National language of Uruguay. Population of Uruguay
When the inhabitants South America talk about the country where they would like to live, then (besides the USA) they call little Uruguay. This is the most economically developed country on the continent, whose standard of living corresponds to the European one, and salaries are approximately the same as in Spain and Italy. They are called "South American Switzerland" and if the comparison is inappropriate in relation to the mountains - Uruguay is a country of plains and lakes, then the rest is quite. I arrived in the country by ferry from neighboring Buenos Aires to the ancient town of Colonia, which is a three-hour drive from Montevideo. The time for the trip was not the best - winter was beginning, it was raining continuously, stormy winds and a feeling of London grayness. Nevertheless, Montevideo seemed to me very interesting city worthy of a visit. Today we will walk around the center, and in the next article I will talk about fashionable areas that are more like the wealthy suburbs of Paris or London, but not South America.
The history of the creation of Montevideo is very interesting. In these parts, initially there was a struggle between the two main empires of that time - the Spanish and the Portuguese. When the Spaniards founded in Buenos Aires, the Portuguese, directly opposite, across the strait of the Rio de la Plata, created the fortress of Colonia (my report from the fortress) to block the Spaniards in the depths of the bay. The Spaniards responded to this in 1726 by building the fortress of Montevideo, 200 km east of Colonia, and thus blocked the Portuguese themselves. Actually, no one imagined that the sea fortress would turn into the capital of Uruguay. Later, the city began to actively grow and develop; a port was created in it, which today is one of the largest on the continent. Emigrants from Europe rushed to Uruguay and today, by the way, this is the most "European" state in South America, where 96% are descendants of Spaniards and Portuguese.
But I must say that Montevideo is not a particularly tourist city. This is not Buenos Aires and not Rio de Janeiro, there are no millions of tourists here, just as there are no iconic world-class attractions. This is just a very colorful city with a great colonial heritage in architecture, with a wonderful cultural and social life, with good restaurants and excellent museums. In a word, it is hardly worth going here for a long time, but the city is certainly worthy of a couple of days, if you have already seen everything in neighboring Buenos Aires.
By the way, the non-tourist essence of Montevideo is once again proved by the fact that there is practically no panoramic observation deck in the city. You will not find it in guidebooks either. Somewhere on a local site, I found such a point, not marked at all. On the top floor of this building in the center of Montevideo -
Come inside, there is something like a fair with small shops, no signs and people don’t even know where Observation deck. Go straight and there will be elevators up -
Generally speaking, the building is an office building and they asked me where I was going. Said to look at the panorama. Enter the elevator and go up to the last floor without turning anywhere in the shaft -
If it weren't for a little piece of paper on the wall, you'll never guess what you're in there -
Of course, photographing through muddy glass is not God knows what a pleasure, but if you are not afraid to stand with your feet on the fence and take pictures through the gap from above, then everything will work out -
Uruguay has just over 3 million people, of which more than half live in Montevideo. The city is large, stretching along the coast for a dozen kilometers -
See that tower in the middle? We also go there, this is the symbol of Montevideo -
American office skyscraper of the thirties, typical project -
The weather, however, sets the heat with this rain. No matter how wet the camera is. I go towards the old part of Montevideo, founded by the Spaniards 300 s extra years back -
Cool Bauhaus on the streets of Montevideo, I love this style. Incidentally, the capital of the world Bauhaus is, oddly enough, Israel. Here is about the Bauhaus style in Tel Aviv "", but in Haifa "". And by the way, my native Yekaterinburg is also one of the capitals of the same style, however, the more constructivism, but still "".
But this most famous building of Uruguay and practically a tourist symbol of this country is called Palacio Salvo and was built in 1928 by the Italian architect Mario Palanti, who lived in neighboring Buenos Aires. The building is 100 meters high and until recently was considered the tallest in Uruguay. But getting there is almost impossible, only if you are invited to one of the offices inside -
This is the main square of the country, the largest and considered the most beautiful -
This is where it starts Old city with its colonial buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. Here are the main walking streets with cafes and restaurants -
But honestly, the main part of the old Montevideo is in a terrible state. For some unknown reason, hundreds of Spanish-built buildings are abandoned and in disrepair. The residents of the city themselves are very upset by this fact, because there are real masterpieces of architecture.
Suddenly, a synagogue in the old city. Among the open slums. Against the background of absolute desertion, when I took out the camera, a guard suddenly appeared (surfaced from somewhere in a neighboring house) and said that it was impossible to photograph the synagogue. I said, I offer my sincere apologies and moved on. Still managed to photograph this "strategic" object -
Worse and worse. Also, homeless people began to appear, they apparently live in these slums -
Can you help him get out of the trash can? But no matter how he decided that I was trying to squeeze his prey -
Port area -
Central and abandoned railway station of Montevideo. Once upon a time, Uruguay had a fairly extensive network railways, created at the end of the 19th century and at the peak of its history in the 30-40s of the last century, had several thousand kilometers of tracks on which passenger and freight trains regularly ran. Now all this is in the past. From the past, one branch remained, connecting Montevideo with the suburb of Progresso, where it is easier to get by bus. Simply put, everyone, forget, there is no railway in Uruguay.
What a gorgeous building...
Funny birdhouses-skyscrapers -
And the ocean, meanwhile, is raging. The wind is such that it blows off your feet -
As I said, I’ll tell you about the modern and civilized Montevideo a little later!
