Montevideo is the capital of the richest country in South America (Uruguay). Friendly Uruguay The population of Uruguay for the year is the number

The center and south of the country are a monotonous, hilly, well-irrigated plain, mostly covered with grassy vegetation. It is similar to the Argentine wet pampa. The northern part of the country, rocky and barren in places, gradually rises into the Brazilian Highlands.

Uruguay's climate is moderate, with small annual temperature fluctuations and uniform distribution of precipitation throughout the year, which is favorable for both livestock breeding and the cultivation of a variety of crops.

The mild subtropical climate of the southern coast attracts many tourists, and the income of numerous hotels and resorts makes up a significant share of the country's budget.

Livestock farming plays a major role in the country's economy. About 60% of Uruguay's area is suitable for pasture, and a significant part is used for this purpose.

Land relations in Uruguay, in general, differ little from land relations in Argentina, Chile, Venezuela or other republics. Huge latifundia belong to several dozen owners and several foreign companies. These large estates are home to livestock farming; Mixed pastoral-agricultural farms are much less common. In agriculture, which plays a very insignificant role in the country's economy, independent small farmers are of greater importance - compared to other countries of South America - although the majority of farmers here are small tenants.

The agricultural zone is located in the south and southwest of Uruguay, where there are soils favorable for agriculture.

They cultivate mainly wheat, flax, barley, corn and oats. Wheat is almost entirely used to cover the country's domestic needs. Uruguay's only export crop was flaxseed. However, the export of this crop was greatly reduced, as the United States reduced its purchases after the Second World War. Dependence on the United States also affects the development of other agricultural crops. Uruguay is forced to import rice, sugar and other products.

Until recently, cattle breeding was extensive. In the north and center of the country, mainly cattle are raised, and in the south - sheep (wool is the main export item). This is due to the different types of natural feed types. Sowing of forage grasses is not practiced in Uruguay.

The development of industry is significantly hampered by the lack of coal, oil and iron in the country. In addition, the country's mineral wealth has not been sufficiently explored.

The Second World War gave some impetus to the development of the national, c. mostly small-scale industry. In the first place are textile and food.

Before the Second World War, England occupied the key positions in the economy of the republic, then US capital began to occupy an increasingly stronger position, which currently dominates almost unchallenged. However, England still ranks first in exports 1 .

“The working class of our country,” wrote Enrico Pastorino, secretary of the General Union of Working People of Uruguay, “is seriously suffering from unemployment, which is the result of the strangulation of the national Uruguayan industry by Anglo-American monopolies. The leather, footwear and textile industries are experiencing particular difficulties. The Anglo-American monopolists are denying our enterprises equipment and raw materials and are depriving them of sales markets” 2 .

Political system

Uruguay is a bourgeois republic. On March 1, 1952, collegial governance was introduced - the state is headed by the National State Council, consisting of nine members 3. Members of the National Council of State are directly elected for four years: six from the majority party, three from the leading minority party. The chairman of the council is elected annually from among its members. The legislative bodies consist of two chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, also elected for four years.

In 1943, diplomatic relations with the USSR, interrupted in 1935, were restored.

The church is separated from the state, the predominant religion is Catholic.

Population distribution

The total population of Uruguay is 2679 thousand (1957 f\) 4. The republic has the highest population density among the countries of South America - about 14 people per 1 km 2. About three-quarters of the population is located in the southern provinces, from Rocha west along La Plata. About a third of the population lives in Montevideo (850 thousand people) 6 . Density ranges from 50-55 people per 1 km 2 in the south, to 4-5 people per 1 km 2 in some provinces of the west and north.

Conquest and colonization

Uruguay was discovered by de Solis' expedition at the beginning of the 16th century. 6 Like Argentina, Uruguay had no precious metals. But if Argentina was initially of great interest to Spain as a route to Peru, then Uruguay absolutely could not attract the Spanish conquerors who were looking for easy money. In addition, the Charrua Indians who inhabited Uruguay put up strong resistance. All these circumstances led to the fact that the country remained undeveloped by the colonialists for about two centuries.

The Spanish government, trying to prevent Portugal's attempts to take possession of this area, which was located between the possessions of both states, began to establish military garrisons there and showed more and more interest in taking control of Uruguay.

