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COUNTRY INFORMATION - URUGUAY

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Location Of Uruguay
Uruguay is one of the smallest of the South American republics. It is bordered to the north by Brazil, to the south-east by the Atlantic, and is separated from Argentina in the west and south by the River Uruguay, which widens out into the Rio de la Plata estuary. The landscape is made up of hilly meadows broken by streams and rivers. There is a string of beaches along the coast. Most of the country is grazing land for sheep and cattle. Montevideo, the most southern point of the nation, accommodates more than half of the population. About 90 per cent of the land is suitable for agriculture, although only 12 per cent is used in this way. Uruguay is known as the & #8216;Oriental Republic’ because it stands on the eastern bank of the Rio de la Plata.

Airports:
Montevideo international is 12 miles from the city and the travel time is around 35 minutes. There is an airport bus to the city centre. Taxis are also available.

Language:
Spanish. Some English is spoken in tourist resorts.

Places To Go:
The capital contains more than half of Uruguay’s population and is the country’s natural trading centre. There are nine major bathing beaches, the best of which are Carrasco, Malvin, Miramar, and Pocitos. The suburbs have restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. Montevideo’s architecture combines colonial, European and modern influences. The old inner city, known as the Ciudad Vieja (Old Town), is a small peninsula surrounded by the sea near the metropolitan port. The Cabildo (the old town council hall), the Cathedral, the Plaza Matriz, the Plaza Zabala and the Port Market are fine examples of Uruguay’s colonial past. The Old Town, also a centre for antique shops, contrasts dramatically with the rising number of modern buildings and office blocks surrounding the area. The most interesting entrance to the city is via the Puerta de la Ciudadela (Door to the Citadel), part of the old wall that still surrounds Montevideo leading on, via the Plaza Independencia, to the popular and lively city centre.

To the west of Montevideo is Colonia Suiza (‘The Swiss Colony’), reached by hydrofoil from the capital. It has a delightful old quarter. Other beach resorts along the Uruguayan coast include Atlántida, Piriápolis and the fishing port of Paloma. Carmelo on the River Uruguay and Mercedes on the Río Negro (a tributary) are amongst the many picturesque river ports; further up the Uruguay is Salto, one of the country’s largest cities. Fray Bentos, near Mercedes, gave its name to the famous processed meat company. The journey north through Florida and Durazno to Tacuarembó on the Brazilian border takes one through the heart of the country’s agricultural lands. The beautiful hills surrounding the town of Minas are well worth a visit, as is Colonia del Sacramento, which has been rebuilt in its original 18th-century style.

Resorts: The Atlantic coast resorts are popular from December to April, and have fine beaches. Most fashionable of these is Punta del Este, 90 miles from Montevideo. It has two main beaches and offers water-skiing, fishing, surfing, yachting and a golf course. Villas and chalets can be rented in the wooded area on the edge of town. Two nearby islands, Gorniti and Lobos, are worth a visit.

Ministerio de Turismo del Uruguay (Ministry of Tourism)
Rambla 25 de Agosto de 1825 esq.,
Yacaré,
S/N (plano),
Montevideo,
Uruguay
Tel: (2) 188 5100.
E-mail: webmaster@mintur.gub.uy
Website: www.turismo.gub.uyor www.mintur.gub.uyor www.uruguaynatural.com

Embassy of Uruguay
2nd Floor,
140 Brompton Road,
London
SW3 1HY,
UK
Tel: (020) 7589 8835 or 7589 8735 (visa section).
Fax: (020) 7581 9585.
E-mail: emb@urubri.demon.co.uk (embassy) or consulateofuruguay@ukonline.co.uk (consulate).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

British Embassy
PO Box 16024,
Calle Marco Bruto 1073,
11300 Montevideo,
Uruguay
Tel: (2) 622 3630.
Fax: (2) 622 7815.
E-mail: bemonte@internet.com.uy
Website: www.britishembassy.org.uy

 CIA World Factbook - Uruguay

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