: 48 234
Australia Australia: 9,376
France France: 5 970
Canada Canada: 5 500
New Zealand New Zealand: 1,000
Population growth is one of the lowest in Latin America and is about 0.19% per year. This is due to low birth rates and migration. Currently, there is a downward trend in population growth. Most of the departments are already experiencing population decline, the largest in the departments of Artigas (-0.85%), Lavalleja (-0.49%), Durasno (-0.42%). The largest increase is in the departments of Maldonado (2.19%), Canelones (0.96%), San José (0.68%).
The traditional occupation of the local population is animal husbandry. As in Argentina, here the main figure was the gaucho, that is, the shepherd. Almost the entire territory of the country is occupied by the pampas, that is, the steppe, and natural conditions most favorable for raising livestock. 90% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, 80% - meadows and pastures, 10% - arable land. At present, the country's agriculture fully satisfies the needs of the population.
About 94% of the population lives above the poverty line. Income is distributed more evenly than in other countries Latin America. About 40 percent of citizens have secondary education, 14 - special education and 13 percent of the economically active population has higher education. In Uruguay, the most high level education and the largest number of students compared to the rest of Latin America.
culture
In terms of culture and everyday traditions, the Uruguayans are close to the Argentines. The dwelling of rural residents is a ranch - a house with earthen walls and a thatched roof. The homestead is called estancia. For large landowners, estancias are fenced with stone blocks, have a patio ( courtyard), roofs - thatched or tiled. In cities, the layout of the Spanish type prevails - a rectangular grid of streets, which is typical for Latin America as a whole.
In the culture of gauchos, steppe inhabitants, livestock breeders, it is characteristic big number things made of leather, not only clothes, but also dishes. In clothing, the most typical elements are striped ponchos, capes. European clothes are now common in cities.
see also
Write a review on the article "Population of Uruguay"
Links
Literature
- Dridzo AD Uruguayans// Peoples and religions of the world. / Ch. ed. V. A. Tishkov, M., 1998.
- Latin America, encyclopedic reference book. Ch. ed. V. V. Volsky, volume 2, M., 1982.
- from TSB
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An excerpt characterizing the population of Uruguay
To the left below, in the fog, there was a skirmish between invisible troops. There, it seemed to Prince Andrei, the battle would focus, there an obstacle would be encountered, and “there I will be sent,” he thought, “with a brigade or division, and there, with a banner in my hand, I will go forward and break everything that is in front of me” .Prince Andrei could not look indifferently at the banners of the passing battalions. Looking at the banner, he kept thinking: maybe this is the same banner with which I will have to go ahead of the troops.
By morning the night mist left only hoarfrost on the heights, turning into dew, while in the hollows the mist spread like a milky white sea. Nothing could be seen in that hollow to the left, where our troops had descended and from where the sounds of shooting were coming. Above the heights was a dark, clear sky, and to the right a huge orb of the sun. Ahead, far away, on the other side of the foggy sea, one could see protruding wooded hills, on which the enemy army should have been, and something could be seen. To the right, the guards entered the region of fog, resounding with trampling and wheels, and occasionally shining with bayonets; to the left, behind the village, similar masses of cavalry approached and hid in a sea of mist. Infantry moved in front and behind. The commander-in-chief stood at the exit of the village, letting the troops pass by. Kutuzov this morning seemed exhausted and irritable. The infantry marching past him stopped without orders, apparently because something ahead of them delayed them.
“Yes, tell me, finally, that they line up in battalion columns and go around the village,” Kutuzov angrily said to the general who had arrived. - How can you not understand, Your Excellency, my dear sir, that it is impossible to stretch along this defile of the village street when we are going against the enemy.
“I planned to line up behind the village, Your Excellency,” the general replied.
Kutuzov laughed bitterly.
- You will be good, deploying the front in the sight of the enemy, very good.
“The enemy is still far away, Your Excellency. By disposition...
- Disposition! - Kutuzov exclaimed bitterly, - and who told you this? ... If you please, do what you are ordered.
- I listen with.
- Mon cher, - Nesvitsky said in a whisper to Prince Andrei, - le vieux est d "une humeur de chien. [My dear, our old man is very out of sorts.]
An Austrian officer with a green plume on his hat, in a white uniform, galloped up to Kutuzov and asked on behalf of the emperor: did the fourth column come forward?
Kutuzov, without answering him, turned away, and his eyes accidentally fell on Prince Andrei, who was standing beside him. Seeing Bolkonsky, Kutuzov softened the angry and caustic expression of his gaze, as if realizing that his adjutant was not to blame for what was being done. And, without answering the Austrian adjutant, he turned to Bolkonsky:
- Allez voir, mon cher, si la troisieme division a depasse le village. Dites lui de s "arreter et d" attendre mes ordres. [Go, my dear, see if the third division has passed through the village. Tell her to stop and wait for my order.]
As soon as Prince Andrei drove off, he stopped him.
“Et demandez lui, si les tirailleurs sont postes,” he added. - Ce qu "ils font, ce qu" ils font! [And ask if the arrows are placed. – What are they doing, what are they doing!] – he said to himself, still not answering the Austrian.
Prince Andrei galloped off to fulfill the order.
Having overtaken all the battalions walking in front, he stopped the 3rd division and made sure that, indeed, there was no firing line in front of our columns. The regimental commander of the regiment in front was very surprised by the order given to him by the commander in chief to scatter the shooters. The regimental commander stood there in full confidence that there were still troops ahead of him, and that the enemy could not be closer than 10 versts. Indeed, there was nothing to be seen ahead, except for the desert area, leaning forward and covered with thick fog. Ordering on behalf of the commander-in-chief to fulfill the omission, Prince Andrei galloped back. Kutuzov stood still in the same place and, senilely lowering himself in the saddle with his fat body, yawned heavily, closing his eyes. The troops were no longer moving, but their guns were at their feet.
