Uruguay, Country in southeastern South America
Uruguay is a republic in South America on the Atlantic Ocean, lying between the Atlantic and the Uruguay River. The country consists mainly of flat grasslands and gentle hills with a coastline of about 660 kilometers.
Spanish settlers founded Montevideo in the 18th century to stop Portuguese expansion from Brazil. The territory gained independence in 1828 through British mediation after decades of colonial rivalry.
The country is home to the gaucho, the South American cowboy, who still works in rural areas today. Mate, a bitter herbal tea, is drunk everywhere and many people carry their thermos all day long.
The best time to visit falls between December and March, when it is summer and temperatures range between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius (77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo offers connections to major South American and European cities.
The country generates over 90 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, mainly wind and hydropower. With only 3.5 million people, there are about four cattle per person.
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