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Uruguay
A small, stable land of grass and coast
Uruguay is a small, low-lying country wedged between Brazil and Argentina, a land of gently rolling grasslands, cattle ranches, and a long Atlantic and River Plate coastline lined with beaches. It is often called the most stable and progressive nation in South America, with a strong democratic tradition, near-universal literacy, and a reputation for social liberalism. Montevideo, the laid-back capital, holds nearly half the national population, while the rest of the country stretches out as open pampas grazed by some of the world's most cattle-dense terrain.
Uruguay has no mountains to speak of — its highest point, Cerro Catedral, reaches only 514 meters. The landscape is dominated by fertile grasslands, low ridges known as cuchillas, and rivers including the Uruguay and the Rio Negro, which divides the country and feeds major hydroelectric dams. The temperate climate, with warm summers and mild winters, makes the land ideal for grazing and grain. The Atlantic coast, anchored by the glamorous resort of Punta del Este, draws visitors from across the region.
Contested between Spanish and Portuguese empires and later between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay emerged as an independent buffer state in 1828. In the early twentieth century, reformist president Jose Batlle y Ordonez built one of the earliest welfare states in the Americas. After a period of military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985, Uruguay returned to democracy and has since become known for pioneering social policies, including the legalization of cannabis. Its economy rests on beef, soy, dairy, forestry, and a growing services and technology sector.