“Good, good,” he said to Prince Andrei and turned to the general, who, with a watch in his hands, said that it was time to move, since all the columns from the left flank had already descended.
“We’ll still have time, Your Excellency,” Kutuzov said through a yawn. - We'll make it! he repeated.
At this time, behind Kutuzov, the sounds of greeting regiments were heard in the distance, and these voices began to quickly approach along the entire length of the stretched line of advancing Russian columns. It was evident that the one with whom they greeted was driving quickly. When the soldiers of the regiment in front of which Kutuzov stood shouted, he drove a little to the side and looked around with a frown. On the road from Pracen, a squadron of multi-coloured riders galloped, as it were. Two of them galloped side by side ahead of the rest. One was in a black uniform with a white plume on a red english horse, the other in a white uniform on a black horse. These were two emperors with retinue. Kutuzov, with the affectation of a campaigner at the front, commanded the troops standing at attention and, saluting, rode up to the emperor. His whole figure and manner suddenly changed. He took on the appearance of a subordinate, unreasoning person. He, with an affectation of deference, which obviously struck the Emperor Alexander unpleasantly, rode up and saluted him.
An unpleasant impression, only like the remnants of fog in a clear sky, ran across the young and happy face of the emperor and disappeared. He was, after ill health, somewhat thinner that day than on the Olmutz field, where Bolkonsky had seen him for the first time abroad; but the same charming combination of majesty and meekness was in his beautiful gray eyes, and on his thin lips the same possibility of various expressions and the prevailing expression of complacent, innocent youth.
At the Olmyutsky review he was more majestic, here he was more cheerful and energetic. He flushed a little as he galloped those three versts, and, stopping his horse, sighed with relief and looked around at the faces of his retinue, just as young, just as animated as his own. Chartorizhsky and Novosiltsev, and Prince Bolkonsky, and Stroganov, and others, all richly dressed, cheerful, young people, on beautiful, well-groomed, fresh, just slightly sweaty horses, talking and smiling, stopped behind the sovereign. Emperor Franz, a ruddy, long-faced young man, sat extremely upright on a handsome black stallion and looked around him anxiously and unhurriedly. He called one of his white adjutants and asked something. "That's right, at what time they left," thought Prince Andrei, watching his old acquaintance, with a smile that he could not help remembering his audience. In the retinue of the emperors were selected fine fellow orderlies, Russian and Austrian, guards and army regiments. Between them, the beautiful spare royal horses were led by bereytors in embroidered blankets.
(Spanish Uruguay), the official name is the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (Spanish Republica Oriental del Uruguay) is a small state in the southeast of the South American continent. In the northeast it borders with (the length of the border is 985 km), in the east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the west and south it borders with (579 km), which runs along the river (Spanish: Río de la Plata; “ silver river”) and (Spanish Río Uruguay; from which the country takes its name). More precisely, La Plata is a narrow, long bay. Atlantic Ocean, which was mistaken for a large river by the first Spanish expeditions.
The name of the country Uruguay comes from the Indian language and literally translates as "the river where the bird lives." The length of the land borders is 1564 km, the length of the coastline is 660 km.
On the territory of the state, whose area is only 176.2 thousand km², about 3.5 million people live, of which 85% are urban population, 15% are rural. The capital is a city.
Uruguay's network of highways and expressways is considered the "dense" in South America.
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general information
State. device: It is a parliamentary republic. The head of state and government is the President, popularly elected for a term of 5 years, while he does not have the right to be re-elected for a second consecutive term.
Administrative-territorial division of the country - 19 departments.
The parliament of the state, which develops and adopts laws, consists of a bicameral General Assembly: the upper House - the Senate (30 seats), the lower House - the House of Representatives (99 seats). Members of Parliament are also elected by popular vote for 5- summer term. The President himself forms the Cabinet of Ministers, whose composition is approved by the General Assembly. The current president is (Spanish: Tabart Ramjn Vfzquez Rosas)
In Uruguay, in addition to many small parties, there are 2 leading ones: the Colorado Party (Spanish: Partido Colorado, meaning “Red Party”) and the Blanco National Party (Spanish: PartidoBlanco, “White”). Both parties were founded in the 1830s; their founders were prominent military leaders - the Uruguayan general Jose Fructuoso Rivera(Spanish José Fructuoso Rivera y Toscana; 1784 - 1854) and General Manuel Oribe (Spanish Manuel Ceferino Oribe y Viana; 1792 - 1857)
State language: official language Uruguay is Spanish. Most people in the country are fluent in English. The few native Indians found in some areas are native speakers of traditional languages. On the border with Brazil, they communicate in a special dialect based on a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese.
Religion: More than half of the population (66%) profess the Catholic faith. A bunch of local residents consider themselves atheists or agnostics, this group of the population is about 30%. There are also Jews, they are about 2%. The country has not kept most of adherents of ancient pagan cults, mainly local Indians and people from Africa.
Currency: Monetary unit: Uruguayan peso (UYU) = 100 centesimos. IN money circulation there are banknotes of the following denominations: 1, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 pesos. Metal coins: 1, 5, 10 and 50 centesimos.
Population
The population is mainly represented by Uruguayans - descendants of the Spanish conquistadors, as well as immigrants from Europe: Spaniards, Italians, French. Due to the almost complete extermination of the indigenous population during the colonial wars, the indigenous Indian population is very small.
