugged landscape and where its
beaches are known for their beauty and the strength of the sea, typical
of the Rochense coasts.
Barra de Valizas: a town that fills you with
infinite stars, cold bonfire nights and exotic music from places of
wonder. Amazement that does not stop appearing every day and of course
every night. Sun, endless ocean. Limited Valizas for some since many of
the houses do not have electricity.
Hot springs: natural hot springs
in the north of the country offer an alternative for tourism and health
throughout the year.
Almirón Hot Springs: in the department of
Paysandú.
Termas del Arapey: in the department of Salto.
Termas
del Daymán: in the department of Salto.
Guaviyú Hot Springs: in the
department of Paysandú.
Salto Grande Hot Springs: in the department
of Salto.
San Nicanor Hot Springs: in the department of Salto.
Estancias: cattle ranches where in addition to enjoying a "asado con
cuero" you can see the descendants of the true "gauchos" doing farm
chores.
Boca del Cufré: a small resort located in the department of
San José (100 km from Montevideo). The beaches correspond to the Río de
la Plata, and it is characterized as an ideal place to rest since the
rugged and little-urbanized landscape makes it "Cufré" a heavenly place
to make the most of your desire to rest.
The spa has a stream
suitable for navigation and water sports, it also has camping and
numerous farms for rent.
To get to Boca del Cufré, you have to go to
kilometer 100 of route 1 (one) where the city of Ecilda Paullier is
located, and from there turn 17 km along a road that leads through a
picturesque landscape of pine trees. , eucalyptus trees and dunes
directly on the banks of the river.
Atlántida: a seaside resort in
the department of Canelones, located on the Atlantic coast, only 45 km
from Montevideo, the country's capital.
Grasp
Mostly descendants of Europeans (especially Italians and
Spaniards), Uruguayans are a cultured and tolerant people. With a
literacy rate of almost 99%, they export scientists, researchers and
professionals who have no place in the local market.
Its
inhabitants have a long secular tradition, mixed with deep-rooted
Christian values. The unrestricted access of the population to
university education denotes the deep interest in intellectual training,
only obscured by the period of the military dictatorship of the 70s/80s
and the economic crisis of 2002 that they went through together with
other countries of the region.
In 2013, Montevideo was
for the second time the Ibero-American Capital of Culture. Various
cultural shows were held throughout the year.
the matte
Although the infusion known as "mate" is taken in different ways in
Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil, it is in Uruguay where
its presence can be seen at all times and in all places. It is very
common to see a Uruguayan family walking through the city with their
mate, and it cannot be missing in any gathering of people of any age.
The "yerba mate", that is, the leaves with which the infusion is
prepared, is considered a staple item. This yerba is placed in the mate
(this is the name of the drink and the container where it is drunk). The
gourd used to make the container is dried, deseeded, and cut
appropriately. To sip the mate, a bombilla is used, a silver or other
noble metal artifact, built as a straw or straw, with a filter of the
same material in the part that remains submerged in the yerba. The last
element is the thermos, a container where hot water is transported to
serve the mate.
Unlike Argentina, where mate is usually drunk
with milk or sugar, or Paraguay, where it is served cold as a
refreshment, in Uruguay it is drunk bitter and very hot.
Virtually all Europeans can enter without a visa for 90 days.
Electronic entry gates have also been available at more popular border
crossings since 2019. You don't get a stamp in your passport there, but
only at the counters that are also available.
By plane
The
capital's airport in Montevideo has been expanded and has a
state-of-the-art terminal. Direct flights from Europe are currently only
available from Madrid or via Miami with a connecting flight. There are
good connections to other South American cities and above all to Buenos
Aires (partly departures every half hour).
A cheap alternative is
to fly to Buenos Aires and from there by ship or overland to Uruguay.
By train
Unfortunately, it is not possible to travel to Uruguay
by train, as there are only a few dilapidated inner-Uruguayan train
connections that are mainly used to transport goods.
By bus
Buses serve Uruguay and especially the capital Montevideo and Punta del
Este from Argentina and Brazil.
