Socially progressive, peaceful, and with beaches and open countryside. where is Uruguay located? Uruguay has a special place in South America that few people know about! Uruguay tends to fly under the radar. As a stable country of only 3,5 million people, nothing much happens that grabs international headlines. Neither is something that steals the spotlight from our neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. While it’s true that “no news is good news,” few people know who we are! Here are ten Uruguay facts that make our country unique.
1. Uruguay is not Paraguay
Ok, this is an obvious point, but it’s a common mix-up. Paraguay is landlocked to the northwest, closer to the continent's heart. Uruguay is further south, on the Atlantic ocean.
2. Lots of rain, but no rainforest
Our climate is humid subtropical —think about North Carolina for comparison. The average temperature is about 80°F during the summer; it stays above freezing in winter. The summer also brings many intense lightning storms. The country's interior has many rolling green hills and pasturelands, with sparse woodlands.
3. Cows Outnumber People 4-1!
Our abundant bovine population explains why our essential industries are tourism and agriculture. We’ve got the world's highest cow-person number per capita! Ranches, interestingly, are primarily small-scale and run in the old-fashioned way. Gaucho culture is very much alive and beloved by Uruguayans. Agro-tourism is very popular. It draws those who want to observe traditional farm life or explore the countryside. Uruguay’s beef industry has a sophisticated supply chain tracking system. Its products got certifications as natural and grass-fed. Also, these are highly prized in the world market.
4. Uruguay's Origins
Our country was founded to keep colonial powers from going to war. Uruguay's strategic position created a tug-of-war between the British, Portuguese, and Spanish. Thus, Montevideo had several rounds of sieges. In 1828, a treaty made Uruguay an independent country and acted as a buffer zone.
5. Marijuana is legal
This is, for sure, a fun fact about Uruguay. Pharmacies can sell cannabis to registered Uruguayan residents. Moreover, there are cannabis clubs for those who want to home-grow. Many companies are forming to enter the medical cannabis market. This market aims to be Uruguay’s next big industry.
6. Beaches and Safety
Both beaches and safety are claims to fame in Latin America. Uruguay has two coastlines. One is Atlantic facing, and another is along the Rio de la Plata entry. Punta del Este, the famous resort, is where these two meet. Wealthy tourists take over this town during our summer season (Dec-Feb).
The windswept beaches of the east are, for many, the most scenic. Also, they're the best for surfing and communing with nature. Those on the river outside Montevideo are lucky when looking for a family's escape. Many people own vacation homes or ranches, inherited for generations. It’s also common in summer to hear Portuguese spoken when you’re at the beach. Uruguay has become a popular destination for Brazilians. Even though Brazil has incredible beaches! This can be due to Uruguay's clean open public spaces and tranquility.
7. Democracy Index
Uruguay has the highest rank Latin American country on The Economist’s list. We’re just after the UK and over the US, which is in 25th place. We’re on the 15th of 2018.
8. The Largest Middle Class
According to the World Bank, the middle class represents 60% of Uruguay’s population. From 2006 to 2016, moderate poverty went from 32.5% to 9.4%. Also, extreme poverty went from 2.5% to 0.2%. We’ve got the largest middle class in the Americas.
9. Children Receive Free Laptops
Plan Ceibal is a state initiative that expands equality in the public education system. It also ensures children in rural and unprivileged areas are not left behind. Besides the laptops, the program provides online English classes to rural students through teachers in Montevideo.
10. The Largest Per-Capita Software Exporter
The government focuses on growing our technology sector while improving technological infrastructure. Our internet connectivity is excellent. Also, WiFi is even offered for free in public plazas and parks. The tech industry also has critical benefits. Among these perks, there is a tax exemption for technology exports.
And that's all for this ten Uruguay facts! Uruguay is a special place, and at Capicua we are proud to be Uruguayans. Also, we are glad to be a part of its rapidly growing tech industry!
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