The ethnic composition of the population of Uruguay is approximately as follows: 88% are white (immigrants from European countries), 8% - mestizos, 4% - blacks and mulattoes.
Excursion to History
On the territory of present-day Uruguay, the Spaniards appeared in the 16th century, then the country, like most other South American states, became part of the colonial empire of Spain. Before the Spanish expansion, these places were inhabited by the indigenous tribes of Chan (Chan) and Charrua (Charrua). In order to protect against the raids of smugglers and filibusters, in 1724 the Spanish conquistadors founded the city of Montevideo (Spanish: San Felipe y Santiago de Montevideo), which later became the capital of the state.
In 1776 Uruguay became part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata(Spanish Virreinato del Río de la Plata), and in 1778 Spain granted Montevideo the right to free trade, which was a big impetus for forcing economic development both the city and the state as a whole. At that time, the territory of modern Uruguay was called Eastern lane(Spanish: Banda Oriental). Many migrants began to flock there, in the 19th century. more than 30 thousand inhabitants already lived in Montevideo.
Handsome Montevideo
The national liberation movement grew in the country. In 1811 liberation army led by (Spanish José Gervasio Artigas; 1764-1850) defeated the Spaniards. The struggle for independence, which has been going on for many years, has led to new clashes between Argentina and Brazil. The territory of Uruguay was part of Brazil for some time and was occupied by the army of Portugal. Then the country was annexed to Argentina, and in 1828 Argentina and Brazil signed an agreement to renounce claims regarding this territory and to create an independent state. In 1830, the Constitution was adopted, which proclaimed the formation of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay (Spanish Republica Oriental del Uruguay).
The recent history of the state is marked by a series of crisis situations, incl. and the era of the Great Depression of 1929. Gradually, the political and economic situation in the state stabilized, and by the end of the 20th century. Uruguay began to assert itself more and more confidently as one of the most developed countries in South America.
Economy
Uruguay is one of the most economically developed countries in South America. The basis of the economy is agriculture and processing of agricultural products, the country is export-oriented Agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
Agricultural land covers almost 90% of the territory of Uruguay (of which about 14 million hectares are pastures), on which many crops are grown, the most popular of which are rice, wheat, corn, sugarcane, oil flax, olives, sunflowers, as well as citrus and grape. Animal husbandry is developed: cattle of meat breeds and woolly sheep are bred here. The main branches of local industry are: food, meat-packing, canning, wine-making.
Of particular note are the actively developing textile and leather and footwear industries, which is a consequence of excellent performance in the field of livestock breeding. About 75% of all industrial enterprises are concentrated in Montevideo.
In recent years, banking has become increasingly important in the economy of Uruguay. Since Uruguay has beautiful beaches, tourism is actively developing.
Features of the geographical location, natural conditions
The state is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeastern part of brazilian plateau(Spanish Planalto Brasileiro), which falls to the southwest. There are no high mountains on the territory of the state: the highest point in Uruguay is Mount Catedral (Spanish: Cerro Catedral; 514 m). From north to south in the eastern part of the country stretches a small hill Cuchilla Grande (Spanish Cuchilla Grande; up to 300 m.), In the north-west of Uruguay - Cuchilla de Haedo (Spanish Cuchilla de Haedo; up to 274 m). Between these two hills lies the valley of the Río Negro (Spanish: Río Negro; lit. "Black River").
The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is low-lying, with many lagoons, there are dunes.
The natural landscape of Uruguay is not very diverse, most of the state's territory is a monotonous alternation of hills and steppes, turning into the Argentinean pampa, which is very suitable for pastures, of which there are a huge number in Uruguay.
Climate
The country is located in a zone of temperate subtropical, oceanic climate - mild, moderately humid. Winters are mild and short, frosts are extremely rare, and summers are warm. In summer, average temperatures (January-February) are + 23-25°C, in winter (July-August) + 8-10°C.
The maximum amount of rain falls on the autumn period, June-September. During the invasion of strong currents south winds(pampero), there are short-term nighttime drops in temperature, down to −5 ° C, in such cases frost precipitation is observed.
A significant part of the beaches of Uruguay - more than 600 km of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean - are wonderful, sandy. The beach season here lasts from December to March.
Flora and fauna
The local flora does not shine with diversity. Herbaceous vegetation prevails on the territory of Uruguay: the hills, overgrown with grassland, are beautiful natural pastures that still retain their original character. Bushy savannah stretches to the south, palm groves to the east.
Only about 4% of the territory of the state is covered with forests (mostly deciduous), which is less than in other countries of South America. Forests stretch in green ribbons along the valleys of the western rivers, meeting on the northwestern uplands. The most important tree species are astronium, rosewood, mesquito, guava, cedred, willow and acacia. Most of the trees growing here are imported, especially valuable species such as eucalyptus, sycamore, pine, and oak. The east coast dunes are planted with pine and eucalyptus trees to protect sandy soils from landslides and erosion. In some places you can find a rare, amazing giant ombu tree (Phytolacca dioica), once characteristic of the Argentinean pampa. Unfortunately, in Lately forests are getting smaller.
When the Spanish settlers just started to explore the territory of Uruguay, there were many deer, cougars, tapirs, rhea, seals, and all kinds of birds. During the advance of Europeans deep into the mainland, most of these animals were destroyed. Today, the remains of wild fauna are concentrated in hard-to-reach areas and in forests. Among the representatives of the current local fauna, one can single out the cougar, tapir, pea (American ostrich), wild boar, deer, pampas cat, fox, armadillo and anteater.
