General information:
Official Name: Eastern Republic of Uruguay
Form of Government: Democratic Republic
Government System: Presidential system
Capital: Montevideo
Independence: August 25th, 1825
Official Language: Spanish
Currency: Uruguayan Peso $ U
Territory: 176 215 km²
Jurisdictional waters: 138,000 km²
Population: 3,440,157 inhabitants (52% male, 48% female)
Life expectancy: 77 years (73 men - 80 women)
Literacy: 98.5%
Telephone Prefix: +598
Web domain: UY
Official Religion: Secular State.
Catholic Christianity: 41%
Atheism: 38%
Christianity Non-Catholic: 8%
Judaism: 1%
Others: 12%
Society and Culture:
Historically open to essentially European (Spanish, Italian, French, English and German) immigration, with almost no native population and with cultural contributions from African tribes, which arrived as slaves during the eighteenth century, Uruguay has consolidated a merging of cultures with the predominance of European imprint and its own Latin American details.
Musically, the country is an exponent of three natives genres, which are the pride of the national culture, they are: the Tango, the Folkloric Gauchesco and the Carnival.
Being one of the largest meat producers in the world, the typical dish of the country is the "roast", which consists of cuts of beef cooked on grills. International cuisine is the predominant in the gastronomic services of the country but due to European influence, we can remark dishes such as: paellas, stuffed pasta, stews, fish and seafood, as well as preparations with stuffed chicken or lamb meat.
Typical desserts are dulce de leche, homemade flan, rice with milk and Martín Fierro (pieces of cheese and quince jam together)
The classic infusion of the country, is the "Mate", drink that result from filling a hollow pumpkin with "yerba mate" and adding hot water. The “Mate”, is not only a substitute drink of coffee or tea, but a national emblem, and a part of the daily life of the Uruguayan people.
Football is the sport par excellence of the Uruguayans, Montevideo, was the site of the First World Soccer Championship in 1930. Uruguayan players and coaches are scattered all over the world. The main sports teams and rivals are the National Soccer Club and the Peñarol Athletic Club.
Democratic Traditions and Pacifism:
Uruguay is the cradle of the oldest democratic parties in the world, founded in 1836. The people have a strong democratic culture, which is demonstrated in the decision-making being done in a consensual and popular way. The country has not been the protagonist of war conflicts and its government has historically been a mediator in the region in search of Peace.
The Parliament is a bicameral type and is renewed jointly with the President of the Republic in national elections held every five years. Respect for the Constitution and the laws of the country are a civic example of long tradition, which is instilled from Primary Education, which is secular, compulsory and free.
Uruguay is the country with the lowest records of urban violence in the Region, and tranquility and coexistence between its citizens.
Geography:
The 176,215 square kilometers of the Uruguayan territory extend with soft undulations that do not present neither high mountains nor broad plains, cut by water courses.
Mountain Catedral is 514 meters high and is the highest point of the country. Uruguay also has a large river network, the most important of which are: the La Plata River, Uruguay River, the Merín Lagoon and the Negro River. These watercourses and their affluents are important means of communication, source of drinking water and generators of energy through the dams. To this is added the 450 kilometers of river coast and 220 kilometers of sea coast.
Weather:
Uruguay has a moderate temperate climate. The average annual temperature is 20 ° C., although peaks of cold in winter can go up to 0 ° C., as well as extreme heat days in summer that surpass 35 ° C.
Sunny days predominate for most of the year, although there is often some instability in the weather, with rain or occasional storms, especially in spring.