FACTS ABOUT URUGUAY

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT URUGUAY

1.                 Uruguay is officially known as the “Oriental Republic of Uruguay”

2.                 Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay.

3.                 The total population of Uruguay is 3,351,016.

4.                 The natives of Uruguay are called Uruguayans.

5.                 The Uruguayan peso (UYU) is official currency of Uruguay.

6.                 Uruguay shares a border with Argentina and Brazil.

7.                 The official language of Uruguay is Spanish.

8.                 There are more sheep in Uruguay than humans! In 2005, Uruguay, which is well suited for raising sheep and cattle, had 9,712,000 sheep, which was second highest in South America after Brazil. The production costs for raising livestock are low, but the quality of production is high in Uruguay.

9.                 Exports of meat and wool made Uruguay prosperous during the early 20^th century.

10.            Uruguay exported $1 billion worth of livestock in 2000.

11.            Uruguay is the only country to keep track of 100% of their cattle. There are three cows for every person in the country.

12.            Uruguay’s industrial economy is mainly dependent on petroleum products, transportation equipment, electrical machinery and food processing.

13.            Brazil and Argentina are major trade partners of Uruguay.

14.            Until 1985, Uruguay was under a military dictatorship.

15.            It is one of the few countries in South America to have access to clean water for its entire population.

16.            Uruguayan countrymen played test cricket in the mid-nineteenth century. Between 1868 and the Second World War, they played Argentina – 29 times.

17.            Uruguay won its only Olympic gold medals in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. They won these medals in football (soccer).

18.            The first-ever FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930. Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2 and won the FIFA World Cup in the same year.

19.            Uruguay is comparable in size to Oklahoma.

20.            Uruguay’s military ruler Gregorio Alvarez was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of 37 people and numerous human rights violations.

21.            Uruguay has ranked as one of the least corrupt nations at 21 out of 176 by Transparency International.

22.            After Chile, Uruguay is the second-least corrupt country in South America.

23.            In 2010, Uruguay’s president Juan Maria Bordaberry was also sentenced to 30 years for murder and his role in the 1973 military coup.

24.            Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Uruguay in 1999 caused several nations to stop the import of beef and lamb from the country. Efforts were then made to eradicate the disease successfully.

25.            In 1998, Uruguay exceeded its quota under international fishing regulations by catching more than 930 tons of Swordfish.

26.            Uruguay is among Latin America’s most highly electrified countries with more than 95% of its region covered with access to a consistent supply of power.

27.            The country has the lowest poverty and population-growth rates in South America. Interestingly, they also have the highest urbanization and literacy rates in the region.

28.            Uruguayans have free access to education, which is why their literacy rate is highest in South America. Education is compulsory in Uruguay.

29.            The country is the first in the world to provide a free laptop and Wi-Fi connection to its school children.

30.            Uruguay has scenic, beautiful beaches along its coastline, which covers 500 kilometers in total length.

31.            Grassland covers almost three-quarters of Uruguay.

32.            The highest point in Uruguay is Cerro Catedral, at 1684 feet (514 meters) above sea level.

33.            Marijuana trade has been legal in the country since December 2013. The cost is approximately one dollar per gram.

34.            Uruguayans are very fond of naming their houses, which is why every single house in the country has its own name. Their houses are not marked with numbers as in other countries. They also name their cities from a collection of names that they use for many other cities. For this reason, you may get confused if you are traveling from one city to the other!

35.            Did you read the name carefully – ‘Uruguay’? It is the only country whose name in English has the same letter repeated three times in its first five letters. The repeated letter is ‘U’.

36.            Uruguay is the second-smallest country in South America, after Suriname.

37.            Uruguay is the most non-religious country in the Americas. So much so that they have renamed many of their traditional holidays. Now, Christmas is called Family Day and Holy Week is called Tourism Week.

38.            Uruguayans go to bars not just to become intoxicated, but to socialize.

39.            Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world in terms of duration of music (105 bars; almost six minutes.)

40.            Smoking is banned in Uruguay in enclosed public places. Almost one-third of its population smokes, which is why strict measures were adopted to curb this deadly habit. A campaign called “A Million Thanks” was launched by the president to reference the number of smokers. Interestingly, the legislation was supported by close to 70% of its smoking population.

41.            Uruguay’s national flag has nine strips and a sun with a human face in the upper left-hand corner. Their national anthem also contains the line “No one insults the image of the sun!”

42.            More than half of its population lives in its capital city, Montevideo.

43.            Advertising is done by means of large speakers installed on the tops of vans running across the city. Van drivers use microphones to deliver advertisements.

44.            The name Uruguay, when translated, means “river of painted birds.”

45.            Amazingly, Uruguay has the world’s poorest politician. Yes, their president lives in simplicity, donating 90% of his salary to noble causes. He owns a one-bedroom house and a three-legged dog.

46.            Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, during the colonial period was a hub for slave trade in South America. As a result, at least 10 percent of the population of the country is descended from slaves.

47.            In 1913, Uruguay had a divorce law in force that would allow Uruguayan woman to seek divorce at their sole request. Chile on the other hand, legalized divorce in 2004.

48.            Uruguay produced almost 95% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2015.

49.            Philip Morris, a leading tobacco giant, was asked by the court to pay Uruguay a hefty fine of $7 million over a disputed cigarette advertisement.

50.            Uruguay Exports: beef, soybeans, cellulose, rice, wheat, wood, dairy products and wool.

51.            Uruguay Imports: refined oil, crude oil, passenger and other transportation vehicles, vehicle parts and cellular phones.

52.            The internet country code for Uruguay is .uy.