The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is a country situated in the southeastern part of South America.
To the north and northeast lies Río Grande do Sul (Brazil) and to the west the provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes (Argentina) from which Uruguay is separated by the Uruguay River. To the south lies the estuary of the Río de la Plata, which separates Uruguay from the province of Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires City as well, and then to the southeast lies the Atlantic Ocean. Uruguay is administratively divided into 19 departments.
With 176.200 km2 of continental land, Uruguay exercises sovereignty over its 136.935 km2 of marine and river waters. The relief is mainly made up of vast undulating plains, furrowed by low hills.
The Uruguay River basin is the most important watershed, and this river is used as a communication route. Short rivers form the basin of the Rio de la Plata.

The climate is temperate. Medium and highest temperatures take place in December, January and February and the lowest temperatures in June, July and August. Highest temperatures range from 15º C in winter to 32ºC in summer. Temperature increases from south to north because latitude decreases (from 35º to 30º).

Summer: from December 21 to March 21.
Autumn: from March 21 to June 21
Winter: from June 21 to September 21
Spring: September 21 to December 21

As Uruguay is an agricultural and livestock country, beef is mainly consumed, followed by pork and mutton. One of the most traditional customs is “mate”. It is an infusion prepared with dried and crushed leaves of the yerba mate tree inside a recipient called mate as well. Then you pour hot water, and suck through a “bombilla”, a kind of plastic straw. “Mate” is basically a stimulating drink, because it helps to eliminate tiredness, stimulating mental and physical activities. It is good for muscles and nerves, and it also increases intellectual activity.

The most typical music styles are: candombe, tango, milonga and murga. “Murgas” are the main attraction in the Uruguayan Carnival, the longest in the whole world because it lasts 40 days and attracts many tourists. Murga is a musical genre that is made up of a chorus of almost 15 people, some of them playing the cymbal, others the drums and snare drums, performing different scenes and singing songs about the main social and political events of the year.

Canelones Department:

Costa de Oro: it has 70 km of beautiful beaches and seaside resorts on the Río de la Plata.

Maldonado Department:

Piriápolis: it is located in the 98km of the seaside road.

Punta del Este: internationally known as the main seaside resort in America.

Rocha Department:

La Paloma, La Pedrera, Punta del Diablo and Cabo Polonio: these seaside resorts are to the east of Uruguay, on the Atlantic Ocean.

Salto and Paysandú Departments:

There is a wide thermal bath area in this region, to the northeast of Uruguay.

Colonia Department:

On the west coast, you will find the most ancient and colonial city.

Language:

The oficial language is “ Spanish”.

Currency:

Uruguayan Pesos.

Electricity:

Voltage in Uruguay is always 220 volts.

Useful telephone numbers:

Police: 911
Telephone Directory Information: 121
Fire Department: 104
Intoxications: 1722

Phoning Uruguay from Abroad:

Country code + Area code + Phone number
Country code: 598.

Holidays in Uruguay

January 1 - New Year’s Day
January 6 - Epiphany
February - Carnival
March-April - Holy Week (or Tourism Week)
April 19 - Landing of the 33 Patriots Day
May 1 - Labor Day
May 18 - Battle of Las Piedras.
June 19 - Birth of General Artigas.
June 18 - Constitution Day
August 25 - Independence Day
October 12 - Day of the Race (Discovery of America).
November 2 - All Soul’s Day (working day).
December 25 - Christmas (or Family Day).