With a population of 3.3 million, Uruguay is the second smallest independent South American nation, located on the southeastern edge of the continent. The Atlantic Ocean borders the south east of Uruguay, with the estuary of Río de la Plata bordering the southwest. Nearly half of the population resides in Montevideo, the capital city, and it's surrounding metropolitan areas. Made up of both continental land and a host of small river islands, Uruguay boasts rolling flatlands and low lying hills with a fertile coastline region. The highest point is the 'Sierra de Carapé' mountain range, where the Cerro Catedral reaches 513.66 meters.

To the north, Uruguay is bordered by Brazil. Argentina lies to the west, separated by the Uruguay River and the estuary of Río de la Plata in the southwest. Uruguay claims 318,413 square kilometers of territory, nearly half of which is made up of small river islands and jurisdictional waters.

The name Uruguay is derived from the Guarani language, a South American dialect of the indigenous Tupí-Guaraní language, sub-family of the Tupian languages. There are several theories as to the meaning of the word. One states "River of the uru", with uru being the name of a small bird native to the banks of the Uruguay River. Another speculated meaning is "River of colorful (or painted) chinchillas", also a species of bird native to the area. This was a poetic interpretation credited to Juan Zorrilla de San Martín. Another popular belief came about upon the discovery of old documentation written by Jesuit Lucas Marton, "River of those who bring food".

Uruguay boasts a landscape divided by waters. The estuary of Rio de la Plata cuts into the southwestern border, continuing into the Atlantic Ocean, which surround the south and eastern borders. There are four river basins cutting a path through Uruguay; the Laguna Merín, Río de la Plata, Río Negro and the Uruguay River. The Río Negro, "Black River", is the main internal river, dividing the nation from the Río de la Plata in the southwest in a serpentine pattern all the way up through the northeastern border and into Brazil. The Atlantic Coast presents a beautiful assortment of tropical lagoons.

Uruguay offers a very temperate climate, with warm, tropical summers and bitter cold winters. January is the warmest summer month while June is generally the coldest winter month. Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year, though with warm air currents from Brazil to the north often meeting the polar air from the south, weather fronts can cause sudden changes in the weather from time to time. Snow is certainly not a common factor, with very little elevation in Uruguay, yet in the years 1913, 1918, 1963, 1989, 1992, and 2007, snowfall was recorded in the region.

Nearly 88% of Uruguay's population is derived from European decent, lead by the Spanish and closely followed by Italians and Germans, as well as many other nationalities. Many of the European settlers arrived in the late 1800's, which attests to the frequency of European resemblance in architecture. The capital city of Montevideo is said to be very similar to Barcelona (Spain), Thessaloniki (Greece) and Tel-Aviv (Israel), each in their own distinct way.

Vacationing In Uruguay

From the islands, lagoons and magnificent sunsets on the Atlantic coastline of Uruguay, to the rolling hills of the central plains, the nation's tourism industry is not nearly as proficient as one might expect. While the landscape and scenery are truly breath-taking, most vacationers to South America do not realize the bountiful natural beauty of Uruguay, therefore tend to spend their tourism dollars in other, more popular Latin American countries. For this reason, Uruguay presents the perfect opportunity to take a vacation in this glorious region without the over-crowding of hot-spot destinations, or the inflated cost of accommodations.

For those interested in planning a Uruguay vacation, you will find Uruguay.Rica24 is the perfect starting point. We provide in-depth resources regarding every aspect of a Uruguay vacation. From travel agencies, accommodations, dining and tourist attractions to public and private transportation - anything you may need to know before and during your stay in the wondrous landscapes of Uruguay can be found right here.

Moving to Uruguay

The prospect of investing in or moving to Uruguay presents a host of opportunities. Just as the tourism industry does not boast as lucrative a market as many neighboring countries, Uruguay's real estate market is much more cost efficient while providing the much the same glorious scenery and natural beauty. There is no better time to snatch up luxurious real estate property, whether simply for a lucrative investment or to retire in Uruguay.

Uruguay.Rica24 provides Uruguay Real Estate listings, along with a complete Guide to Purchasing Real Estate in Uruguay, which includes in-depth descriptions of property rights and type, purchasing procedures and methods, taxes and fees and most importantly, how to protect your investment. You'll also find detailed materials describing how to buy a car, how to obtain a driver's license, a temporary or permanent residency visa, educational and employment opportunities - virtually everything you could possibly need to know before moving to Uruguay.

At Uruguay.Rica24, our number-one goal is to shepherd you towards, and assist in the completion, of a magnificent vacation or successful real estate acquisition in Uruguay. With a little help and expertise from Rica24, you can make your dreams a reality, whether they be investing your way to a wealthy future, or retiring in the scenic magnificence of Uruguay.