In the street
From Brazil
there are numerous border crossings from the state of Río Grande do Sul
to Uruguay. There are three bridges over the Río Uruguay from Argentina.
Attention: Because of a diplomatic conflict between the two countries
around a paper factory, the bridges are often blocked by demonstrators!
Either arrive via Buenos Aires or Brazil or ask about the current
situation in Argentina on site!
By boat
Montevideo and Colonia
can be reached by ferry Buquebus from Buenos Aires. This is particularly
advantageous if you have only booked a flight to Buenos Aires and want
to continue to Uruguay. If you don't have a car with you, you can also
take a passenger boat from the Argentinian city of Tigre to Carmelo,
which is highly recommended because of the charming islands. The company
Colonia Express offers combined tickets from Buenos Aires via Colonia
(ship) to Montevideo. The journey takes a good five hours in total, and
there is no time to take another look at Colonia. Faster (a good two
hours), but also a bit more expensive, is the direct ferry connection
from Buquebus.
By taxi
In Montevideo you can find black and yellow taxis, as
well as white and yellow models that were introduced in 2011 and will
gradually replace the former. The price of the fare is approximately 1
dollar to start the trip, plus 3 cents for every 100 meters traveled.
By bus
Buses from neighboring countries arrive at the Tres
Cruces terminal in Montevideo . A bus service from Colonia del
Sacramento complements the ferry crossing the Río de La Plata from
Buenos Aires.
By car
The road network has been modernizing
for about 10 years, making land transport faster and safer.
By
train
Since 1993, regular passenger trains have been running between
Montevideo and 25 de Agosto (Florida department). In 2002 the services
were increased by adding trains to Progreso (halfway between Montevideo
and 25 de Agosto).
Since March 1, 2003 passenger trains depart
and arrive from a new terminal station 500 meters north of Montevideo
Central Station , which has been closed ever since. This meant a loss of
more than 100,000 passengers for train services. For more information
visit this website: Group of Passengers in defense of the Central
Station .
In December 2005, passenger service to Empalme Olmos
via Pando was restored.
In January 2007, a daily train was
extended from 25 de Agosto to San José (two on Saturdays) and from
January 2008 another train continues to Florida, 109 km from Montevideo.
The schedules can be consulted at http://www.afe.com.uy .
Passenger trains run on Sundays in summer, but not in winter except for
special services.
The State Railroad Administration also runs
special trains for certain events to or from San José, Florida, Durazno,
Cerro Colorado, Minas and between Treinta y Tres and Rio Branco.
Between 1993 and 2000 a regular passenger service circulated between
Tacuarembó and Rivera.
From the Beer Festival in the city of Paysandú, to the
Rural Exhibition of El Prado, passing through the Carnival, where you
can listen and dance to Candombe, a rhythm that was born in Uruguay with
African roots.
On the other hand, there is the National Spring
Festival that takes place on the second weekend of October in the city
of Dolores, Department of Soriano, and that every year brings together a
massive presence of visitors from different parts of the country and the
region. .
Spanish (español) is the de facto official language and is spoken by
all residents of Uruguay. Even in tourist centers it is advisable to
have a basic vocabulary of Spanish words, as even English is not widely
spoken.
Latin American Spanish sometimes differs significantly
from Castilian Spanish and can take some getting used to if you are only
familiar with European school Spanish. The Spanish variant of Uruguay
shows many similarities with that of Argentina and, due to the history
of settlement and immigration, has certain influences from Italian,
Portuguese and Galician in terms of vocabulary, pronunciation and
intonation. It sounds softer, gentler, and more melodic, which is also
true of Latin American Spanish in general. Furthermore, not a few
Uruguayans know Portuguese (estimates speak of up to around a quarter of
the population, a good 800,000 people), especially in the north, be it
simply because of the proximity to Brazil (tourist, cultural, economic
relations between the two countries), because they have learned at
school or are of Portuguese-Brazilian descent or even have it as their
mother tongue. Furthermore, there are mixed variants of español and
português, which are called portuñol, in northern Uruguay and southern
Brazil, especially in the border area. Uruguayan Portuguese, on the
other hand, is closer to Brazilian than to European.
