Surface : 176.215 Kmq.
Population : 3.204.000 inhabitants
Density : 18,2 inhab./Kmq.
Annual Growth : 0,6%
Urban Population : 90,5 %
IPG per head : 6630 $US
Inflation : 24,3%
Capital : Montevideo
System : Presidential Republic
President : Julio Sanguinetti
Main Cities : Salto, Paysandù, Melo, Rivera
Languages : Spanish. Some English is spoken in tourist resorts.
Religions :  Roman Catholic 66%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%
Local Name : Repùblica Oriental del Uruguay
Electricy : 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are continental flat 3-pin or round 2-pin.
Communications:
Telephone: IDD is available to Uruguay, but callers from Uruguay may experience difficulty, though direct dialling is possible. Country code: 598. Outgoing international code: 00. The local telephone service, which is operated by the Government, is generally adequate but long-distance calls may take a considerable time to be put through.
Fax: Some hotels have facilities.
Telegram: These can be sent worldwide through ITT Comunicaciones, Mundiales SA, Italcable and Western Telegraph Co Ltd.
Post: Post offices open 0800-1800 (main post office in the old city, Montevideo: 0800-2200). Airmail to Europe takes three to five days.
Press: All newspapers are in Spanish.

Uruguay draws more visitors than any other South American state. The country enjoys 500km (300 miles) of fine sandy beaches on the Atlantic and the Rio de la Plata, woods, mountains, hot springs, hotels, casinos, art festivals and numerous opportunities for sport and entertainment.

Montevideo, the capital, is the country's natural trading centre. There are nine major bathing beaches, the best of which are Playas and Miramar.

Punta del Este: The Atlantic coast resorts are popular from December to April, and have fine beaches.

Local dishes include asado (barbecued beef) and bife de chorrizo (rump steak).

Theatre, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January

Geography

Uruguay is one of the smallest of the South American republics. It is bounded to the north by Brazil, to the southeast by the Atlantic, and is separated from Argentina in the west and south by the River Uruguay, which widens out into the Rio de la Plata estuary. The landscape is made up of hilly meadows broken by streams and rivers. There is a string of beaches along the coast.

Most of the country is grazing land for sheep and cattle. Montevideo, the most southern point of the nation, accommodates more than half of the population. About 90% of the land is suitable for agriculture, although only 12% is used in this way. Uruguay is known as the 'Oriental Republic' because it stands on the eastern bank of the Rio de la Plata.

Government

Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1828. Head of State and Government: President Jorge Batlle since 1999.

Legislative power is held by a bicameral Congress, which comprises a 30-member Senate and a 99-member Chamber of Representatives, and is elected by universal adult suffrage every five years. The same terms apply to the election of the president, who is head of state and holds executive power, assisted by a vice-president and an appointed Council of Ministers.

Uruguay has an exceptionally fine temperate climate, with mild summers and winters. Summer is from December to March and is the most pleasant time; the climate during other seasons offers bright, sunny days and cool nights.

The CNN South American satellite weather map

FOOD & DRINK: The majority of Uruguayan restaurants are parrilladas (grillrooms), which specialise in the country's most famous traditional dish, the asado (barbecued beef). Beef is part of most meals and comes in many forms, including the asado de tira (ribs), pulpa (boneless beef), lomo (fillet steak) and bife de chorrizo (rump steak). Costillas (chops) and milanesa (a veal cutlet) are also popular, usually eaten with mixed salad or chips. Chivito is a sandwich filled with slices of meat, lettuce and egg. Other local dishes are puchero (beef with vegetables, bacon, beans and sausages), pizza, pies, barbecued pork, grilled chicken in wine, cazuela (stew), usually served with mondongo (tripe), seafood, morcilla dulce (sweet black sausage made from blood, orange peel and walnuts) and morcilla salada (salty sausage). Desserts include dulce de leche (milk sweets), chaja (ball-shaped sponge cake filled with cream and jam), mossini (cream sponge), lemon pie and yemas (crystallised egg yolk). Table service is usual in restaurants. Cafés or bars have either table and/or counter service. Drink: Local wines are mixed (medio-medio), red and white in Montevideo. Beers are very good. Imported beverages are widely available. Local spirits are caña, grappa and locally distilled whisky and gin. There are no set licensing hours.

NIGHTLIFE: Theatre, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January. Tango is nearly as popular as in Argentina, and the 'La Cuparsita' club in Montevideo fills up quickly. There are discotheques in the Carrasco area. There are several dinner-dance places in Montevideo. Large Montevideo hotels have good bars. When there is music for dancing, the prices of drinks increase quite considerably. There are also several casinos.

