Uruguay

Uruguay is a country on the south-east coast of South America. The continent's second smallest country, Uruguay has long been politically and economically overshadowed by neighboring Brazil and Argentina, with which it shares many cultural and historical similarities. “On the map, surrounded by its large neighbors, Uruguay seems tiny. But not really. We have five times more land than Holland and five times fewer inhabitants. We have more cultivable land than Japan, and a population forty times smaller.” - writes Eduardo Galeano, a contemporary Uruguayan historian and novelist. This unique combination of open spaces and low population density has provided Uruguay with many possibilities for economic growth. The country, which has been independent since 1828, has close ties with the United Kingdom, France and Italy, and for much of the 20th century developed as one of the most progressive societies in Latin America, notable for its political stability, advanced social legislation and relatively large middle class. The period of repressive military rule that lasted from 1973-85 cast a long shadow over national life and, like the other countries in the region, Uruguay has been plagued by economic decline and factional fighting in the decades since the restoration of civilian democratic rule. Such adversities have led many Uruguayans to emigrate to Europe and North America. Nearly half the population is concentrated in the capital, Montevideo. Popular tourist destinations include seaside resorts such as Piriápolis and Punta del Este, along with the colonial masterpiece Colonia del Sacramento.