However,
anyone who speaks one of these two major Ibero-Romance languages will
hardly have any major communication difficulties during their trip.
In November 2021, one euro was worth almost 50 pesos.
The best
place to shop is in one of the five malls, such as B. Montevideo
Shopping, Shopping Tres Cruzes or Shopping Punta Carretas, where it is
also safe. The city center, on the other hand, is still a bit run down
after the last crisis and many shops are empty.
Although
marijuana has been legalized, it is not freely available. Locals have to
be entered in a "pothead file" in order to be able to purchase their
smoking substance in pharmacies.
The kitchen is very influenced by the agrarian structure. Beef in any
form is very common. Vegetarians will sometimes have a hard time getting
meatless diets. The preparation is often on the grill. Otherwise, the
kitchen is characterized by Spanish and Italian influences.
A
cutlery charge is often required, which is reflected in the bill as
"cubiertos". That's why there are also some bars that write at the
entrance ("No se cobran cubiertos!") to advertise themselves. It's best
to just ask: "Se cobran cubiertos?".
Chivito is the national
dish. Similar to a hamburger, a bun is topped with a slice of fried
meat, mozzarella, sliced tomato, mayonnaise, olives, cooked ham, and
hard-boiled eggs or a fried egg. It can also be served "al plato",
without a bun, on a plate. French fries are eaten as a side dish.
Chajá is a typical dessert of Uruguayan gastronomy. It was invented on
April 27, 1927 by Orlando Castellano, owner of the Las Familias pastry
shop in the city of Paysandú. It owes its name to the chajá, a bird that
lives in the central and southern areas of South America and that is
found mainly in the department of Paysandú. The ingredients of the
dessert are merengue (meringue), bizcochuelo (sponge cake), double cream
and characteristic fruits such as peach and strawberry. There are also
variants with dulce de leche (a cream made from milk, sugar and vanilla)
or chocolate.
Going out is one of the favorite pastimes of young people at the weekend. The motto is: "See and be seen". A lot of value is placed on appearance and a certain machismo is widespread. As in southern Europe, nightlife starts relatively late. The nightlife takes place mainly in the old town, the "Ciudad vieja" and in the discotheques and bars distributed throughout the city. You don't need to show up in the dance halls before one o'clock in the morning, because that's when they're still closed, even during the week.
The Uruguayans are very fond of tents. Everywhere in the country you
will find campsites with the associated infrastructure (showers,
toilets...). Because of the hot summers, the pitches are planted with
trees, so you can pitch your tent in the shade. You pay between four and
ten euros per night and person, depending on how popular the place you
are visiting is. Earplugs should be part of the basic equipment along
with the tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat, as there are cicadas that
make noise like circular saws and can make it hard to fall asleep.
Wild camping is not allowed, but will not be prosecuted. If you are
actually caught by the police, the officers will at most politely ask
you to take down the tent. It is more problematic to find suitable
places to camp on the way, as there are fences on both sides of
practically all roads, behind which the cow pastures begin. But there
are fearless people who set up their tent right next to the road (if
only two or three cars pass by all night - no problem) or seek to be
close to the cattle, which is usually not a problem. By the way: Bulls
(meaning male cattle) are generally not dangerous in South America. The
question "why not?" answer Latin Americans with the surprised question
why they are in Europe.
There are two main universities in Uruguay: the Universidad de la Republica and the Universidad Catolica. Attending school and attending secondary schools and universities is free of charge in public institutions. However, there are a large number of private educational institutions that are subject to a fee. However, Uruguay's education system is good overall and means that only about four percent of the population is illiterate, i.e. less than in many industrialized countries.
The international dialing code for Uruguay is +598. Country internet domain .uy
Security
Uruguay is generally considered a safe travel destination.
Nevertheless, you should watch out for your belongings, especially in
tourist areas and larger cities, where there are also some pickpockets.
As a European, you should avoid some parts of Montevideo, as you can be
mugged there even in daylight. Uruguayans are permitted to purchase
firearms up to a certain caliber.
