some useful facts about Uruguay

  Oriental Republic of Uruguay República Oriental del Uruguay

 

Capital: Montevideo
Official languages : Spanish
Government: Presidential republic
President:José Alberto Mujica Cordano, (El Pepe)
Vice President: Danilo Astori
Area:  176.220 km²
Population:  3.477.778 (2008)
Density: 20/km²
Independence : 1825
Currency: Uruguayan Peso

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19 Departments of Uruguay


1. Artigas (Artigas). Formed in 1884 from part of Salto Department. The only department to border both Argentina in the west and Brazil in the north and east.
2. Canelones (Canelones). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was Villa de Guadalupe Department.
3. Cerro Largo (Melo). Formed in 1821.
4. Colonia (Colonia del Sacramento). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
5. Durazno (Durazno). Formed in 1822. The original name was Entre Ríos y Negro Department
6. Flores (Trinidad). Formed in 1885 from part of San José Department.
7. Florida (Florida). Formed in 1856 from part of San José Department.
8. Lavalleja (Minas). Formed in 1837. Was named Minas Department until 1927.
9. Maldonado (Maldonado). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was San Fernando de Maldonado Department.
10. Montevideo (Montevideo). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
11. Paysandú (Paysandú). Formed in 1820.
12. Río Negro (Fray Bentos). Formed in 1868 from parts of Paysandú Department.
13. Rivera (Rivera). Formed in 1884 from part of Tacuarembó Department.
14. Rocha (Rocha). Formed from part of Maldonado Department.
15. Salto (Salto). Formed in 1837.
16. San José (San José de Mayo). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
17. Soriano (Mercedes). One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was Santo Domingo Soriano Department.
18. Tacuarembó (Tacuarembó). Formed in 1837; geographically the largest of the Uruguayan Departments.
19. Treinta y Tres (Treinta y Tres). Formed in 1884 from parts of Cerro Largo Department and Lavalleja Department. 'Treinta y Tres' is Spanish for 'Thirty-Three'. The department is named after 33 19th century patriots honoured by Uruguayans.