At the end of the 18th century. Uruguay was part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of La Plata. During the Spanish colonial struggle for independence, both Argentina and Brazil attempted to annex Uruguay as a province. Only in 1828 did Uruguay become an independent state.

Formation of modern population

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Uruguay was inhabited by a small group of Charrua Indians - wandering hunters and gatherers, whose culture was largely similar to the Chaco and Pampa Indians (hunting, housing, clothing). Already by the 18th century. they have almost lost their original culture. The last representatives of this tribe were exterminated in the first half of the 19th century.

At the beginning of the 17th century. Cattle and horses were brought to Uruguay for grazing on rich pasture. Shepherds (gauchos) were engaged in selling skins to Argentina. They took Indian women as wives, and their descendants now make up the small mestizo population of northern Uruguay 1 .

The ever-increasing smuggling trade in skins 2 contributed to the fact that Argentine buyers, crossing into Uruguay (which in those days was called the Eastern Coast - Banda Oriental del Uruguay), began to settle there, seizing into their own hands plots of land on which herds grazed. Gradually there was an advance to the north, the capture of new areas, the pushing back and destruction of the indigenous population - the Indians.

The gauchos of Uruguay suffered the fate of the gauchos of Argentina - at the end of the 18th century, due to the transition to new forms of cattle breeding, they fell into bondage to the owners of large estates.

For a long time, landowner estancias and military garrisons were the only types of settlements.

The Spaniards, having founded the Montevideo fortress on the banks of La Plata in 1726, began to develop the country. As elsewhere in Latin America, the distribution and seizure of land and the formation of huge feudal latifundia also took place here.

However, the settlement of Uruguay was slow. Only after the declaration of independence did the influx of immigrants from Europe begin. Immigration was encouraged by the government. But the conditions immigrants faced in Uruguay—the near absence of available land and extensive ranching—soon led to a sharp drop in the number of immigrants remaining in the country. After the overthrow of the Rosas dictatorship in Argentina, the flow of immigrants was mainly directed there.

Yet Uruguay's population grew due to immigration. In 1800, the country had a little more than 50 thousand inhabitants, in 1830 - 70 thousand, in 1860 - more than 224 thousand, and by 1900 the population had already reached almost a million.

As in neighboring Argentina, the bulk of the settlers were Italians and Spaniards, as well as the French. Most of the newcomers settled on the coast, and this area is the main agricultural region of the country. Here, around the cities, small farms (chakras) are concentrated. It was mainly the Italians who settled in this area, who made up the main agricultural population, as well as the artisan population of the cities. In Uruguay there are a small number of colonies of Slavic peoples (Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Czechs, Bulgarians, Poles and Yugoslavs. There are about 30 thousand in total). The overwhelming majority of Slavs living in cities work in the meat-packing, textile industries or in small workshops and construction sites.

Increasing unemployment in the country led the government to restrict immigration, which had previously been encouraged. Agricultural and industrial workers are only allowed to enter the country if they are pre-contracted to work.^

Since 1947, immigrants began to be required to provide a health certificate and a certificate of political reliability.

Since the beginning of the 30s of the XIX century. Until 1842, the year of the official abolition of slavery, several thousand black slaves were brought into the country. In addition, there were a small number of free and fugitive blacks from Brazil living along the northern border. A. Rosenblat, based on data from his informants, believes that there are 8-10 thousand blacks in Uruguay. They are concentrated mainly in the departments of Rocha, Cerro Largo, Durasno and Miyas; There are black neighborhoods in Montevideo 1.

However, blacks do not constitute a noticeable stratum in the population of Uruguay.

Uruguay, along with Argentina, is the whitest country in South America. The Indian and mestizo population does not exceed 10% and is concentrated in the northern and northwestern outskirts.

Cities, settlements

The industrial and cultural center of the country is its capital - Montevideo. A beautiful, well-maintained city, like most large cities in South America, has miserable outskirts, little suitable for habitation.

The two largest provincial cities of Uruguay, with about 60 thousand inhabitants, Paysandu and Salto, are located on the banks of the river. Uruguay, and, in addition, are connected by railway lines with Argentina, Brazil and the interior of the country. Paysandu is the center of the meat industry, Salto is one of the pastoral areas. Several cities have about 30 thousand inhabitants, but most have only about 10-12 thousand.