The districts with a large
number of corrugated iron shacks, such as B. Cerro Norte, La Paloma or
Casabo, one should, if at all, only be accompanied by locals. The center
of the city and the old town are quite safe by South American standards.
Handbags or valuables should not be left in the passenger seat.
Uruguayans always say there are no dangerous animals in the country.
Then, when it comes to snakes, it's, "yes, there are some really
poisonous snakes, but otherwise there aren't any other dangerous animals
in the country." When it comes to spiders, it's, "yes, a there are a few
really venomous snakes and spiders, but otherwise there are no other
dangerous animals in the country.” And then, when it comes to the
cougars and maned wolves… In fact, cars in Montevideo are far more
dangerous than the wildlife. You simply shouldn't do gymnastics in
sandals and shorts through high grass and bushes, then you won't be
bitten.
There are no particular health risks in Uruguay. Medical care is
good, especially in the cities.
The emergency numbers are 911 and
999.
In the past few decades, the first-name form has become commonplace - even with strangers.
The official name of the country is the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Initially, the territory of modern Uruguay was part of the Spanish governorship of La Plata, being a separate province called "East Coast" until 1815 and "Eastern Province" after. In 1828, this province declared independence, and two years later adopted the name "Oriental Republic of Uruguay". The last word in the name of the country is a hydronym, derived from the name of the river of the same name, which is of Indian (Tupi languages) origin. In it, the "guay" part means "river", and "Uru" in the Guarani language is the common name for several species of birds. A number of authors interpret it as "capercaillie rooster".
Before the conquest of the territory of modern Uruguay by the
Spaniards, the tribes of the Charrua Indians lived on its territory.
In the 16th century (since 1515), the penetration of the Spaniards
began.
In 1776-1810, the territory of the country, then
called the Eastern Strip, was part of the viceroyalty of the Rio de
la Plata.
After the start of the national liberation
struggle, the inhabitants of Uruguay, especially the gauchos,
supported the revolutionary struggle of José Hervasio Artigas for
independence from both Spain and Buenos Aires, as well as from the
Portuguese troops invading Brazil.
In 1810, a popular
uprising against Spanish colonial rule began in Uruguay, led by José
Artigas. In 1811, the independence of Uruguay from Spain was
proclaimed. In 1814, Uruguay was liberated from Spanish troops. In
1821, Uruguay was incorporated into Brazil.
The country's
independence was proclaimed in 1825, when a group of former Eastern
Province partisans (known as the Thirty-three Orientales), led by
Juan Antonio Lavalleja, fought against the Brazilian Empire with the
help of the United Provinces of South America.
In 1830, the
country's first constitution was adopted.
1830s - the
emergence of the main parties of the country - "Colorado" (that is,
"Colored" - pro-Brazilian orientation) and "Blanco" ("White" -
pro-Argentine orientation).
1896 The State Bank of the Republic
of Uruguay was established.
Constitution 1919
1933 -
Dissolution of Parliament by President Gabriel Terra.
1938 -
Restoration of democracy.
1965-1972 - the aggravation of the
political struggle, the urban guerrilla of Tupamaros, the terror of
the Nationalist armed defense.
1973-1984 - coup d'état, period of
military dictatorship.
1985 - after the parliamentary and
presidential elections in 1984, power was transferred to civilians.
Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America after
Suriname. With an area of 176,215 square kilometers (of which around
2,600 square kilometers is water), it is about half the size of Germany.
Uruguay shares a 985 km border with Brazil to the north and a 579 km
border with Argentina to the west. The coast is 660 km long.
landscape picture
Almost the entire area of Uruguay belongs to the
ecoregion of the pampas. In Uruguay it is also called Campo and in
contrast to the completely treeless steppe landscape of neighboring
Argentina to the south, it is sometimes compared to a wet savannah due
to a mosaic of "forest islands" in the subtropical grassland. The Campo
is hilly and continues northward to southeastern Brazil where it rises
to a plateau. The south of the country, on the other hand, is almost
flat. Along the Río Uruguay there are extensive swampy plains that are
frequently flooded.
