Uruguay is Situated in the Heart of South America

Uruguay is situated in the heart of South America. It is surrounded by the enormous countries of Brazil in the North and Argentina in the West as well as the deep blue Atlantic Ocean in the East. The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, as it is formally known, provides a wealth of sights, sounds and smells one can experience.

Uruguay has very mild weather. Temperatures range from 12°Celsius in the winter to about 25°Celsius at the height of the summer, making it a pleasure to visit regardless of the time of year. Moreover, having an average rainfall of about 1,000 millimetres per year, the countryside is rich and fertile.

However, people are more inclined to travel to Uruguay because of its wealth of sandy beaches stretching along the Atlantic Ocean. It is therefore not surprising that most tourists love to spend time at the beach swimming, sunbathing or indulging in their favourite watersports. If one is to include the delta of the River Plate, there are around 650 stupendous kilometres of seaboard to explore.

On top of this, Uruguayans are amongst the most charming people in South America, though they are just a fraction of the continent's total number of inhabitants. When the last census was carried out in 1995, they numbered 3.2 million, 1.3 million of whom were in the stunning capital Montevideo. Even though the original residents were the Charroas Indians, ninety percent of the inhabitants of Uruguay are of Spanish or Italian origin.

It is therefore reasonable that, like most of South America, Uruguay's traditions have a strong Spanish influence. Much of the country's folklore and music celebrates the Gaucho, the cowboy of the Pampas and hero of the War of Independence against Spain. Some of the most significant works of Latin American Art can be found in the many museums scattered throughout the country and especially the capital.

The rich culture and the magnificent beaches along the Atlantic coast have contributed to the expansion of the tourist industry in recent years. However, the main source of income for most of the residents of Uruguay comes from the stock-raising industry. This involves meat production and the export of live animals, wool and leather. The port cities of Salto and Paysanu on the River Plate are at the heart of this industry.

Uruguay's present day prosperity is due to the fact that it is one of the more stable democracies in South America. Presidential elections are held every five years and a twenty-nine-member Administration as well as a Senate are also elected. Uruguay together with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay have formed MERCOSUR, an association of South American countries whose aim is to promote trade in the region. Montevideo has also been chosen as the future seat of MERCOSUR, which is expected to increase the city's vitality and strength in the region.