Uruguay consists of nineteen departments.
Artigas
The Department of Artigas (Spanish: Departamento de Artigas), with an area of 11,928 km2 (4,605 sq mi) and 78,019 inhabitants, it is the northernmost department of Uruguay. Its capital is Artigas. It is named after José Artigas (1764–1850), leader of the orientales (inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, the Eastern Bank of the Uruguay River) during the wars of Independence.
Neighbouring departments are Salto to the South and Rivera to the Southeast. It is bordered by Brazil to the East and North, and to the West by Argentina. Portions of the department’s border with Brazil are disputed, but, unlike many border disputes among Latin-American countries, this has not in recent years adversely affected Uruguay’s relations with its giant neighbour.
Two main geostructural regions can be found inside its limits:
The central and eastern area, which includes a basaltic cuesta, and some sedimentary plains near the Cuareim River. Also found in the region are some hill ranges, such as the Belén Hill Range. The western area, which consists of a narrow alluvial plain.
Canelones
The Canelones Department (Spanish: Departamento de Canelones), with an area of 4,536 km2 (1,751 sq mi) and 485,240 inhabitants, is located to the south of Uruguay. Its capital is Canelones.
Neighbouring departments are Maldonado and Lavalleja to the East, Flores to the North, San José to the West, and Montevideo to the South. Part of the southern border is formed by the Río de la Plata. It is the second smallest department of the country after that of Montevideo, but the second largest in population.
Located in the humid templated region, the average temperature is low compared to that of the rest of the country (around 15°C), as are the levels of precipitation (up to 2,000 mm yearly, on average). By area Canelones Department is the second smallest of Uruguay’s 19 departments.
Agriculture is one of the principal contributors to the economy of Canelones. The cultivation of grapevines is widespread, and the area is a major contributor to Uruguay’s burgeoning wine industry. In addition cereal crops, principally maize are produced, as are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Tourism, in the eastern coastal area, is also a major source of income for the department, and has enabled the development of important urban centres, such as Atlántida.
Cerro Largo
Its capital is Melo.During the 19th and early 20th centuries, when intermittent periods of civil war occurred in Uruguay, the department was a stronghold of the Blanco party. This was the precursor of the Partido Nacional.
Colonia
Colonia is a departamento in southwestern Uruguay. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento, the country’s second oldest city.The region is the main producer of dairy products in Uruguay. Its proximity to Buenos Aires makes it the main entry point for tourists coming from Argentina into Uruguay, usually by crossing the Río de la Plata.
Durazno
Durazno is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Durazno. Its name means “peach” in Spanish, referring to the department’s peaches and its status as an agricultural breadbasket.
The economy of Durazno largely depends on agriculture and agrotourism. The raising of sheep, and of cattle, both dairy and for beef are of great importance. The Rural Society of Durazno groups together many of the landowning businesses in the department. The region is bounded to the north by the Río Negro, and the Yi River to the South. In the 1930s the Government of Gabriel Terra undertook considerable hydroelectric development in the department.
Flores
Flores is a department of south-central Uruguay.Outside Trinidad, Flores is agricultural, primarily raising cattle for export and sheep for wool and Gauchos, the South American cowboys, can still be seen riding the plains. There are many active ranches (Spanish: estancias), some of which can be visited by tourists. However, Flores keeps its traditions whilst utilising the best of modern technology. For example, in Trinidad horsecarts can still be widely observed, but communications are all digital, and wireless internet is available throughout the department.
Over 100 species of birds can be found in Flores. For example, rufous horneros, with their oven-like nests, can be seen sitting atop fence posts. Huge colonies of green parrots’ nests hang high in the tall eucalyptus. Southern lapwings, locally known as teros, burrowing owls, and elegant-crested tinamou nest in open fields while long wing harriers, gray eagles, and hawks soar high above. Some of the largest great kiskadees are extremely common as are the guira, a type of cuckoo. Along quiet country lanes giant wood rails, pink spoonbills and kingfishers can be seen, alongside flocks of ibis and white egrets in the pastures.
Red headed cardinals, both orange throated and red necked woodpeckers, and scissor-tailed nightjars can be seen in the small stands of trees that dot the countryside. Long, split tailed flycatchers zip above the rich grass around twilight. Glittering-bellied emerald hummingbirds drink from the tall purple flowers that carpet the fields from Spring until Fall.
Tegu lizards, armadillos, fox, skunks, hares, opossums and snakes enjoy the undeveloped pastures which dominate the department.A nature reserve is maintained in the department’s capital, Trinidad.
Florida
Florida is a department in the middle of the country of Uruguay. Its capital of is Florida. Formed in 1856 from part of San José Department.
Lavalleja
The Department of Lavalleja is a department of Uruguay. The capital is Minas. It is located in the southeast of the country, bordered to the north by the department of Treinta y Tres to the east with Rocha, to the south with Canelones and Maldonado, and to the west to Florida.
The department is named in honor of Brigadier Juan Antonio Lavalleja, who had distinguished military and political action in the country’s independence.