SHOPPING: Special purchases include suede jackets, amethyst jewellery, and paintings. The Tristan Narvaja Market is famous for its antiques and there are many antique shops in the Old Town. Shopping hours: 0900-1200 and 1400-1900 Monday to Friday; 0900-1230 Saturday.

SPECIAL EVENTS: The principal festival is the national Carnival Week (starting Mar 6 in 2000). Although this 'fiesta' is officially only for the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Houses and streets are appropriately decorated and humorous shows are staged at open-air theatres. For a complete list of special events, contact the Ministerio de Turismo (see address section).

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Uruguayans are very hospitable and like to entertain both at home and in restaurants. Normal courtesies should be observed. Smoking is not allowed in cinemas or theatres or on public transport. Tipping: 10% when no service charge is added. Taxi drivers expect a tip.

AIR: PLUNA (PU) runs daily flights to all major points within the country but flying is very costly in comparison with other means of internal travel. TAMU, a branch of the Uruguayan Air Force, also operates services to the main towns of Paysandú, Salto, Rivera, Artigas and Melo.

SEA / RIVER: There are no scheduled boat services along the principal rivers but the River Uruguay is navigable from Colonia to Salto, and the Rio Negro (flowing across the country from northeast to northwest) is navigable as far as the port of Mercedes.

RAIL: A few local services run between villages. These are not usually used by tourists and are under threat of closure.

ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. There are 45,000km (28,000 miles) of roads in Uruguay, 90% of which are paved or otherwise improved for all-weather use.
Bus: Two main bus lines (CITA and CO) provide services throughout the country, connecting all towns and the Brazilian border points.
Car hire: Available in Montevideo.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not legally required but recommended. A temporary licence to drive in Uruguay, valid for 90 days, must be obtained from the Town Hall (Municipio).

URBAN TRANSPORTATION: Extensive bus and some trolleybus services operate in Montevideo and the suburbs. There are flat fares for the central area and suburban services. Metered taxis are available in all cities and from the airport. Drivers carry a list of fares. A surcharge is made for each item of baggage and between 2400-0600. Within city limits taxis may be hired by the hour at an agreed rate.

Since independence from Spain in 1825, Uruguay has suffered frequent outbreaks of political unrest. This is a consequence of a body politic deeply divided between the liberally inclined Colorado Party, under the quasi-dynastic leadership of the Batlle family (commonly known as 'Reds' but by no means communist) and the right-wing Blancos ('Whites').

Under the progressive regime of José Batlle y Ordonez between 1911 and 1915, Uruguay established Latin America's first welfare state, and the country continues to lead in this respect. Uruguay experienced relative peace until the 1960s, when economic difficulties led to an increase in labour unrest and the emergence of the Tupamaros guerrilla movement.

In 1973 a military government was established and remained in power until 1985, by which time the Tupamaros had been defeated and all left-wing political activity outlawed. Dr Julio Sanguinetti of the Colorados held the presidency from 1985 until the presidential and congressional elections invember 1989, when the Blancos, under the banner of the Partido Nacional, achieved a majority in the National Assembly and their candidate, Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, was victorious in the presidential race.

The new Government adopted the South American trend in economic policy by selling off some state-owned businesses, reducing government spending and attracting foreign investment, and has joined the Mercosur trading bloc with its neighbours.

The Uruguayan left has experienced a major resurgence since the mid-1990s. Their leading light is the massively popular Mayor of Montevideo, Tabare Vazquez, whose combination of radical politics and pragmatic problem-solving has greatly improved the quality of life in the capital. Tabare Vazquez is associated with the leftist coalition Frente Amplio (Broad Front) which, in conjunction with dissident Nacionalistas and other smaller groups, created the left-leaning Encuentro Progresista (EP) to fight the November 1994 presidential and legislative elections. These were exceptionally close, with the outcome uncertain until the announcement of the results. A roughly three-way split in the vote eventually saw the veteran Partido Colorado incumbent, Julio Sanguinetti, returned for a second term of office.

The country's political life during the second Sanguinetti administration was largely unspectacular, though punctuated by a number of corruption scandals, most recently the disclosure of an Iraqi attempt to use Uruguay to breach the UN arms embargo. Sanguinetti retired at the next round of elections in Novemeber 1999 and the Colorados put up another member of the Batlle clan, Jorge Luis, while Tabare Vazquez stood for the EP. While Vazquez led the first round, Batlle won the head-to-head run-off with 54% of the vote. The EP also dominated the simultaneous National Assembly elections but was unable to secure an absolute majority and now finds itself in opposition to a centre-right coalition of the Colorados and the Partido Nacional.