Of the birds in Uruguay, the following species are most common: swan, crane, stork, heron, wild duck, cardinal, vulture, darter, rabbit owl, lapwing and hummingbird. All kinds of spiders, reptiles and reptiles are found in abundance, including the rattlesnake and viper. Since Uruguay lies on the ocean, the local fauna is characterized by a rich variety of marine life.
Attractions
The main attractions of small Uruguay are concentrated mainly in the capital, Montevideo. This city is famous for its magnificent buildings of the colonial era, a large number of parks and museums.
The most interesting places in the city are squares Plaza Constitución and Palacio Salvo, the ancient churches of Cabildo and Iglesia Matriz. To learn more about the history of the country, it is worth visiting National Historical Museum of Uruguay And Museum of Natural History.
The city is home to the tallest building in South America, the 26-storey Palacio Salvo (Spanish: Palacio Salvo).
Once in Uruguay, you should visit Santa Teresa or Cabo Polono National Parks, and, of course, soak up the ocean beaches.
Uruguay: Major cities
Uruguay is characterized by a high degree of urbanization, with about 50% of the country's population living in the capital (Montevideo).
Curious facts
- Uruguay is the Latin American analogue of Switzerland: calm, quiet, almost complete absence of crime.
- The locals are very emotional, friendly and welcoming. When they meet, they love to kiss. Moreover, if strangers simply rub their cheeks, imitating a kiss, then acquaintances kiss with taste, for real.
- It is difficult to meet blacks or Indians here. The main population of Uruguay is the descendants of white settlers and emigrants from the Old World.
- The country pays great attention to education. For example, Uruguay is the first South American country to sell $100 laptops to children. So, however, it was not always, relatively recently, up to 40% of the population was illiterate here.
- Although it is difficult to find a job here, starting a business here is quite easy. You can, for example, buy a cheap plantation and grow olives.
- Local officials are friendly, they are very calm, they never raise their voices. If you open your own business, they will not put stones in the wheels, on the contrary, they will help in every possible way.
- Many retirees from the USA move to South America, including Uruguay: it is quiet and calm here, and the pension is about $1,000.
- There is one funny thing here: if you moved into a house and no one “asks” you from there for a month, you can officially register the house in your name. Great! But they can do the same with your housing, so it’s better not to leave your house unguarded in Uruguay for a long time.
- For example, in the center of Piriapolis (Spanish Piriapolis) - in a beautiful town not far from Montevideo, there is an abandoned hotel worth more than $ 500 thousand, with which the owner cannot do anything, because. several homeless people "moved in" into it.
- Uruguayans are often called "My amables", in Russian it means something like "kind, cordial, friendly." In fact, they are very attentive to others, always ready to help. It seems that in this country even dogs are friendly and polite.
- In general, the locals are very relaxed and serene people, no one is in a hurry to go anywhere. All Uruguayans love to sleep in a hammock.
- It is not for nothing that Uruguay is called the "Land of Eternal Manyana" (Spanish la Mañana; means "tomorrow"). In fact, “tomorrow” for them is a very loose concept, from the real “tomorrow” to infinity.
- The constitution of the state proclaims freedom of religion. The main religion of the Uruguayans is ... football. It is not enough to say that football is loved in Uruguay, the national football team is truly an object of adoration and close attention. Suffice it to say that a tiny country in the XX century. won 19 (!) international football titles.
- Here they love children very much, they are carried in their arms and kissed incessantly. In Uruguay, you almost never see crying children! And if any child cries, then this is definitely a child of visitors - he has not yet acclimatized. And when Uruguayan kids grow up, they carry their parents in their arms and kiss them often, often.
- Uruguayans say goodbye to the outgoing year in a peculiar way - they tear and throw calendars out the windows, not really bothering where the scraps fall. Thank you at least for the fact that they do not throw furniture and all sorts of old rubbish out the windows, as is customary in Italy.
- In Uruguay, the division of labor is not a means to increase its productivity, but serves exclusively to increase the employment of the population: here one saleswoman weighs, another wraps, a third accepts money.
- There are practically no "bespectacled" and bald people in the country.
- Here, people with so-called “disabilities” are treated very carefully.
- In most countries of the world, drunk driving is severely punished, but not in Uruguay! Here, on the contrary, in violation of traffic rules, the state of intoxication can serve as a mitigating circumstance for the offender.
- In Uruguay, medicine is free, even for tourists, you only have to pay for one doctor - a dentist.
- There is a law according to which all citizens after death automatically become organ donors, however, with the exception of those who expressed their disagreement in writing in advance.
- The state is famous for its huge number of sheep and cattle, with a population of 3.5 million people, according to statistics, here, on average, there are 3 cows and 5 sheep for every Ecuadorian!
It legalizes gambling, prostitution, marijuana and same-sex marriage.- Even in small things, the Uruguayans try to emphasize their difference from the Argentines. In both countries, meat is consumed in incredible quantities, but if in Argentina it is cooked mainly on coals, then in Uruguay it is cooked exclusively on wood. Both there and there the meat is fried on a metal grill (parrilla). But if in Argentina it is installed horizontally, then in Uruguay - only at an angle!
- “We have,” the locals proudly say, “the best and most environmentally friendly beef in the world!”
- Due to the good education and upbringing of the local population, small friendly Uruguay is often compared to Switzerland; because of the well-being of the people and the careful preservation of centuries-old traditions - with Sweden; thanks to the abundance of juicy pastures and numerous herds of sheep - with New Zealand!
