Uruguay
Capital: Montevideo
Size: About 68,037 square miles (176,215 sq km).
Language: Spanish
Currency: Uruguayan peso
Capital population: Montevideo has about 1.3 million people (nearly half the country lives in the metro area).
Population: About 3.4 million people.See the biggest cities →National animal: Southern lapwing, called the tero (a bold bird of the fields)
National flower: Ceibo (the coral tree flower)
Climate
Mild and pleasant all year, with warm summers and cool winters. Average highs range from about 60F to 82F (16C to 28C).
Main industries
Cattle and sheep ranching, beef, wool, soybeans, and dairy.
Top places for tourists
The sunny beaches of Punta del Este, the old town of Colonia del Sacramento, and the lively city of Montevideo.
Places of interest
Uruguay is one of the smallest countries in South America, but it raises so many cattle that there are about four cows for every person.
A little history
Home to the Charrua people, Uruguay was fought over by Spain and Portugal, and won its independence in 1825.
Fun fact
Uruguayans love their grilled beef and a tea called mate, and their small country won the very first soccer World Cup in 1930.