The department was created on June 16, 1837, with part of Cerro Largo and Maldonado departments. It was first named as Minas. In March 1888, it was asked that the Chamber of Deputies raised the settlement hierarchy of the village of Minas to be a town and to change the department’s name to Lavalleja. The first was approved. From then, and until December 26, 1927, when the name was changed to Lavalleja, widespread debates about the matter were held. There was political will to designate a department under the name of the head of the Liberation Crusade, but not at the expense of Minas, even considering creating a new department named Lavalleja, being rejected afterwards.
Maldonado
The Maldonado Department (Spanish: Departamento de Maldonado), with an area of 4,793 km2 (1,851 sq mi) and 140,192 inhabitants, is located to the southeast of Uruguay. Its capital is Maldonado.
Neighbouring departments are Rocha to the East, Lavalleja to the North and Northwest, and Canelones to the West. Many of the Maldonado name is traced back to Puerto Rican family lines.
Limited to the Southwest by the Río de la Plata and to the Southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, several creeks flow through the department, most of which are tributaries of the River Plate: the Maldonado, José Ignacio, Garzón, Pan de Azúcar and the Aigua. Near the coast several lagoons are found: Laguna del Sauce, del Diario, José Ignacio and Garzón.
Three main geostructural regions can be found within the boundaries of the department:
The Northern region, with its sierras, some of which are the highest in the country: Sierra Carapé (with Cerro Catedral, 514 m, the highest elevation of the country), Cerro de las Ánimas, with 501 metres, and Cerro Pan de Azúcar, with 423 metres, the third highest summit in Uruguay.
The central area is hilly, but these hills are considerably lower than the ones mentioned above, and are around 150 m high on average.
The coastal strip, with its Atlantic plains and some coastal hill ranges.
Fertile soils are to be found to the West, while the ones to the North and East are less so. Located in the humid subtropical region, the average temperature is low compared to that of the rest of the country (around 17°C), as are the precipitation levels (up to 1,000 mm yearly, on average).
Montevideo
Montevideo is a department (departamento) of Uruguay. It is by far the smallest one in area, and the most populated as well. It contains the city of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay. While most of the department is covered by the capital city, there are still smaller towns within its limits, e.g. Santiago Vázquez near the border with San José, which serve mostly as satellite towns, and have still not merged with the rest of the city.
Paysandú
Paysandú Department is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Paysandú. Its name origin is debated but is likely to be of charrua origin.The fertile soils of Paysandú have encouraged much agricultural development. Livestock raising is one of the principal agricultural activities, with cattle being raised for both the dairy and beef industries alongside sheep for wool production. Market-gardening is also prominent with the cultivation of oranges and blueberries, whilst wheat, barley, sunflowers and soya beans are also produced. There is also a small fishing industry on the Uruguay River.
Tourism too, is important for the area. Ecotourism is gaining prominence especially in the Esteros de Farrapos National Park further down the river. In addition many farms provide accommodation and facilities for tourists visiting the area.
Paysandú is home to a large brewery and hosts an annual Semana de la Cerveza (Week of the Beer), a weeklong festival of music, arts, carnival type rides, and beer.
Río Negro
The Río Negro Department (Spanish: Departamento de Río Negro) is an administrative division of Uruguay located in the west of the country. It has 53,989 inhabitants and an area of 9,282 km² (3,585 sq mi). Its capital is Fray Bentos.
Neighbouring departments are Paysandú to the North, Tacuarembó to the East, Durazno to the Southeast, and Soriano to the South. To the West is Argentina, from which the department is separated by the Uruguay River.The Río Negro runs along the southern border, marking the limit between Río Negro and the departments of Durazno and Soriano. There are four main creeks in the department. They are: Tres Árboles, Grande, Don Esteban (all of which are tributaries to the Río Negro), and NegroThe department has two ranges of hills, the most important of which is the Haedo Hill Range which runs from northeast to the southwest. The second range is the de Navarro Hill Range.
Rivera
Rivera is a department in the northern part of Uruguay. Its capital is Rivera. The Battle of Masoller, a noteworthy event in Uruguayan history, was fought on September 1, 1904; Masoller is situated on the boundary between the departments of Artigas and Salto, close to the Brazilian border.
Rocha
Rocha is a department in the east of Uruguay. It has natural beauties like Cabo Polonio, Valizas, Santa Teresa. Rocha is well known for its beach towns (like Punta del Diablo or La Esmeralda) which swell during the summer holidays. Inland the primary economy of Rocha is based on large cattle ranches. Formed from part of Maldonado Department.
Salto
Salto Department is a department in the northern part of Uruguay. Its capital is Salto. Formed in 1837.
San José
San José Department is a department in the southern part of Uruguay. Its capital is San José de Mayo. One of the original 6 departments created in 1816.
Soriano
Soriano is a department in the eastern part of Uruguay. Its capital is Mercedes. One of the original 6 departments created in 1816. The original name was Santo Domingo Soriano Department.
Tacuarembó
Tacuarembó is the largest department of Uruguay. It is in central Uruguay. Its capital is Tacuarembó. Formed in 1837; geographically the largest of the Uruguayan Departments.
Treinta y Tres
Treinta y Tres is a department in the western part of Uruguay. Its capital is Treinta y Tres. ‘Treinta y Tres’ is Spanish for ‘Thirty-Three’. The department is named after 33 19th century patriots honoured by Uruguayans. Formed in 1884 from parts of Cerro Largo Department and Lavalleja Department.