** Migration growth is included in the calculation of birth rate growth: Birth rate = Population + Mortality.
*** We do not have population figures prior to 1950. The figures shown are based on an approximate calculation using the function: population in 1900 = 70% of population in 1950.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2015). World Demographic Prospects: A 2015 Revision. These estimates and forecasts were made according to the medium-term birth rate option. Used with permission from the United Nations. Downloaded: 2015-11-15 (un.org)
City density map created from population.city using data provided to us by 1km.net. Each circle represents a city with a population of over 5000. Link
The population density map was created according to the instructions of daysleeperrr on reddig. Link1 . Data Source: Gridded Population of the World (GPW), 3rd online version in Socioeconomic Data and Applications (SEDAC) at Columbia University.
Uruguay is located in the southeast of South America. In the west, the state borders on Argentina, in the north - on Brazil, in the south and east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Indians Charruas — indigenous people Uruguay, and it was they who laid the foundations here national culture. Today Uruguay is a multinational country. The state was once a colony of Spain, so almost all of its inhabitants come from southern Europe, most often from Spain or Italy. In Uruguay, they speak not only Spanish, you can often hear Italian, French, and, of course, English on the streets of the city.
Uruguay is known for its beach resorts. Here you can not only swim in the Atlantic Ocean, but also sail on a yacht, go fishing, walk along the dunes.
Punta del Este- the most expensive and prestigious resort in the country. lovers active rest like the resort towns of Mercedes and Carmelo. Sea sports are developed here: jet-sky surfing, sea fishing, yachting. The city of Termas Arapey is famous for its thermal springs. A Colonia del Sacramento- just a godsend for true connoisseurs of ancient architecture.
One of the most actively developing sectors of the economy of Uruguay is banking. No wonder this country is called Latin American Switzerland.
Resting in Uruguay, you will not only soak up the sandy beaches, but also learn what calabash is, learn how to drink mate, try chivito and take part in the Uruguayan carnival.
Capital |
Montevideo |
Population |
3,256,000 people |
Population density |
19 people/km² |
Spanish |
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Religion |
Catholicism (over 70% of the population) |
Form of government |
presidential republic |
Uruguayan peso |
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Timezone |
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International dialing code |
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Internet domain zone |
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Electricity |
Voltage 220V, frequency 50 Hz |
Climate and weather
The Uruguayan climate is subtropical oceanic, it is temperate. Winter here falls on June-August, and summer - on December-February. The Uruguayan winter is short and warm, with temperatures in July (the coldest winter month) being +10 °С. Summers are warm, the average temperature of January (the hottest summer month) is kept within +22… +27 °С, on particularly hot days it can reach +38 °С. Such heat is tolerated very easily thanks to the local sea breeze.
The amount of precipitation falling per year in Uruguay increases from south to north and is about 970-1200 mm. Most of the rain falls here in autumn.
December to March is the best time to travel to Uruguay.
In spring and autumn, this country is also very attractive for tourists. If you are more interested in exotic nature and ancient architecture, then visiting Uruguay in the off-season will appeal to you.
Nature
Uruguay is often called "Purple Country". This is because most of its territory is covered with grasses that have a reddish tint. From a bird's eye view, Uruguay looks extraordinary.
On the hills, tall grasses are replaced by turf, forests occupy only 4% of the country's territory. They grow in small bands along river valleys and are occasionally found on uplands. Uruguayan forests are a cross between tropical and light forest species. Most often here you can find rosewood, mesquito, guava and zedred. In the area of the cities of Minas and Rocha - local types of palm trees. And on the east coast, eucalyptus and pine trees are planted, they well protect sandy soil from erosion.
Human economic activity has had a bad effect on the nature of Uruguay. Many species of animals that lived in this area have disappeared forever. Partridges, hares, wild boars with reddish bristles, pampas cats, and various rodents are now found in Uruguay.
The main rivers of the country Uruguay And Rio Negro.
There are no minerals in Uruguay, the main natural resource country is its fertile soil. This allows you to get rich harvests and develop animal husbandry. About 78% of Uruguay's land is occupied by meadows and pastures.
Attractions
The capital of Uruguay, the city of Montevideo, is located on the banks of the Rio de la Plata. There are many interesting places that are open for tourists to visit. Climb up the Cero Montevideo hill (it is to him that the city owes its name) - and you will see a magnificent panorama of the city. At the top of the hill rises a fortress, there is also a small military museum.
Many attractions are concentrated on Plaza de Independencia(Independence Square), this is the most big square cities. On it rises statue Mauseleo de Artigas — national hero who led the Uruguayan independence struggle. The tallest building in the country, the 26-story Salvo Palace, is also located here. And not far from Independence Square is the famous theater of Montevideo Solis.
Also in Uruguay it is worth visiting the National Historical Museum, Museum de la Moneda And Museum del Gaucho.
We recommend that you visit the port market of the city, which received beautiful name Mercado del Puerto. Here you can buy souvenirs and antiques. Life is in full swing in the port, there are eateries and restaurants, food stalls and bazaars on every corner.
Another picturesque place Uruguay is the Uruguayan Riviera. These are beach resorts to the east of the capital. In the period from December to March, the wealthiest people from Europe, Brazil, and Argentina rest here.
On the east coast there are also less expensive, but no less attractive tourist areas. This is, first of all, Atlantis and Piriapolis.
Colonia del Sacramento is a godsend for lovers of beaches and ancient architecture. To plunge into the history of the country, it is enough to climb the lighthouse, wander through the ruins of the cathedral, visit the bullring. Here is the Bastion of St. Miguel, the home of Admiral Brown and the "Street of Sighs".
