|
|
The
Eastern Republic of Uruguay
(Spanish: República
Oriental del Uruguay) is a small country located in southern South
America; between Brazil and
Argentina. It is the second smallest country in South America, after
Suriname. The capital and chief economic center of Uruguay is the
coastal city of Montevideo (pronounced MAHN teh vih DAY oh).
Uruguay was a part of
the colonial empire of Spain in the Americas until the early 1800s.
After a brief period of Portuguese rule, Uruguay became an independent
nation in 1828. Its Spanish past influences many aspects of Uruguayan
culture. Spanish is the official language of Uruguay. The country's
formal name in Spanish is República Oriental del Uruguay.
LAND AND RESOURCES
Uruguay's land is a
transition zone between the Pampas plains of Argentina and the hilly
uplands of Brazil. The terrain varies from grassy, rolling plains in the
south to low plateaus and hills to the north and east. The Cuchilla
Grande region in the east is the most rugged part of Uruguay, containing
the country's highest point, Cerro Catedral. Wide sandy beaches, sand
dunes, and shallow lagoons fringe the Atlantic coastline.
CLIMATE
Uruguay has a warm,
temperate climate. Located south of the equator, Uruguay experiences its
warmest months in January and February, when the average temperature is
about 22°C (72°F). The coldest month is June, when the temperature
averages 10°C (50°F). The country gets about 890 mm (35 in) of rainfall
annually. During the winter months, cold storms known as pamperos blow
from the southwest, but frost and snow are virtually unknown in most
parts of Uruguay.
PEOPLE
The people of Uruguay
are almost entirely of European descent, mostly Spanish and Italian. Few
indigenous people still live in Uruguay-most native tribes died out by
the 19th century. Only about 5 to 10 percent of the population is
mestizo (mixed native and white), black, or mulatto (mixed black and
white).
Uruguay's population is
3,415,920 (2005 estimate). The average population density is 20 persons
per sq km (51 per sq mi). The population is concentrated near the
Atlantic coast, and only 7 percent of the population is rural. Migration
from farms to cities and the resulting crowded urban conditions have
been serious social and economic problems.
PRINCIPAL CITIES
The principal cities of
Uruguay are Montevideo (population, 1996, 1,378,707), the country's
capital, chief port, and economic center; Salto (93,420), a center of
commerce, shipping, and the meat-salting and meat-packing industries;
and Paysandú (111,509), a port and center of the meat-packing and
frozen-meat industries.
RELIGION AND LANGUAGE
Freedom of religion is
guaranteed by the constitution of Uruguay. Three-quarters of the people
belong to the Roman Catholic Church. There are also sizable Protestant
and Jewish congregations. The official language is Spanish, which in
Uruguay has been influenced by Italian vocabulary and pronunciation.
EDUCATION
Uruguay has one of the
highest rates of literacy in Latin America, at 98.2 percent of the adult
population. Six years of primary education is compulsory, and Uruguay is
one of the few nations in the Western Hemisphere in which all education,
including college and postgraduate work, is free. However, many students
from poor families must leave school to go to work. The largest college
in Uruguay is the University of the Republic, founded in Montevideo in
1849.
CULTURE AND ART
Western European
tradition is widespread in Uruguay. Since the 19th century the country
has adopted the cultural institutions of the European immigrants who
settled there. As in Argentina, which has folk music and dances similar
to those of Uruguay, the gaucho (South American cowboy) has been a
common subject of folklore and music.
SPORTS AND HOLIDAYS
The national game of
Uruguay is soccer (known as fútbol in Spanish). The country's national
teams have won many international competitions, including two titles in
the prestigious World Cup: the first World Cup, which Uruguay hosted in
1930, and another in 1950. Important soccer games are played in the
large Centenary Stadium in Montevideo.
Other popular sports in
Uruguay are polo-introduced by the British-tennis, boxing, golf, water
sports of all kinds, and automobile and boat racing. Because of the mild
climate, outdoor sports are popular year-round.
An annual festival known
as Carnival Week, typically held in February, draws huge crowds to
Montevideo for parades, masquerades, music, and dancing. This festival's
biggest celebrations take place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday. Another important holiday, La Semana Criolla, is observed
during the week before Easter and features rodeos and other traditional
activities. Uruguay's Independence Day is celebrated on August 25.
Taken from:
Microsoft student Encarta 2006
Read More go to
external links
|
 |
| URUGUAY - LINKS |
 |
 |
 |