Uruguay Overview

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated September 25, 2019

Country Profile

The Eastern Republic of Uruguay is located in south-eastern South America, containing the Uruguay River and the east coast of Rio de la Plata. An area of 176,000 square kilometers is home to a population of 3,380,000, mainly white. Mostly are Catholic, and the official language is Spanish. The Uruguayan peso is the currency and Montevideo is the capital.

Uruguay National Flag

Uruguay’s national flag contains 9 strips of blue and white, and a white rectangle in the top left corner, which contains a yellow sun. The 16 straight and wavy lines of the sun symbolize the country’s independence. Since Uruguay was historically linked to Argentina, the flags have the same colors. The 9 blue and white strips symbolize Uruguay’s nine political regions.

History Summary

Prior to the Spanish invasion of 1516, Uruguay was originally inhabited by Indians. In 1728, Spanish colonists established the city of Montevideo, thus colonizing Uruguay. On August 25, 1825, Uruguay Patriots recovered the city of Montevideo and declared Uruguay independent. This led to a long period of civil war. The Red Party put an end to the civil strife in 1905, and in 1984 a junta government was established.

Economy and Culture Overview

Uruguay’s economy is agriculture and animal husbandry based. The major agricultural products are wheat, rice, corn, beet, and flax. The amount of livestock per capita in the world, known as the “land of cattle and sheep country.” Major export products are meat, wool, fish, and leather and its products. Uruguay is second only to New Zealand in the export of wool. The country is also rich in marble, amethyst stone, agate, ivory stone, forestry and fishery resources, with an abundance of fish, squid, and cod. Montevideo has the main fishing grounds along the southeast coast. Industrial food processing, and textile production are also major sectors.

Uruguay Government of unemployment, retirement, disability, women and children, welfare benefits, practice injury disease, and the implementation of at least 30 years of service retirement system. , The country enjoys free compulsory education from primary schools to university, with the focus on literacy. Citizens also often moved to set up a mobile school children.

Montevideo has developed a construction industry which specializes in building styles, particularly balconies and roofs decorated in Arab styles, with carved mandalas, lilies, and clovers.

Punta del Este

Punta del Este is a resort to avoid in the southern coast. Here evergreen trees cover over 80% of the area. Over the sea beach, east of “the wild beach” in the west to “tame the beach.” Over 800 yachts can dock at the pier, with many people sailing boats out to see lobo walrus. A recreation center has modern entertainment facilities, and every summer it hosts the International Conference of American States.