Uruguay
The Eastern Republic of Uruguay is a prevailing nation situated in South America which constitutes the second smallest country of the region, with an area of 176,200 km2. It is bordered by Brazil to the north; by Argentina to the west (boundaries: the Uruguay River and the River Plate) and, to the south, by the Atlantic Ocean.
Its primary natural resources are livestock raising (which produces the best meat for export of the region) and agriculture (which allows Uruguayans to produce and export high quality wheat, maize, rice, sunflower, flaxseed and cotton). Another important resource is tourism. To that aim, the nation possesses a coast marked with beautiful seaside towns of limpid sands and both calm and wild waters. Additionally, different kinds of tourism have recently gained popularity, among which the ecological, the rural, the thermal and the historical ones can be highlighted.
Etymology of the name: The word “Uruguay” comes, without a shadow of a doubt, from Guaraní (the original language of the native people of the region) although its true meaning is somewhat controversial. According to Félix de Azara –a Spanish soldier, engineer, natural historian and cartographer of the 18th century–, the term came from a small local bird called “urú” and, therefore, “Uruguay” would be the equivalent of “river of the urús” in Guaraní. On the other hand, the Uruguayan poet, jurist and diplomat Juan Zorrilla de San Martín, interpreted the meaning of the name as “river of colorful birds”.
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History and present:
Before the Spanish conquest, Uruguay was peopled by different races, of which the Charrúa prevailed. After its territory was explored by both the Spanish and the Portuguese, probably in 1620, Santo Domingo Soriano –nowadays known as Villa Soriano– was founded. Subsequently, Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo, the capital of the state, were set up. The country became a sovereign nation in 1826.
Since the end of the 19th century and during most part of the 20th century, the democratic stability, strength, controlled economy and extended education of the country translated into exceptionally high wellbeing levels, parallel to those of the most developed countries in the world, consequently standing out as the “American Switzerland” and constituted, among other things, one of the first countries in implementing the female vote and achieving a high literacy rate close to 100%.
Language and population: Eminently of European origin, its official language is Spanish.
The Uruguayans are renowned for their warmth, kindness, high level of education and their good hosts’ quality.
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