In modern urban construction (in the provinces, in small houses in the suburbs of the capital), local materials are used, for example, white shiny sand from the coast of Uruguay, mixed with plaster. The roofs are made of red tiles or thatch (as in peasant houses).

A typical type of settlement is the pastoral estancia, scattered throughout the country and separated from each other by barbed wire fences. Barbed wire also separates individual pastures within the estate. In the center of the estancia is the landowner's house, usually made of brick, one-story, built according to the Spanish model, with a courtyard. The estate is planted with trees, and fruit trees are often planted. Around are the houses of peons, workers and outbuildings.

In addition, there are so-called “rat villages” scattered throughout the country, which owe their existence to the huge surplus of workers in agriculture that arose after the order to compulsorily fence estancias. Evicted peons-shepherds and trackers, bankrupt small farmers, and unemployed people from the cities began to settle on patches of free land, on state-owned lands. Here is a description of one of these villages: “The village consisted of a group of huts, fancifully scattered on barren, rocky land overgrown with poisonous myo-myo bushes, where a few trees tried in vain to brighten up the general desolation. The huts, some made of straw coated with clay, others made of raw brick and straw, others made of stones and tin or made of tin alone, were wretched, dull, fragile, ugly from the outside and from the inside” 1 .

About 50 thousand people lived in such settlements in 1950, 2 in 1955-1956. their number has increased to 200 thousand. 3 These people are forced to lead a miserable life while waiting for odd jobs, seasonal work like sheep shearing, which requires additional labor.

Naturally, such living conditions lead to the fact that, despite universal compulsory education from 6 to 14 years, about one third of children do not attend school. This applies to both rural areas and big cities. Yet, on average, the country has one of the highest literate percentages in Latin America - 75-80%.

Montevideo is home to the Uruguayan National Academy of Sciences, the Republican University with ten faculties (founded in 1833) and the Technical University (founded in 1924).

When South Americans talk about the country where they would like to live, then (in addition to the USA) they name little Uruguay. This is the most economically developed country on the continent, whose standard of living corresponds to European standards, and salaries are approximately the same as in Spain and Italy. They are called the “Switzerland of South America”, and if the comparison is inappropriate with regard to the mountains - Uruguay is a country of plains and lakes, then in other respects it is quite. I arrived in the country by ferry from neighboring Buenos Aires to the ancient town of Colonia, a three-hour drive from Montevideo. The timing for the trip was not the best - winter was beginning, it was constantly raining, stormy winds and a feeling of London greyness. However, I found Montevideo a very interesting city worth visiting. Today we’ll take a walk around the center, and in the next article I’ll tell you about fashionable areas that are more like the wealthy suburbs of Paris or London, but not at all like South America.

The history of the creation of Montevideo is very interesting. In these parts, there was initially a struggle between the two main empires of that time - Spanish and Portuguese. When the Spaniards founded Buenos Aires, the Portuguese, directly opposite, across the Rio de la Plata, created the Colonia fortress (my report from the fortress) to block the Spaniards in the depths of the bay. The Spaniards responded to this in 1726 by creating the Montevideo fortress 200 km east of the Colony and thus blocking the Portuguese themselves. Actually, no one imagined that the sea fortress would turn into the capital of Uruguay. Later, the city began to actively grow and develop; a port was created in it, which today is one of the largest on the continent. Emigrants from Europe flocked to Uruguay and today, by the way, it is the most “European” state in South America, where 96% are descendants of the Spaniards and Portuguese.

But it must be said that Montevideo is not a particularly tourist city. This is not Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro; there are not millions of tourists here, nor are there any iconic world-class attractions. It's just a very colorful city with a lot of colonial heritage in its architecture, a great cultural and social life, good restaurants and excellent museums. In a word, it’s hardly worth going here for a long time, but the city is certainly worthy of a couple of days if you’ve already seen everything in neighboring Buenos Aires.

