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Country Hopping: Uruguay
Compiled by Khwaja Ali Shahid
Official name: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Area: 176,200 sq km
Population: 3,289,000
Capital: Montevideo
Currency: Uruguayan peso
Official language: Spanish
Major cities: Salto, Paysandz, Las Piedras
Independence Day: August 25, 1828
Major exports: Textiles, meat (chiefly beef), live animals and by-products (mainly hides and leather products), cereals, footwear.
Uruguay is situated in South America, on the Atlantic coast, bordered in the north by Brazil and in the west by Argentina.
Physical features
The terrain in the south consists of grassy, rolling plains. In the north is a low plateau, the Cuchilla de Haedo, diversified by ridges of hills that rise to a height of 1,237 feet above sea level. Cuchilla Grande range dominates the eastern part of the country, which extends generally south from Brazil to a point near Punta del Este; it rises to 1,644 feet at Mirador Nacional, the highest elevation in Uruguay. Negro River is the principal river of the country.
Climate
Temperate climate prevails here. The average temperature for the warmest months is 22°C and for the coldest month is 10°C. Precipitation is well distributed and averages about 890mm a year. During the winter months, cold storms known as pamperos blow from the southwest, but frost is virtually unknown in most parts of the country.
People
About 88 per cent of the people are of European descent (mostly Spanish and Italian), eight per cent are mestizos (people of mixed Native American and Spanish descent), and four per cent are descendants of African slaves brought there by the Spanish.
Spanish is spoken by all but about three per cent of the population. Minority languages include Italian. There is no official religion in Uruguay; church and state are strictly separate, and religious freedom is guaranteed. About two-thirds of the people belong to the Roman Catholic Church. About two per cent of the population is Protestant and roughly the same proportion is Jewish. The remaining 30 per cent of the population belong to other faiths or profess no religion at all.
Government
The constitution provides for a president who is head of state and head of government, elected for a five-year term, and a two- chamber legislature, comprising a senate and a federal chamber of deputies. The president is assisted by a vice president and presides over a council of ministers. The senate has up to 30 members and the chamber of deputies 99, all elected for a five- year term.
Diet
Beef is central to the diet. It is served in a variety of ways, of which asado (barbecued beef) is one of the most common. Costillas (chops), milanesas (veal cutlets), and chivitos (steak burgers) are also popular, along with roasts, stews, and meat pies.
A wide variety of vegetables and fruits are available. Snack foods include media lunas mixtas (a type of croissant filled with cheese and ham), panchos (sausages), and hzngaros (spicy sausages).
Recreation
Soccer is the national sport. Basketball, volleyball, swimming, and other water sports are also popular, and domos (rodeos) attract large crowds. Uruguayans also enjoy going to the cinema and attending cultural events. Going to the beach is very popular, specially during summer holidays.
Wildlife
The animals found in this country are puma, fallow deer, giant anteater, wild cavy and spectacled caiman. The birds here include Vermilion flycatcher, roseate spoonbill, crested caracara, magnificent frigate bird, burrowing owl and everglade kite.
1516: Rmo de la Plata visited by Spanish navigator Juan Diaz de Solis, who was killed by native Charrua Amerindians. This discouraged European settlement for more than a century.
1680: Portuguese from Brazil founded Nova Colonia do Sacramento on Rmo de la Plata estuary.
1726: Spanish established fortress at Montevideo and wrested control over Uruguay from Portugal, with much of the Amerindian population being killed.
1776: Became part of Viceroyalty of La Plata, with capital at Buenos Aires.
1808: With Spanish monarchy overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, La Plata Viceroyalty became autonomous, but Montevideo remained loyal to the Spanish Crown and rebelled against Buenos Aires control.
1815: Dictator Josi Gervasio Artigas overthrew Spanish and Buenos Aires control.
1820: Artigas ousted by Brazil, which disputed control of Uruguay with Argentina.
1825: Independence declared after fight led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja.
1828: Independence recognized by country’s neighbours.
1836: Civil war between Reds and Whites, after which Colorado and Blanco parties were named.
1840: Merino sheep introduced by British traders, who later established meat-processing factories for export trade.
1865-70: Fought successfully alongside Argentina and Brazil in war against Paraguay.
1903: After a period of military rule, Josi Battle y Ordonez, a progressive from centre-left Colorado Party, became president. As president 1903-07 and 1911-15, he gave women the franchise and created an advanced welfare state as a successful ranching economy developed.
1930: First constitution adopted, but a period of military dictatorship followed during Depression.
1958: After remaining out of power for 93 years, right-of- centre Blanco Party returned to power.
1967: Colorado Party gained power, with Jorge Pacheco Areco as president. A period of labour unrest and urban guerrilla activity by left-wing Tupamaros.
1972: Juan Marma Bordaberry Arocena of Colorado Party became president.
1973: Parliament was dissolved and Bordaberry shared power with military dictatorship, which crushed Tupamaros and banned left-wing groups.
1976: Bordaberry deposed by army; Dr Aparicio Mindez Manfredini became president.
1981: Gen Grigorio Alvarez Armellino became the new military ruler.
1984: Violent anti-government protests after ten years of repressive rule and deteriorating economy.
1985: Agreement reached between army and political leaders to return to constitutional government and freeing of political prisoners. Colorado Party won general elections; Dr Julio Marma Sanguinetti became president.
1986: Government of national accord established under President Sanguinetti.
1989: Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera of Blanco Party elected president.
1992: Public voted against privatization in national referendum.
1994: Colorado candidate Julio Maria Sanguinetti elected president.
1999: Jorge Batlle Ibaqez of the Colorado party, was elected president.
2003: Batlle Ibaqez announced that the government would compensate families of victims of the 1976-85 military dictatorship.
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