Background

Uruguay, officially known as the República Oriental del Uruguay, is the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America. It is bounded to the south by the River Plate, in the west by Argentina, and shares its northern border with Brazil. The mainstay of the economy is still agriculture, and most of the rolling countryside is taken up by estancias, producing cattle, sheep and crops.

Geography

Area - slightly smaller than Missouri, and slightly larger than Florida

Terrain

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Uruguay is the second-smallest South American country (after Suriname). Three-quarters of the country is low-lying grassland, and is ideal for cattle and sheep raising.

Climate and when to go

Uruguay has a gentle climate, with mean temperatures ranging from 77ºF in the summer, to 54ºF in the winter. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year (though July and August can be wetter). The high season in Punta del Este is their summer, December to March.  Visas are not required for stays less than three months except for Australians and Canadians. 

Health

Typhoid, tetanus and polio advisable, no vaccinations are mandatory.

People

Population:
3,415,920 (July 2005 est.)

Nationality: Uruguayan(s)

Ethnic groups:  80% of the population comes from a European background
 
Religions:
Roman Catholic 66% (less than 5% of the adult population regularly attend mass), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%

Languages:
Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Literacy: (age 15 and over can read and write)
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Economy  

The local currency is the Peso Uruguayo (UYU). Banks and exchange houses will change cash and travellers checks. Some hotels will also change money, though not at such good rates. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted and American Express in some places, but do check for additional charges. It is increasingly possible to obtain money with ATM machines.

Exchange Rate: 1 USD to 24.350 UYU (03-03-07)

Voltage:  220V, 50Hz

Transportation

The best way to travel between cities is by coach bus.  Uruguay has an extensive internal bus system. Non-local/departmental buses leave from the Tres Cruces station which also serves the international buses. The buses are frequent and many companies serve the same routes.

Airports - with paved runways: 9
Airports - with unpaved runways: 55

Roadways - paved: 8,081 km
Roadways - unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)

Government

Government type: Constitutional Republic
Capital: Montevideo

US Embassy:
Ambassador: Frank E. Baxter
Deputy Chief of Mission: James D. NEALON
Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
APO AA 34035
Phone: [598] (2) 418-7777 ext 2365
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Office hours: 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Except official American and Uruguayan holidays