Curious will be a little trip on Lobos island(10 km from the coast). In a nature reserve Lobos 200,000 sea lions live.
The colony of Suiz (120 km from Montevideo) has retained the charm of old Europe. In addition, more than half of Uruguayan cheeses and dairy products are produced here.
And on the Uruguayan field of Estadio Centenario (city stadium) in 1930, the first World Cup was held.
Nutrition
The cuisine of Uruguay is a mixture of the culinary traditions of South America and Europe. The usual pizza, pasta, paella can be found on the menu of any restaurant in the country. But you will also like traditional Uruguayan dishes.
Grilled beef and pork dishes are staples of Uruguayan cuisine. In Uruguay, be sure to try parillada (beef on a plate), milanesas- chops, rolled in breadcrumbs and egg and deep-fried. Filete uruguayo marble meat steak deserves special attention. This meat is soaked in a marinade of soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and salt, and then stuffed with thin slices of ham and cheese. lovers "fast food" Uruguayan cafes offer chivito. This is a delicious sandwich, which includes pork or veal chop, tomato slices, cheese and lettuce.
Puchero(Uruguayan soup) is cooked mainly in winter. It includes pork, beef and all kinds of vegetables. All this takes a long time to cook. The result is an incredibly thick and hearty soup.
In addition, it is here, in Uruguay, that you will get to know the real taste of mate (a kind of tea made from the leaves of Paraguayan holly). Here, this drink is drunk daily by about 85% of the population. Some residents of the country practically do not part with thermoses. The utensil from which they drink mate is called calabash, it is made from a gourd. Bombilla is a straw from which they drink a drink. Brewing and drinking mate is a whole science. In addition to tea, Uruguay produces excellent wine.
Prices in restaurants and cafes of the country are very reasonable, here you can have a good dinner for $20.
For fans of fusion cuisine, the restaurant will hospitably open its doors Tandory(Montevideo). In the evening there is live music and an interesting entertainment program. And during the day it is a quiet place, ideal for business meetings.
Fans of European cuisine will love this restaurant Corchos Bistro y Boutique de vinos and Dueto in Montevideo.
If you stay near José Ignacio, be sure to visit the fantastic La Huella beach restaurant. He looks like Pirates' ship. On its decks, 40 chefs serve about 1000 visitors daily.
Accommodation
Uruguayan hotels are known for good service and reasonable prices.
A room in a local hotel during the season will cost you $70-100 per night, in the off-season it will cost about $50.
After Hotel Montevideo 4*located near Montevideo Shopping. All rooms are equipped with cable TV, wireless internet, good furniture. Free parking is available. A double room in this hotel costs $110 per night.
Hotel California 3*(Centre of Montevideo) offers a double room for only $55 per night.
Hotel Unique Luxury Colony 5* located almost in the heart of the Colonia del Sacramento. It offers travelers beautiful rooms with air conditioning, minibar, wireless internet. The hotel spa offers different kinds massage and relaxation therapy. A superior double room will cost $140 per night.
It is better to book hotels in advance, you can do this on the Internet.
Those who do not like hotel rest can easily rent an apartment. But remember: an apartment rented for a day will cost you more than a good hotel room. Therefore, it is more profitable to rent an apartment for a period of more than a month. The price will vary depending on the location and layout of the property. So, for example, a one-room apartment in a modest area of Montevideo will cost 300 € per month, a two-room apartment - $ 650, and a three-room apartment with a good repair near the beach - $ 1,500.
Entertainment and recreation
The most popular beach holiday in Uruguay. crystal pure water and white sand attract tourists from all over the world.
Resort Piriapolis Founded by mason Francisco Piria. You should definitely visit his castle.
Around Piriapolis there are several small resorts. Surfing and diving enthusiasts will find entertainment here. Relax and disconnect from the bustle of the city is best done at the resort Cabo Polonio. It is somewhat isolated from civilization, and can only be reached through the dunes and forest by special trucks or on foot.
There are also famous thermal resorts on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The Daymán thermal spa is attractive to tourists throughout the year. In the pools - water with different temperatures, from +38 °С to +45 °С. The therapeutic effect of treatment on thermal spa officially recognized by doctors.
To the east of Montevideo are numerous beach resorts. The most prestigious holiday is considered to be in Punta del Este. This place is known for its wonderful climate and impeccable service.
No less memorable will be a vacation in the resorts Atlantis And Piriapolis. They are located on the banks of the river. Rio de la Plata. Ocean water here is mixed with river water and has a brown tint.
Night lovers will not be disappointed with a trip to Uruguay. In the evenings, life is in full swing on the Montevideo embankment and in other resort towns. Numerous bars, restaurants and clubs work here.
If you find yourself in Montevideo in February, be sure to visit the famous carnival. It lasts almost two months and rightfully bears the title of the longest carnival in the world. During the carnival, colorful masquerade processions move along the streets of Montevideo, concerts of street musicians are held everywhere. The rhythm of the Uruguayan drums is charming: like it or not, you start dancing.
Montevideo is also home to the main theater of the country. Solis, National Library and the National Historical Museum.
There are several water parks in Uruguay. The most famous of them is the water park with thermal water. Sudamercia.