By the way, the non-tourist nature of Montevideo is once again proven by the fact that there is practically no panoramic observation deck in the city. You won't find it in guidebooks either. Somewhere on a local website I found such a point, not marked at all. On the top floor of this building in the center of Montevideo -

Go inside, there is something like a fair with small shops, no signs and people don’t even know where the observation deck is. Go straight and there will be elevators up -

The building is generally an office building and they asked me where I was going. He said to look at the panorama. Get into the elevator and up to the top floor, without turning anywhere in the shaft -

If it weren't for the little piece of paper on the wall, you would never have guessed that you were there -

Of course, photographing through cloudy glass is not God knows what kind of pleasure, but if you are not afraid to stand with your feet on the fence and photograph through the gap from above, then everything will work out -

Uruguay has a population of just over 3 million, of which more than half live in Montevideo. The city is large, stretching along the coast for one and a half dozen kilometers -

See that tower in the center? We'll go there too, it's a symbol of Montevideo -

American office skyscraper of the thirties, typical project -

The weather, however, is turning up the heat with this rain. No matter how wet the camera gets. I'm walking towards the old part of Montevideo, founded by the Spaniards more than 300 years ago -

Cool Bauhaus on the streets of Montevideo, I love this style. By the way, the capital of the world Bauhaus is, oddly enough, Israel. Here's about the Bauhaus style in Tel Aviv, and here in Haifa. And by the way, my native Yekaterinburg is also one of the capitals of the same style, although more constructivism, but still "".

But this most famous building in Uruguay and practically a tourist symbol of this country is called Palacio Salvo and was built in 1928 by Italian architect Mario Palanti, who lived in neighboring Buenos Aires. The building is 100 meters high and until recently was considered the tallest in Uruguay. But it’s almost impossible to get there unless you’re invited to one of the offices inside -

This is the main square of the country, the largest and considered the most beautiful -

The old city with its colonial buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries begins here. Here are the main walking streets with cafes and restaurants -

But to be honest, the bulk of old Montevideo is in a terrible state. For some unknown reason, hundreds of Spanish-built buildings are abandoned and in disrepair. The city residents themselves are very upset by this fact, because there are real masterpieces of architecture there.

Suddenly, a synagogue in the old city. Among outright slums. Against the backdrop of absolute desertion, when I took out my camera, a security guard suddenly appeared (he emerged from somewhere in the neighboring house) and said that it was forbidden to photograph the synagogue. I said my sincere apologies and moved on. I still managed to photograph this “strategic” object -

Worse and worse. Homeless people also began to appear, they apparently live in these slums -

Should I help him get out of the trash? But no matter how he decided that I was trying to squeeze out his prey -

Port area -

Central and abandoned railway station of Montevideo. Uruguay once had a fairly extensive railway network, created at the end of the 19th century and at the peak of its history in the 30-40s of the last century, it had several thousand kilometers of tracks along which passenger and freight trains regularly ran. Now all this is in the past. There is only one branch left from the past, connecting Montevideo with the suburb of Progresso, where it is easier to get there by bus. Simply put, forget it, there is no railway in Uruguay.

What a gorgeous building...

Funny skyscraper birdhouses -

Meanwhile, the ocean is raging. The wind is such that it blows you off your feet -

As I said, I’ll tell you about modern and civil Montevideo a little later!

Uruguay is located in southeastern South America. In the west the state borders with Argentina, in the north with Brazil, and in the south and east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

Indians Charruas- the indigenous population of Uruguay, and it was they who laid the foundations of the national culture here. Today Uruguay is a multinational country. The state was once a colony of Spain, so almost all its inhabitants come from Southern Europe, most often from Spain or Italy. In Uruguay they speak not only Spanish; you can often hear Italian, French, and, of course, English spoken on the streets of the city.

Uruguay is famous for its beach resorts. Here you can not only swim in the Atlantic Ocean, but also sail on a yacht, go fishing, and walk along the dunes.

Punta del Este- the most expensive and prestigious resort in the country. Fans of active recreation will enjoy the resort towns of Mercedes and Carmelo. Marine sports are developed here: jet-sky surfing, sea fishing, yachting. The town of Termas Arapei is famous for its thermal springs. A Colonia del Sacramento- just a godsend for true connoisseurs of ancient architecture.

