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Uruguay - A Natural Miracle

Uruguay is a green retreat between the Atlantic and the River Plate basin. Relatively short distances and an even climate allow varied, year-round activities for the nature-lovers. From its hills and vast prairies, you can always gaze as far as the horizon. Uruguay occupies the third place in the World Ranking of the Environmental Sustainability Index 2005, according to the study presented by the universities of Yale and Columbia (U.S.A.) covering a total of 142 nations. (Source: Ministry of Tourism, http://www.turismo.gub.uy/)

In the Guarani language, Uruguay means "river of the painted birds" and, like all the sounds of that sweet indigenous language, it brings out the primitive echoes of this land. The first inhabitants of this territory invented words to praise nature. Words to describe the birds and the sounds of this world are not yet trampled-on by the white man. The colorful plumage of the native birds must have surely dazzled them and history took that name to describe this beautiful country. So don?t miss the chance of seeing a multitude of colorful birds flying free in their natural habitat.

The Country of Rivers

On a planet that is running out of fresh water, Uruguay is a fresh water paradise. A dense hydrographic network of rivers, streams and lakes, shapes the landscape. Slightly rolling hills divide the valleys of the larger rivers and their hundreds of tributaries, irrigate a vast natural prairie.

The natives call the ?Rio de la Plata? river, ?a river as wide as the sea?, as. There are hundreds of kilometers of uninterrupted coastline, most of which have pure-white sand beaches.

The Rio Negro is another spectacle altogether. From its source in Brazilian territory, it divides the country in half. Like most of the rivers in Uruguay, it is almost completely navigable and offers multiple possibilities for water sports. It is set in typical riverside woodland, which grows on its banks, and some of its islands are a true camper’s paradise.

You can also find many islands of profuse vegetation and rich fauna in the Rio Uruguay, which gives the country its name. This main river, which also begins in Brazil, has, in its northern reaches, falls of great beauty, and it becomes really majestic as it approaches the Rio Negro, its main affluent. As it is navigable all the way to the heart of the American continent, canoeing and fishing are popular all the year round. (Source: Ministry of Tourism, http://www.turismo.gub.uy/ )

Montevideo: the Capital City

Montevideo is the capital, largest city, and chief port of Uruguay. Given that it is more than twice as large as any other city in the country, it is considered a primary city. Montevideo has a privileged harbor, one of the most important in the Americas. Also, it has beautiful beaches, like Pocitos, Buceo, Malvin, Playa de los Ingleses, Playa Verde, Punta Gorda and Carrasco.

Many monuments and museums cover the city, as well as historic buildings and squares. According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Montevideo is the Latin American city with the highest quality of life (followed by Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile). It is also one of the 30 safest cities in the world.

Treinta y Tres
Treinta y Tres is a small town in eastern Uruguay, and also the capital of the department (province) with the same name. The name is Spanish for "33" and refers to the nineteenth-century national heroes the 33 Orientales, who freed Uruguay from Brazilian control. The town’s population is 25,711 (2004 census). The city is the commercial and manufacturing center for the department of Trenta Y Tres, which is quite an agricultural and pastoral hinterland. Cattle and sheep are raised widely and rice is the chief crop in the surrounding countryside and the department.