Rivera Department

Rivera Department is an administrative region in northern Uruguay that stretches between Uruguay and Brazil, characterized by pastures, hills, and agricultural farmland. The area connects through railways and highways to major transportation networks and border communities across the region.

The department was established on October 1, 1884, during the presidency of Maximo Santos and named after General Fructuoso Rivera, the nation's first constitutional president. Its creation reflected administrative changes happening across Uruguay at that time.

The people here are deeply connected to farming and ranching as a way of life, raising cattle and growing crops like rice and corn that shape daily routines. These activities define how communities organize their work and relate to the land.

The best way to reach this region is through the main highways that connect the department to Montevideo and Brazilian border towns. Visitors should expect rural infrastructure throughout the area, so traveling by car works best for exploring the different communities.

The department includes around 20 distinct towns, from Amarillo to Vichadero, each with its own local character and economic activities. These smaller communities reveal how rural life and commerce are distributed across the entire region.

Inception: 1884

Capital city: Rivera

Elevation above the sea: 152 m

Part of: South America Midwest Integrated Zone

Shares border with: Salto Department, Cerro Largo Department, Tacuarembó Department, Artigas Department, Rio Grande do Sul

Website: http://rivera.gub.uy

GPS coordinates: -30.90000,-55.55000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 07:49