One of the most actively developing sectors of the Uruguay economy is banking. It is not for nothing that this country is called the Switzerland of Latin America.

While vacationing in Uruguay, you will not only soak up the sandy beaches, but also learn what calabash is, learn to drink mate, try chivito and take part in the Uruguayan carnival.

Climate and weather

The Uruguayan climate is subtropical oceanic and temperate. Winter here occurs from June to August, and summer from December to February. The Uruguayan winter is short and warm, the temperature in July (the coldest winter month) is +10 °С. Summer is warm, the average temperature in January (the hottest summer month) is within +22… +27 °С, on particularly hot days it can reach +38 °С. This heat is very easily tolerated thanks to the local sea breeze.

The amount of precipitation falling per year in Uruguay increases from south to north and is about 970-1200 mm. Most of the rain falls here in autumn.

From December to March is the optimal time to travel to Uruguay.

In spring and autumn, this country is also very attractive for tourists. If you are more interested in exotic nature and ancient architecture, then you will enjoy visiting Uruguay in the off-season.

Nature

Uruguay is often called "purple country". This is because most of its territory is covered with grasses that have a reddish tint. From a bird's eye view, Uruguay looks extraordinary.

On the hills, tall grasses give way to turf; forests occupy only 4% of the country's territory. They grow in small stripes along river valleys and are occasionally found at higher elevations. Uruguayan forests are somewhere between tropical and open forest species. The most common varieties you can find here are rosewood, mesquito, guava and zest. In the area of ​​the cities of Minas and Rocha there are local species of palm trees. And on the east coast, eucalyptus and pine trees are planted; they protect the sandy soil well from erosion.

Human economic activity has had a bad impact on the nature of Uruguay. Many species of animals that lived in this area have disappeared forever. Now in Uruguay there are partridges, hares, wild boars with reddish bristles, Pampas cats, and various rodents.

The main rivers of the country are Uruguay And Rio Negro.

Uruguay has no mineral resources; the country's main natural resource is its fertile soil. This allows us to obtain rich harvests and develop livestock farming. About 78% of Uruguay's land is meadows and pastures.

Attractions

The capital of Uruguay, the city of Montevideo, is located on the banks of the Rio de la Plata. There are many interesting places here that are open to tourists. Climb the Cero Montevideo hill (the city owes its name to it) and a magnificent panorama of the city will open before you. There is a fortress at the top of the hill, and there is also a small military museum here.

Many attractions are concentrated in Plaza de Independencia(Independence Square) is the largest square in the city. On it rises statue Mauseleo de Artigas- a national hero who led the fight for the independence of Uruguay. The tallest building in the country, the 26-story Salvo Palace, is also located here. And not far from Independence Square is the famous Montevideo Theater "Solis".

Also worth a visit in Uruguay is the National Historical Museum, Museo de la Moneda And Museo del Gaucho.

We recommend that you visit the city’s port market, which has received a beautiful name Mercado del Puerto. Here you can buy souvenirs and antiques. The port is bustling with life, with snack bars and restaurants, grocery stores and markets on every corner.

Another picturesque place in Uruguay is the Uruguayan Riviera. These are beach resorts east of the capital. During the period from December to March, the wealthiest people from Europe, Brazil, and Argentina vacation here.

There are also less expensive, but no less attractive tourist areas on the east coast. These are, first of all, Atlantis and Piriapolis.

Colonia del Sacramento is a find for lovers of beaches and ancient architecture. To plunge into the history of the country, just climb the lighthouse, wander through the ruins of the cathedral, and visit the bullring. The Bastion of St. Miguel, the house of Admiral Brown and the “street of sighs” are also located here.

A short trip to Lobos Island(10 km from the coast). In a nature reserve Lobosa There are 200,000 sea lions.

Colonia Suiza (120 km from Montevideo) has retained the charm of old Europe. In addition, more than half of Uruguayan cheeses and dairy products are produced here.

And in 1930, the first FIFA World Cup was held on the Uruguayan field of Estadio Centenario (city stadium).

Nutrition

Uruguay's cuisine is a mixture of culinary traditions from South America and Europe. The usual pizza, pasta, and paella can be found on the menu of any restaurant in the country. But you will also like traditional Uruguayan dishes.

