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Uruguay:
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Other pages in this profile of Uruguay:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent. |
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Location |
Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil |
Geographic coordinates |
33 00 S, 56 00 W |
Map references |
South America |
Area |
total: 176,220 sq km land: 173,620 sq km water: 2,600 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly smaller than the state of Washington |
Land boundaries |
total: 1,648 km border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km |
Coastline |
660 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin |
Climate |
warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown |
Terrain |
mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m |
Natural resources |
arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries |
Land use |
arable land: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
2,100 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts |
Environment - current issues |
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note |
second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising |
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