The center is a low tableland rising in
ridges to just over 500m. Layer steps and hardlings give the country an
overall hilly character. The coast is strongly divided in the southeast
by shallow beach lakes and lowlands. In the north the land is covered
with hill ranges, e.g. B. the Cuchilla de Haedo or the Cuchilla Grande
in the northeast, but only slightly exceed the height of 500 m. The
highest elevation in Uruguay is the Cerro Catedral at 514 m, other
elevations are the Cerro de las Ánimas (501 m), the Cerro Ventana (420
m) and the Cerro Colorado (299 m). The lowest point is at sea level.
Overall, the country is very flat, only ten percent of the land area is
higher than 200 m. The soil is generally fertile and is therefore used
almost everywhere for agriculture. At around five percent, forests only
make up a small part of the country's area.
The climate is subtropical in the north and temperate in the south.
In the coastal regions, temperatures are similar to the climatic
conditions of the coastal regions of southern France, northern Italy and
northern Spain, with clearly defined thermal seasons. The average annual
temperature there is 16.5 °C. The warmest month is January with around
22°C, while the coolest month is June with an average of 10°C. Inland,
the annual mean temperature is slightly higher, mainly due to higher
summer temperatures.
The absolute temperature extremes in
Montevideo are 43 °C and -5 °C, frost can occur there - albeit rarely -
from May to October.
Throughout the country - in contrast to the
Mediterranean region - precipitation falls all year round (east side
climate), averaging 1,000 mm/year, and up to 1,400 mm/year in the
wettest areas in the north. Only the region around Punta del Este has
slightly less precipitation at just under 1,000 mm/year.
The
winter half-year is generally somewhat drier than the summer half-year,
with an overall great seasonal balance; the wettest month is March.
Measurable precipitation falls in Montevideo on about 100 days a year.
The mean annual total of sunshine hours in Montevideo is 2,800
hours.
Relative humidity varies between 70 and 75 percent
nationwide, with peaks of 80 percent in July and 65 percent in January.
It is quite common for humidity to drop from 90 percent at sunrise to 45
percent in the afternoon.
In winter, the country is often hit by
very strong, cold south-west winds known as pamperos, which ravage the
country's coastal regions. Cold air rushes are usually accompanied by
south-east winds, the so-called sudestadas, which can cause widespread
flooding in the La Plata region. Overall, easterly to north-easterly
winds predominate.
Although the precipitation is distributed
relatively evenly over the year, extreme irregularities can be observed
again and again. There were long dry periods like 1891-1894, 1916-1917,
1942-1943, 1964-1965 and 1988-1989, on the other hand the years 1914,
1959, 1983 or 1992 were extremely rainy. With no mountains as natural
barriers, the country is very vulnerable to rapid weather changes,
especially when heavy rains follow a prolonged dry spell.
The country is very rich in water. The water network can be divided
into two large basins: the inner and the Atlantic basin. The Atlantic
Basin is fed by relatively short rivers that flow into the sea. It can
be divided into two basins: that of the Río de la Plata (to the west)
and that of the Lagoon of Merin (to the east). The inner basin consists
of watercourses that flow into the Uruguay. Its most water-rich
tributary, the Río Negro, flows through the country from east to west
and in turn forms a large basin.
The largest river is the Río
Uruguay, which is 1790 km long in total, rises in the southern Brazilian
coastal mountains and, together with the Río de la Plata, forms the
western border of the country. The most important tributary is the Río
Negro, which crosses Uruguay from northeast to southwest for 750 km and
is dammed in the center of the country to form the 1140 square kilometer
lake Rincón del Bonete. This reservoir was created by the construction
of the dam on the Río Negro to generate electrical energy. It is halfway
along the course of the river, behind the Dr. Gabriel Terra Dam, which
was completed in 1945.