Beef and pork dishes cooked on grills are staples of Uruguayan cuisine. In Uruguay, be sure to try parillada (beef on a plate), milanesas- chops coated in breadcrumbs and egg and deep fried. The filete uruguayo marbled steak deserves special attention. This meat is soaked in a marinade of soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and salt, and then stuffed with thin slices of ham and cheese. For lovers "fast food" Uruguayan cafes offer Chivito. This is a delicious sandwich consisting of pork or veal chop, tomato slices, cheese and lettuce.

Puchero(Uruguayan soup) is prepared mainly in winter. It includes pork, beef and all kinds of vegetables. All this takes a long time to cook. The result is an incredibly thick and satisfying soup.

In addition, it is here, in Uruguay, that you will learn the real taste of mate (a kind of tea made from the leaves of the Paraguayan holly). Here, about 85% of the population drinks this drink daily. Some residents of the country practically never part with thermos flasks. The container from which mate is drunk is called a calabash; it is made from a pumpkin. Bombilla is a straw from which a drink is drunk. Brewing and drinking mate is a whole science. In addition to tea, Uruguay produces excellent wine.

Prices in restaurants and cafes in the country are very reasonable; you can have a good dinner here for $20.

For fans of fusion cuisine, the restaurant will hospitably open its doors Tandory(Montevideo). In the evening there is live music and an interesting entertainment program. During the day it is a quiet place, ideal for business meetings.

Fans of European cuisine will love this place Corchos Bistro y Boutique de vinos and Dueto in Montevideo.

If you're vacationing near José Ignacio, be sure to visit the fantastic beach restaurant La Huella. It looks like a pirate ship. On its decks, 40 chefs serve about 1,000 visitors every day.

Accommodation

Uruguayan hotels are known for good service and reasonable prices.

A room in a local hotel during the season will cost you $70-100 per day; in the off-season it will cost about $50.

After Hotel Montevideo 4*located near Montevideo Shopping Center. All rooms are equipped with cable TV, wireless Internet, and good furniture. Free parking is available. A double room in this hotel costs $110 per night.

Hotel California 3*(centre of Montevideo) offers a double room for only $55 per night.

Hotel Unique Luxury Colony 5* is located almost in the very center of Colonia del Sacramento. Travelers are offered wonderful rooms with air conditioning, minibar, and wireless Internet. The hotel's spa offers a variety of massages and relaxation therapies. A superior room for two will cost $140 per night.

It is better to book hotels in advance; this can be done online.

Those who do not like hotel holidays can easily rent an apartment. But remember: an apartment rented for a day will cost you more than a good hotel room. Therefore, it is more profitable to rent an apartment for a period of more than a month. Depending on the location and layout of the property, the price will vary. For example, a one-room apartment in a modest area of ​​Montevideo will cost 300 € per month, a two-room apartment will cost $650, and a three-room apartment in good repair near the beach will cost $1,500.

Entertainment and relaxation

Beach holidays are the most popular in Uruguay. Crystal clear water and white sand attract tourists from all over the world.

Resort Piriápolis founded by mason Francisco Piria. You should definitely visit his castle.

Around Piriápolis There are several small resorts. Fans of surfing and diving will find entertainment here. The best way to relax and disconnect from the bustle of the city is at a resort Cabo Polonio. It is somewhat isolated from civilization, and can only be reached through dunes and forest by special trucks or on foot.

There are also famous thermal resorts on the Atlantic coast. The Daymán thermal spa is attractive to tourists throughout the year. In the pools there is water with different temperatures, from +38 °С to +45 °С. The therapeutic effect of treatment at a thermal resort is officially recognized by doctors.

There are numerous beach resorts to the east of Montevideo. The most prestigious holiday is considered to be in Punta del Este. This place is known for its wonderful climate and impeccable service.

Holidays at resorts will be no less memorable Atlantis And Piriapolis. They are located on the river bank Rio de la Plata. Ocean water here mixes with river water and has a brown tint.

Nightlife lovers will not be disappointed with a trip to Uruguay. In the evenings, the waterfront of Montevideo and other resort towns are bustling with life. There are numerous bars, restaurants and clubs here.

