Uruguay

Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. Covering 68,037 sq mi (176,215 sq km), which makes it the smallest republic in South America, Uruguay is bordered by Brazil to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Argentina to the west, and the Rio de la Plata to the south. The capital and chief port is Montevideo, where about 40% of the people live.

Land and People

Uruguay is a country of rolling grasslands and low hills, fringed by sands, lagoons, and bays. In the south, the Rio de la Plata estuary forms an alluvial plain called the Banda Oriental. From the narrow coastal plain the land rises gently to the Cuchilla Grande and other highlands, reaching their highest point in the Sierra de las Animas at 1,644 ft (501 m). Uruguay has a pleasantly mild climate. The people are mostly of Spanish and Italian descent with some 300,000 mestizos, persons of mixed European and Native American descent, forming a significant minority. Spanish is widely spoken, and most people are Roman Catholic.

Economy

The economy of Uruguay is based on cattle and sheep raising with meat, wool, and hides providing 80% of the country's exports. Wheat, oats, flax, oilseeds, grapes, fruit, and sugarbeets are grown. Meat packing and tanning are the chief industries. There are important fisheries, but few mineral resources.

History

The region was visited by the Spanish in 1516 and settled by them in 1624. Resisting Portuguese incursions, they founded Montevideo in 1726. Jose Artigas led the independence movement from 1810 to 1820. Uruguay was then occupied by Brazil for several years, but finally expelled the invaders and became independent in 1828. A period of prolonged political instability was followed, in the early 20th century, by government under José Battle y Ordóñez. His economic and social reforms made Uruguay one of the most developed Latin American countries with a comprehensive social welfare system and advanced labor legislation. Labor unrest and the terrorism of the leftist Tupamaro guerrillas in the late 1960s led to a military takeover in 1973. Repression in the decade following was widespread, but eventually gave way to a return to civilian government in 1985. By means of industrialization, the government tries to switch from exporting live animals and animal products to new export products.