The Río de la Plata flows into the
Atlantic at the world's largest estuary. The Río Uruguay is navigable
along the entire western border of the country. Like the two large
reservoirs on the Río Negro (Rincón del Bonete and Paso del Palmar) in
the center of Uruguay, it supplies the entire country with drinking
water. Other important lakes are the Laguna Merín in the east of the
country, the Embalse de Salto Grande (area: 783 square kilometers) on
the Río Uruguay and the Baygorria reservoir on the Río Negro. Also on
the south-east coast are the Laguna del Sauce, the Laguna José Ignacio,
the Laguna Garzón, the Laguna de Rocha, the Laguna de Castillos and the
Laguna Negra.
Uruguay's abundance of water is not only found
above ground. The Acuífero Guaraní, which extends beneath the land
surfaces of Uruguay, northern Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil,
contains an estimated 37,000 cubic kilometers of groundwater, making it
one of the largest freshwater reservoirs anywhere.
After a
referendum in October 2004, the right to water was enshrined in
Uruguay's constitution. This had to be changed and henceforth contain a
guarantee that access to drinking water and sanitation facilities is a
fundamental human right and must be guaranteed by the state. Uruguay is
the first country in the world where the right to water was given
constitutional status through a plebiscite.
Uruguay is relatively poor in mineral resources, does not have its
own oil deposits, and mineral deposits are only found sporadically.
However, various bulk raw materials are mined, such as limestone for the
production of cement, or (especially in the south of the country) clay
and clay-rich silt for bricks. In addition to dolomite and marble, the
so-called "black granite" is also mined as a natural stone, especially
in the south-eastern departments. However, only the Soca anticline is
true granite (with a porphyry structure and a dark, grey-green matrix).
Otherwise, basic dyke rocks, such as medium to fine-grained dolerites
and microgabbros, are marketed under this misleading trade name ("Black
Granite").
The industrial minerals feldspar, beryl and quartz are
extracted from pegmatite veins in the departments of Colonia and
Florida. The latter is elementary for the production of glass. Kaolinite
for porcelain can be found in Blanquillo, and montmorillonite in Bañado
de Medina. In the Department of Colonia, talc is even mined underground;
Gypsum is found in the Río Negro department. Placer deposits of the
important titanium ore ilmenite have accumulated on the coast of the
Rocha department.
In the north-east of the country there are
extensive basaltic lava sheets, the bubble spaces of which are often
filled with agate and amethyst. However, since 1972 they have only been
extracted and processed into jewelry in the Departamento Artigas.
In the area between Minas and Pan de Azúcar (Lavalleja) there are
some small, mostly insignificant deposits of lead and zinc ores (also
copper). Of these, La Oriental was exploited in the years 1850-1870 and
1936-1939. The iron ores magnetite and hematite are bound to highly
metamorphic banded ore intercalated in granitic gneisses, but were mined
only at Valentines, Florida. Other (partially manganese-containing)
ribbon ore can be found in the Isla Cristalina de Rivera in the north of
the country, but has never been used before. However, the only producing
gold mine in the country is located there, at Minas de Corrales.
The highest authority for geology and mining is the Dirección Nacional
de Minería y Geología in the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining.
Only a few remnants remain of the once mighty, impenetrable bush forests. The wooded areas, mostly on the lower reaches of the rivers, now cover only 5 percent of the national territory. Tall prairie grasses are characteristic of the type of vegetation that prevails in Uruguay. Native hardwood trees include urunday, lapacho, carob, quebracho, jacaranda, and acacia. Other flowering plants are mimosa and kapok trees. Palm trees thrive in the southeast and valleys of the central region and northern Uruguay. Pines and eucalyptus trees have been planted in the coastal areas to protect against further encroachment of the sand. The widespread cypress, oak, cedar, mulberry and magnolia trees have also been introduced from outside.
The populations of pumas, seals, tapirs, chahas and rheas have declined sharply today. Deer, wild boar, otters (including the endangered giant river otter, up to 2.20 m long), foxes, armadillos, anteaters and various rodents are among the most common mammals. Bird species include vultures, burrowing owls, turkeys, parakeets, cardinals, hummingbirds, swans (including the very rare black-necked swans) and wild ducks. Reptile fauna includes lizards, turtles and rattlesnakes. The range of caimans is limited to the upper reaches of the Uruguay River. Uruguay has the second largest colony of seals and sea lions (after Alaska) on Isla de Lobos (= Seal Island, located off Punta del Este). Whales and dolphins are also sighted; Sharks on the high seas, but never near shore.