If you find yourself in Montevideo in February, be sure to visit the famous carnival. It lasts almost two months and rightfully bears the title of the longest carnival in the world. During the carnival, colorful masquerade processions move through the streets of Montevideo, and concerts by street musicians are held everywhere. The rhythm of Uruguayan drums has a charming effect: like it or not, you start dancing.

Montevideo is also home to the country's main theater "Solis", National Library and National History Museum.

There are several water parks in Uruguay. The most famous of them is the thermal water park. Sudamercia.

Purchases

The largest shopping centers in Uruguay - Punta Carretas Shopping, Montevideo Shopping and Tres Cruces Shopping- located in Punta del Este and Montevideo. Here you can buy domestically produced goods, as well as items from all famous world brands. Shops in the country are usually open from 9:00 to 22:00. Uruguay has very affordable goods, especially food and clothing. Prices vary depending on the store level. Multi Ahorro, for example, is considered a mid-level store. There may be a store nearby where similar goods will be much cheaper, and in the market (feria) - even cheaper. But in Tienda Inglesa everything is very expensive, it is a high-end store.

Uruguayan leather and wood products, woolen sweaters and painted ceramics are especially valued at home and abroad. You can buy all this in shopping centers and markets.

As a souvenir you can buy everything you need for brewing mate: calabash, thermos, bombilla, mate.

Clerico (a mixture of white wine with several types of fruit preserved in alcohol) will be an unusual and colorful gift. Cramoto, a seasoning made from olive oil mixed with vinegar, chopped nuts and unusual Uruguayan spices, will be indispensable for culinary gourmets.

Natural cosmetics produced in Uruguay are also highly valued throughout the world.

Transport

Almost all of Uruguay's foreign trade is carried out by water. The port of Montevideo is of great importance (90% of total trade volume). Also very important are the ports in the cities of Punta del Este, Paysando, Fray Bentos and Nueva Palmira. Within the country, goods are often delivered by rivers.

The country's main airport is Montevideo Airport; there are also about 60 small airfields in Uruguay. Uruguay's main roads are modern and well-paved, but local roads are often in poor condition. Drivers in Uruguay are surprisingly calm and polite. There are many one-way roads here. Be careful: road signs are sometimes difficult to see.

There are two types of public transport in Montevideo - bus and taxi. The bus will stop at the stop only if you vote. At the entrance you need to buy a ticket from the conductor - on a regular bus for about $1, travel on a comfortable commuter bus will cost $1.5-2, depending on the route.

A free taxi can be identified by the red lit libre sign on the windshield. Taxi is inexpensive. A trip around Montevideo from Independence Square to Rodo Park will cost you only $4. Tips are usually rounded up. If you get into a taxi at a special stop, a special person will help you open the door. It is also customary to tip him. Taxi cars in Uruguay are often very old.

If you wish, you can rent a car. During the tourist season, a small comfortable car will cost you $60 per day. However, you will need to leave a deposit for it. You should pick up and drop off your car with a full tank.

There are a lot of motorcycles on city streets. They are quietly left on the sidewalks, placed near the house at night, often without even fastening them. Horse-drawn carriages are also very popular in Uruguay. They take out all kinds of garbage, not counting food waste.

Connection

Cellular communications in Uruguay are GSM 1800 and AMPS. There are three major operators in the country - Movitel, Claro and Ancel/Antel. Tariffs for calls within the country are high. For international calls, it is better to use a pay phone. To do this you will need a card or token worth $0.2. The cost of 1 minute of conversation with Moscow, for example, will be $1.5.

Ancel/Antel is considered the best mobile operator in Uruguay. It is known not only for good cellular communications, but also for excellent tariffs for 3G Internet. A SIM card from any mobile operator can be purchased at a communication store, and it will cost approximately $15.

The Internet can be used in Internet cafes in the city, as well as in many hotels.

Safety

Uruguay is called one of the safest countries in South America. But even here, basic precautions should still be taken. In crowded places, pickpockets often operate. Reject offers from local residents to help with paperwork. Before visiting Uruguay, no special vaccination is required, but if you are constantly taking any medication, be sure to take the necessary supply with you.

Business climate

The economy of Uruguay offers good opportunities for business development.

