| Geography and Climate |
Uruguay is located in Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Washington State. Total land boundary is 1,564 km, border countries are Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km.
Climate is warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown. Terrain consists of mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland. Elevation extreme has the lowest point in Atlantic Ocean 0 m and highest point in Cerro Catedral 514 m. Natural resources are fertile soil, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries. Land use: arable land: 7%, permanent crops: 0%, permanent pastures: 77%, forests and woodland: 6%, other: 10% (1997 est.). Irrigated land: 7,700 sq km (1997 est.). Natural hazards are seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts.
Environment—current issues: working with Brazil to monitor and minimize transboundary pollution caused by Brazilian power plant near border; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal.
Ref. Anonymous, 1999 |