With almost 1.5 million inhabitants, Montevideo, the capital, is the
only city with a population of more than one million and the most
important port city in the country. Not only is almost half of the
population concentrated there, but also the country's industry and
trade, which is why Uruguay is often jokingly referred to as "a city
with a few farms in the hinterland". Montevideo is therefore a primate
city, it is also a center of Latin American politics (headquarters of
ALADI and the Secretariat of Mercosur). The city is also considered very
safe by Latin American standards.
The cities of Salto (pop.
104,028) and Paysandú (pop. 76,429) on the Uruguay River, on the border
with Argentina, compete for the title of second most important city,
albeit by far. Both cities are characterized by the agricultural
industry, Salto also has a share in the important hydroelectric power
plant Salto Grande. Other cities include Las Piedras (pop. 71,268),
Rivera (pop. 64,485), Maldonado (pop. 62,592), Tacuarembó (pop. 54,757)
and Melo (pop. 51,830). The country's most famous seaside resort, Punta
del Este, is located about 140 km east of Montevideo. In the high summer
months of December to February, the city is the meeting point of the
sophisticated South American world, when the population swells from
30,000 to over 200,000 people and international sailing regattas,
fashion shows and marathons take place.
The inhabitants of Uruguay are called Uruguayans in German. The Uruguayan describes himself as Uruguayo or Oriental.
Uruguay had 3.5 million inhabitants in 2020. Annual population growth
was +0.3%. An excess of births (birth rate: 13.6 per 1000 inhabitants
vs. death rate: 9.5 per 1000 inhabitants) contributed to population
growth. The number of births per woman was statistically 2.0 in 2020 and
corresponds to the Latin America and the Caribbean region. The life
expectancy of residents of Uruguay from birth was 78.1 years in 2020
(women: 81.6, men: 74.3). Due to a declining birth rate, increasing life
expectancy and emigration (0.9 emigrants per 1000 inhabitants), the age
of the population is increasing. The median age of the population in
2020 was 35 years. In 2020, 20.3 percent of the population was under the
age of 15, while the proportion of those over 64 was 15.1 percent of the
population.
Historical population development
While around
31,000 people lived in Uruguay in 1796 (15,245 of them in Montevideo),
in 1852 there were already between 130,000 and 140,000 inhabitants in
the national territory. The population continued to rise to around
400,000 (100,000 of them in Montevideo) by 1880. The population broke
through the one million mark for the first time in 1905. In 1937 Uruguay
had more than two million inhabitants. In 2010 the total population of
the country was 3,510,386.
More recent European immigration to
Uruguay began around the middle of the 19th century at the time of the
civil war in North America that began in 1861. However, unlike in
neighboring Argentina, Uruguay did not actively recruit immigrants. At
that time, however, a law was passed that aimed to promote the "material
and moral welfare of the country" through the immigration of farmers,
and in 1865 an immigration office was also founded. In the population,
however, indifference rather than support for such efforts prevailed. In
times of the Great Depression, from 1930 onwards, even immigration was
made more difficult by issuing regulations to protect jobs held by
locals. After the Second World War, immigration permits were restricted
to certain professional groups. Nevertheless, from the 1830s to the end
of the 1950s, Uruguay had a surplus of around 800,000 people from
migration movements, around 650,000 of them in the period from 1836 to
1926. The most frequented immigration period was the last decade before
the outbreak of the First World War. The years 1873, 1889 and 1913 also
provided statistical highs with an immigration surplus of 24,339, 27,349
and 28,504.
Ethnically, the population is made up of descendants of European
immigrants (88 percent), mestizos (8 percent) and descendants of African
slaves (4 percent), who, depending on the source, mostly come from the
area of modern-day Angola or the Bantu areas of East and Central Africa
and Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Sierra Leone and today's Ghana.