From December to March, the country is flooded with tourists, and housing, even very modest ones, is in high demand. Therefore, when renting out real estate in resort areas, on the ocean coast, you can’t go wrong.

There are many moving companies in Uruguay. Entrepreneurs rent stands at the bus station and use their buses to transport people to Colonia, Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and other cities.

Car rental is also in demand, especially during the tourist season. In the off-season, a car costs from $45 per day, in the season - from $60. Livestock breeding and crop production are also very profitable. This is favored by fertile land and numerous pastures.

Registering a business in Uruguay is not difficult. To open a company, you must first confirm your address. To do this, the future businessman will need statements from two people indicating that he lives at the specified address. The entrepreneur then registers his business with the tax office. The tax calculation scheme will depend on what form of ownership and type of activity he chooses. After registration, the entrepreneur only has to open a bank account and start working.

Real estate

In recent years, owning real estate in Uruguay has become very prestigious. Some are attracted by the climate, others by business opportunities. Foreign citizens are allowed to purchase real estate in unlimited quantities.

When buying a house or apartment in Uruguay, there are many details to consider. If you wish, you can find a house at a very attractive price. In Montevideo, for example, you can buy a very modest house for $35,000. But it often happens that real estate costs little, but utility bills are simply prohibitive or land taxes are many times higher than in the neighboring quarter.

Montevideo is a good place to live and work in Uruguay. A simple apartment in the capital will cost $60-70 thousand, an apartment with good repairs and an underground garage will cost $120-150 thousand.

Atlantis attracts with its measured pace of life. Many retirees from Europe and Latin America buy homes here. A very nice house on the ocean will cost $120,000.

The most expensive apartments and houses are in Punto del Este. Many famous actors and singers have purchased property here. Prices for villas reach $1.5 million.

In Uruguay, it is customary to leave 5-10% of the total bill for tip.

For speeding or not wearing a seat belt, you will have to pay a fine of $120.

Smoking in public places is also strictly prohibited. Moreover, the owners of bars, restaurants, and offices where the offense was committed will also be punished. The fine will be $1,500.

: 48 234
Australia Australia: 9,376
France France: 5 970
Canada Canada: 5 500
New Zealand New Zealand: 1,000

Population growth is one of the lowest in Latin America at about 0.19% per year. This is due to low birth rates and migration. Currently, there is a downward trend in population growth. Most of the departments are already experiencing population decline, the greatest in the departments of Artigas (-0.85%), Lavalleja (-0.49%), Durasno (-0.42%). The largest increases were in the departments of Maldonado (2.19%), Canelones (0.96%), and San José (0.68%).

The traditional occupation of the local population is animal husbandry. As in Argentina, the main figure here was the gaucho, that is, the shepherd. Almost the entire territory of the country is occupied by the pampa, that is, the steppe, and the natural conditions are most favorable for raising livestock. 90% of the country's territory is occupied by agricultural land, of which 80% is meadows and pastures, 10% is arable land. Currently, the country's agriculture fully satisfies the needs of the population.

About 94% of the population lives above the poverty level. Income is distributed more evenly than in other Latin American countries. About 40 percent of citizens have secondary education, 14 percent have special education, and 13 percent of the economically active population have higher education. Uruguay has the highest level of education and the largest number of students compared to the rest of Latin America.

Culture

In terms of culture and everyday traditions, Uruguayans are close to Argentines. The home of the villagers is a ranch - a house with earthen walls and a thatched roof. The estate is called an estancia. For large landowners, estancias are fenced with stone blocks, have a patio (inner courtyard), and roofs are thatched or tiled. In cities, the layout of the Spanish type predominates - a rectangular grid of streets, which is typical for Latin America in general.

The culture of gauchos, steppe inhabitants and livestock breeders, is characterized by a large number of things made of leather, not only clothing, but also utensils. In clothing, the most typical elements are striped ponchos and capes. European clothing is now common in cities.

see also

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Links

Literature

• Dridzo A.D. Uruguayans // Peoples and religions of the world. / Ch. ed. V. A. Tishkov, M., 1998.
• Latin America, encyclopedic reference book. Ch. ed. V.V. Volsky, volume 2, M., 1982.
• from TSB

An excerpt characterizing the Population of Uruguay

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