Uruguay

Known, as the 'Oriental Republic' because of its location on the eastern bank of the Rio de la Plata. Uruguay may be pint-sized, but it's certainly big-hearted when it comes to attractions... it’s the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America. For tourists wanting to travel off the beaten track, it may just be a diamond-in-the-rough. Enjoys 500km (300 miles) of fine sandy beaches on the Atlantic and the Rio de la Plata, woods, hills, hot springs, hotels, casinos, art festivals and numerous opportunities for sport and entertainment.

The majority of the country consists of wind-blown prairie, or Gaucho Country (cowboy country). Many ranches have opened up to tourism, so you can lend a hand, or sit back and relax on one of the ranches. Alternatively you can head on down to Punta del Este, the most popular beach resort in Uruguay.

Understanding The Geography

Uruguay, officially the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, is a country located in southern South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north, the Uruguay River to the west, the estuary of the Río de la Plata to the southwest, with Argentina on the other bank of both, and finally the South Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. About half of its people live in the capital and largest city, Montevideo.

The landscape features mostly rolling plains and low hill ranges (cuchillas) with fertile coastal lowland, most of it grassland. The highest point in the country is the Cerro Catedral at 514 metres (1,686 ft). To the southwest is the Río de la Plata (River of Silver), the estuary of the Uruguay River, which forms the western border, and the Paraná River, that does not run through Uruguay itself. The only other major river is the Río Negro. Several lagoons are found along the Atlantic coast.

Climate Condition

The climate in Uruguay is temperate, but fairly warm, as freezing temperatures are almost unknown. The predominantly flat landscape is also somewhat vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts, as well as to the pampero, a chilly and occasionally violent wind blowing north from the pampas plains in Argentina.