Purchases
The largest shopping centers in Uruguay - Punta Carretas Shopping, Montevideo Shopping and Tres Cruces Shopping- located in Punta del Este and Montevideo. Here you can buy goods of domestic production, as well as things of all famous world brands. Shops in the country are usually open from 9:00 to 22.00. Uruguay has very affordable goods, especially food and clothing. Prices vary depending on the level of the store. Multi Ahorro, for example, is considered a mid-range store. Nearby there may be a store where such goods will be much cheaper, and in the market (feria) - even cheaper. But in Tienda Inglesa everything is very expensive, this is a high-class store.
In the country and abroad, Uruguayan leather and wood products, woolen sweaters and painted ceramics are especially valued. All this you can buy in shopping malls, and in the markets.
As a souvenir, you can buy everything you need for brewing mate: calabash, thermos, bombilla, mate.
Clerico (a mixture of white wine with several types of alcoholized fruits) will be an unusual and colorful gift. For culinary gourmets, kramoto will be indispensable - a condiment made from olive oil mixed with vinegar, chopped nuts and unusual Uruguayan spices.
Natural cosmetics produced in Uruguay are also highly valued in the world.
Transport
Almost all of Uruguay's foreign trade is carried out by water. Great importance plays the port of Montevideo (90% of the total trade volume). Ports in the cities of Punta del Este, Paysandu, Fray Bentos and Nueva Palmira are also very important. Inside the country, goods are often delivered by rivers.
The country's main airport is Montevideo Airport, and there are about 60 small airfields in Uruguay. The main roads of Uruguay are modern highways with good coverage, but local roads are often in a terrible state. Drivers in Uruguay are surprisingly calm and polite. There are many roads here one way traffic. Be careful: road signs sometimes hard to distinguish.
There are two types of public transport in Montevideo - bus and taxi. The bus will stop at the bus stop only if you vote. At the entrance you need to buy a ticket from the conductor - on a regular bus for about $ 1, travel in a comfortable suburban bus will cost $ 1.5-2, depending on the route.
A free taxi can be identified by a red lit libre inscription on the windshield. Taxi is cheap. A trip around Montevideo from Independence Square to Rodo Park will cost you only $4. As a tip, the amount is usually rounded. If you get into a taxi at a special stop, the door will help you open special person. It is also customary to tip him. Taxi cars in Uruguay are often very old.
If you wish, you can rent a car. During the tourist season, a small comfortable car will cost you $60 per day. However, you will need to leave a deposit for it. Pick up and return the car should be with a full tank.
There are many motorcycles on the city streets. They are quietly left on the sidewalks, put at night at the house, often without even fastening. Horse-drawn carts are also very popular in Uruguay. They take out all sorts of garbage, not counting food waste.
Connection
Uruguay has GSM 1800 and AMPS cellular communications. There are three major operators in the country - Movitel, Claro and Ancel/Antel. Calling rates within the country are high. For international calls, it is better to use a pay phone. To do this, you need a card or token worth $0.2. The cost of 1 minute of conversation with Moscow, for example, will be $1.5.
The best cellular operator in Uruguay is Ancel/Antel. It is known not only for good cellular communication, but also for excellent 3G internet rates. You can buy a SIM card from any mobile operator in a communication store, and it will cost about $15.
The Internet can be used in the Internet cafes of the city, as well as in many hotels.
Safety
Uruguay is called one of the safest countries in South America. But here, too, you should still observe elementary precautions. Pickpockets often operate in crowded places. Reject offers of local residents to help with paperwork. No special vaccination is required before visiting Uruguay, but if you are constantly taking some kind of medication, then be sure to take the necessary supply with you.
Business climate
The economy of Uruguay offers good opportunities for business development.
From December to March, tourists flood the country, and housing, even very modest, is in great demand. Therefore, renting real estate in resort areas, on the ocean coast, you will not lose.
In Uruguay, there are many companies involved in transportation. Entrepreneurs rent racks at the bus station and take people on their buses to Colonia, Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and other cities.
Car rental is also in demand, especially during the tourist season. In the off-season, a car costs from $45 per day, in the season - from $60. Livestock breeding and crop production are also very profitable. This is favored fertile land and numerous pastures.
Registering a business in Uruguay is not difficult. To open a company, you must first confirm your address. To do this, the future businessman will need statements from two people, indicating that he lives at the specified address. Then the entrepreneur registers his business with the tax office. The scheme for calculating taxes will depend on what form of ownership and type of activity he chooses. After registration, the entrepreneur only needs to open a bank account and start working.
Real estate
IN recent years owning real estate in Uruguay has become very prestigious. Someone is attracted by the climate, someone is attracted by business opportunities. For foreign citizens allowed to purchase real estate in unlimited quantities.
When buying a house or apartment in Uruguay, there are many details to consider. If desired, you can find a house at a very attractive price. In Montevideo, for example, a very modest house can be bought for $35,000. But it often happens that real estate costs a little, but utility bills are simply unaffordable or the land tax is many times higher than in the neighboring quarter.
Montevideo is good for living and working in Uruguay. A simple apartment in the capital will cost 60-70 thousand dollars, an apartment with a good repair, an underground garage will cost 120-150 thousand dollars.
Atlantis attracts with a measured pace of life. Many pensioners from Europe and Latin America buy housing here. A very nice house on the ocean coast will cost $120,000.
The most expensive apartments and houses are in Punto del Este. Many famous actors and singers have bought property here. Prices for villas reach $1.5 million.
In Uruguay, it is customary to leave 5-10% of the total bill for tea.
For speeding or not wearing a seat belt, you will have to pay a fine of $ 120.
Smoking is also strictly prohibited in public places. Moreover, the owners of bars, restaurants, offices where the offense was committed will also be punished. The fine will be $1500.