Sneak Preview

Uruguay lies across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires (Argentina). If you thought the tango is the copyright of Argentina then you have got to see what a favorite it is with the people in Uruguay! They celebrate the Carnival with the joie de vivre of all Hispanic Americans. People visit this country to see the sublime Atlantic beach resorts, the beautiful town of Colonia still frozen in the 18th century and enjoy the great range of sports on offer.

About half the population of Uruguay lives in Greater Montevideo. Europeans will find their own kind in Uruguay, as Uruguayans are all basically European, mostly of Spanish and Italian origin. So its a little bit of Europe in South America – and a happy mix it is!

One of the achievements of education in Uruguay is the high literacy rate, reaching 94% of the population. The population enjoys a good overall educational level and the proportion of university-educated professionals in relation to the total population is the highest in Latin America.

The Uruguayans like their siesta, so if out shopping some shops may be shut in the afternoons.

Smoking in public places is banned and the fine is heavy – so be careful and stub those cigarettes out.

Historically Speaking

The original inhabitants of Uruguay were the Charrua Indians, a hunter-gatherer people who were wary of outsiders. The Spaniards who came into Uruguay in the 17th century made Montevideo the capital in 1726. In 1808 the struggle for independence continued in Uruguay and finally in 1828, when the Argentines and British relinquished their claim on the country, it gained its independence. Civil wars, dictatorship and intrigue wrecked the peace of the country and some respite from these came only in 1903. Jose Batley Ordonez became the President and brought peace and respite. Under his rule, Uruguay became the only Welfare state in Latin America. However, since the 1960s the country’s prosperity began to dwindle and the welfare state became more of a dream. After the turmoil caused by the Tupamaros urban guerilla movement, the military took charge promising to reduce bureaucracy and spend more on the less privileged and concentrate on development. The military managed to wipe out the guerillas by 1972 and later in 1985 democracy was restored. In 1996 constitutional reforms took place that gave greater powers to the President.

Habitat

Uruguay stretches over 176,000 sq. km. In the north, its hills are an extension of Brazil The terrain is more even as one moves west of Montevideo. Go to the Atlantic coast and you will see the beautiful beaches, dunes and headlands. Rainfall averages1000mm and it is evenly distributed throughout the year. Forests are difficult to find.

The grasslands in Uruguay will remind you of the Pampas of Argentina or Southern Brazil. Along the Brazilian border, in the southeast, you can marvel at the palm savanna. All that’s left of animals here is the rhea that races across the grasslands in the northwestern part of Uruguay. You can hope to find sea lions colonies in some islands off the shore.