9781422286487

Uruguay

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nation’s population is concentrated in this region, especially along the southern coast. Montevideo, the largest city in Uruguay and its capital, lies on the coast near the point where the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic meet. Small family farms and large plantations occupy much of the western and southwestern coastal plains, which have Uruguay’s richest and deepest soil. Beaches, sand dunes, and lagoons line the Atlantic shore. The interior lowlands cover about 80 percent of Uruguay. Vast, grass- covered plains and hills and numerous rivers and streams make this area an ideal place for raising livestock. Sprawling ranches occupy most of the region, and small cities and towns dot the countryside. The Río Negro, the largest river in the interior, flows southwestward through the heart of the lowlands. A dam on the river forms Uruguay’s only large lake, Lago Rincón del Bonete. A long, narrow chain of highlands curves across the interior from the Brazilian border almost to the southern coast. Uruguayans call these high- estuary— a water passage where the ocean tide meets a river current. migratory— traveling seasonally to another place. pampero— a strong, cold wind from the west or southwest that sweeps across the Argentine pampas. reservoir— a human-made body of water used to conserve resources or create power. temperate— in a warm, comfortable temperature range. tributary— a stream or river flowing into a larger body of water. water table— the upper limit of the ground soaked with underground water. Words to Understand in this Chapter