|
|
|
Geography
The
Republic of Uruguay, at 68,038 square miles, is the
second smallest country in South America and is located
on the coast of that continent between the countries of
Brazil and Argentina. Comparable in size to the state
of Washington, it is located between the 30th
and 35th degree of southern latitude und and
the 53rd and 58th degree of
western longitude. Uruguay is classified as being in
the Southern subtropical zone of the South American
Continent. This means comfortably warm summers and mild
winters.
Uruguay consists of rolling, grass-covered plains in the
south and occasional sweeping slopes in the north,
broken by broad, wooded valleys with meadows and slow
moving rivers. The low hills are sprinkled with huge
granite blocks that can be seen against the horizon.
Uruguay’s highest point is Mount Catedral, which is
1,683 feet high. Uruguay’s Atlantic coastline stretches
200 miles and contains a series of impressive beaches,
tidal lakes, and dunes. There are five interior rivers
that flow westward into the Rio Uruguay, Uruguay’s
western boundary.
Three quarters of
Uruguay’s area is natural grasslands and supports the
grazing of a multitude of livestock. Five percent of
the country is forested, while around ten percent is
used for growing crops including a variety fruits and
grains. Cities
have spacious green areas and because of the continuity
of the winds and the lack of pollutant industries, there
is hardly any environmental pollution. Earthquakes are
unknown in Uruguay.
The
population of Uruguay numbers around 2.8 million people
with almost half of those people living in the vicinity
of Montevideo, the capital. Eighty percent of Uruguay’s
population is classified as urban. In rural areas,
cattle and sheep ranching are a way of life.
CLIMATE
Uruguay’s climate is
quite temperate. Frost is virtually unknown in coastal
areas. During the summer months, the average
temperature range is 70°- 82°, but can rise into the
nineties especially along the shore, while during the winter
months temperatures range between 50°- 61°. The coolest
month is June, while the warmest is January. There are
no rainy or dry seasons; the rainfall is equally
distributed throughout the year, but tends to be a bit
more frequent in the autumn months. Rainfall averages
36 inches yearly. The predominantly flat landscape is
vulnerable to rapid changes as weather fronts sweep
across the plains, sometimes with strong cool winds that
blow in from Argentina. There can be frequent
thunderstorms in the summer. Hurricanes are
non-existent.
TRANSPORTATION
Highways, not
railroads, are the principal means of transportation in
Uruguay. Montevideo is Uruguay’s major port.
Montevideo is also the main gateway for airline flights
in and out of the country. Both a ferry and hydrofoil
run between Colonia and Buenos Aires. Buses are
plentiful and fares are reasonably priced. Taxis are
convenient for local travel, but car rentals (though
expensive) are the
usual favorites of foreign visitors.
|
|
|
|