The
European immigrants came from Spain and to a large extent also from
Italy, as well as from Croatia and German-speaking countries. The
Indian, Guarani-speaking natives (Charrúas, Guanaes, Yaros, Chanaes),
who lived as hunters and gatherers, have been exterminated within a few
decades since the mid-18th century.
In the context of more recent
European immigration in the mid-19th century, the percentage of
immigrants in terms of origin was as follows:
After the
Waldensians first came to the country at the end of the 1850s, the Swiss
were represented in the years 1861 to 1863. In the period that followed,
the influx of Italians, and here in particular Neapolitans from the
lower classes of society, gained in importance. From 1866 to 1868, the
Italian share of immigration was about 50 percent. However, to a large
extent it was initially a matter of commuting. This means that the
immigrants came as seasonal workers (golondrinas) to help with
harvesting, and then returned to Europe to accompany cattle transports.
The Italians increasingly appeared in urban trade and especially in
Montevideo. The proportion of Italian colonists, on the other hand, was
small. With the second strong wave of immigration from 1880 to 1913,
agricultural workers and colonists willing to settle came to Uruguay.
Here, too, Italians played an important role, for example in the period
from 1890 to 1894 they made up 42.6% of all immigrants, followed by the
Spaniards (17.7%). The influx of German speakers was comparatively low
at 3.2% during this period. With regard to the composition of the
population in Uruguay, for example, an estimated 65,000 Italians were
assumed for the year 1930, which meant a 3.5% share of the total
population. The number of ethnic Germans in the country was estimated at
around 15,000 in the early 1960s.
In the second half of the 20th
century, immigrants also came from the neighboring countries of Brazil
and Argentina, with the main reasons for emigration being the repressive
regimes and the poor economic situation of the two countries.
Socio-economically, Uruguay is one of the Latin American countries with
the largest middle-class proportion of the population. A largely
European-influenced welfare state ensured a relatively balanced standard
of living until the early 1960s, after which the gap between rich and
poor widened.
Although migrants played an important role in
Uruguay's history, only 2.3% of the population was foreign-born in 2017.
The largest groups of these came from Argentina (30,000 people), Spain
(20,000) and Brazil (10,000).
The largest part of the population, namely 92 percent, lives in
cities, more than 40 percent of them in the capital Montevideo (almost
1.5 million). Around 75 percent of the total population live in
Montevideo and the southern half of the country.
In the last two
decades, around half a million Uruguayans have left the country for
Argentina (100,000-250,000), Brazil (300,000-500,000), Spain, the United
States or Australia.
Languages
Article 40 of the General
Education Law (Ley General de Educación) designates Uruguayan Spanish,
Uruguayan Portuguese and Uruguayan Sign Language as the three “native
languages existing in the country” (lenguas maternas existentes en el
país). Uruguay has no de jure official language, but Spanish is the de
facto official language throughout the country.
The Spanish
colloquial language is called the Río-de-la-Plata dialect. It has some
special grammatical properties. Furthermore, the pronunciation differs
greatly from Spanish (actually: Castilian). This is due to the great
influence of immigrants from Italy. For this reason, the language in
Uruguay sounds much calmer and softer than Iberian Spanish. In the
entire northern half of the country, especially in the border area with
Brazil, the influence of the neighboring country is clearly noticeable.
This is where the mixed language Portuñol (also Portuñol riverense)
originated and spread. In general, Portuguese has a strong influence on
Uruguayan Spanish. This is noticeable in the pronunciation, in a
slightly changed grammar and vocabulary. Due to immigration, Italian and
French are also spoken to a certain extent.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Uruguay was one of the first secular states in the region. Church and state have been separated since 1916, and freedom of belief is enshrined in the constitution. The Roman Catholic Church as an institution – atypical for Latin America – has relatively little influence in society. According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (as of 2006), 47.1% of the population profess the Catholic faith, 23.2% are non-denominational believers, 11.1% are non-Catholic Christians, 0.3% are of the Jewish faith, 0.6% belong to the Umbanda religion or other African American religions, 17.2% are atheists or agnostics and 0.4% belong to other religions. About half of the population does not practice the religion. The national saint of Uruguay is James, son of Alphaeus.