Artigas Department
Encyclopedia
The Department of Artigas , with an area of 11928 km² (4,605.4 sq mi) and 78,019 inhabitants, it is the northernmost department of Uruguay
. Its capital is Artigas
.
It is named after José Artigas
(1764–1850), leader of the orientales (inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, the Eastern Bank of the Uruguay River) during the wars of Independence.
to the South and Rivera
to the Southeast. It is bordered by Brazil
to the East and North, and to the West by Argentina
. Portions of the department's border with Brazil are disputed, but, unlike many border disputes among Latin-American countries, this has not in recent years adversely affected Uruguay's relations with its giant neighbour.
Two main geostructural regions can be found inside its limits:
Its average temperature is the highest in the whole country (over 19°C, going as high as 47°C during the Summer months), and so are its precipitation levels (up to an annual average of 1400 mm).
The Battle of Masoller
, a noteworthy event in Uruguayan
history, was fought on September 1, 1904; Masoller
is situated on the boundary between the departments of Artigas
and Salto
, close to the Brazil
ian border.
The unique climatic conditions of Artigas has made possible the development of an important agro-industrial centre, centered in the city of Bella Unión
. This specializes in several crops, namely fruits and vegetables, sugar cane and rice
.
The main economic activity in the rest of the department is livestock raising.
Semi-precious stones, such as agate
s and amethyst
s are also found in the department, and an entire industry has risen up around their extraction and manufacturing, especially near the city of Artigas
.
The proximity of the department to Brazil has made it possible for an important flow of trade to be established here, but unfortunately this is generally unfavorable to Uruguayan economic interests. Nevertheless this partially compensates for the fact that the per capita income is the lowest of the country, and the percentage of households in poverty is the highest in the country (13.19% of the inhabitants).
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. Its capital is Artigas
Artigas, Uruguay
Artigas is the capital of the Artigas Department of Uruguay. The name Artigas comes from that of the national hero, Jose Gervasio Artigas, who fought for the emancipation of the River Plate, and sought to create a federative nation from these colonies...
.
It is named after José Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...
(1764–1850), leader of the orientales (inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, the Eastern Bank of the Uruguay River) during the wars of Independence.
Geography and climate
Neighbouring departments are SaltoSalto Department
Salto Department is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Salto.-Population and Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 123,120 people and 34,441 households in the department. The average household size was 3.5...
to the South and Rivera
Rivera Department
Rivera is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Rivera.- History :The Battle of Masoller, a noteworthy event in Uruguayan history, was fought on September 1, 1904; Masoller is situated on the boundary between the departments of Artigas and Salto, close to the Brazilian border.-Population and...
to the Southeast. It is bordered by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to the East and North, and to the West by Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Portions of the department's border with Brazil are disputed, but, unlike many border disputes among Latin-American countries, this has not in recent years adversely affected Uruguay's relations with its giant neighbour.
Two main geostructural regions can be found inside its limits:
- The central and eastern area, which includes a basaltic cuestaCuestaIn structural geology and geomorphology, a cuesta is a ridge formed by gently tilted sedimentary rock strata in a homoclinal structure. Cuestas have a steep slope, where the rock layers are exposed on their edges, called an escarpment or, if more steep, a cliff...
, and some sedimentary plains near the Cuareim River. Also found in the region are some hill ranges, such as the Belén Hill Range. - The western area, which consists of a narrow alluvial plain.
Its average temperature is the highest in the whole country (over 19°C, going as high as 47°C during the Summer months), and so are its precipitation levels (up to an annual average of 1400 mm).
History
The department was created by law on 1 October 1884, with part of the territory which formerly belonged to Salto.The Battle of Masoller
Battle of Masoller
The Battle of Masoller, which occurred on September 1, 1904, was the final battle of the intermittent Uruguayan Civil War which marked much of 19th century Uruguay, resulting in the victory of the Colorado forces.-Location and historical background:...
, a noteworthy event in Uruguayan
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
history, was fought on September 1, 1904; Masoller
Masoller
Masoller is a village or populated centre of the Rivera Department in northern Uruguay, close to the border with Brazil. It is located on Route 30 on the border with Salto Department.-History:...
is situated on the boundary between the departments of Artigas
Artigas
Artigas may refer to:* José Gervasio Artigas, a central figure in Uruguay's struggles for independence from Spain and Buenos Aires* Artigas, a town in Uruguay* Artigas Department, a region of Uruguay* A number of ships of the National Navy of Uruguay...
and Salto
Salto
Salto may refer to:*Salto, a Latin word for "to leap/jump", and in gymnastics refers to a somersault* Glasflügel H-101 "Salto" -Organisations:...
, close to the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian border.
Economy
Bella Unión
Bella Unión is a city in the north part of Artigas Department of Uruguay. It is located at the north end of Route 3, on the banks of the Uruguay River, near the mouth of Río Cuareim...
. This specializes in several crops, namely fruits and vegetables, sugar cane and rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
.
The main economic activity in the rest of the department is livestock raising.
Semi-precious stones, such as agate
Agate
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of silica, chiefly chalcedony, characterised by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.-Etymology...
s and amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
s are also found in the department, and an entire industry has risen up around their extraction and manufacturing, especially near the city of Artigas
Artigas, Uruguay
Artigas is the capital of the Artigas Department of Uruguay. The name Artigas comes from that of the national hero, Jose Gervasio Artigas, who fought for the emancipation of the River Plate, and sought to create a federative nation from these colonies...
.
The proximity of the department to Brazil has made it possible for an important flow of trade to be established here, but unfortunately this is generally unfavorable to Uruguayan economic interests. Nevertheless this partially compensates for the fact that the per capita income is the lowest of the country, and the percentage of households in poverty is the highest in the country (13.19% of the inhabitants).
Population and Demographics
As of the census of 2004, there were 78,019 people and 21,907 households in the department. The average household size was 3.2. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males.- Population growth rate: 0.113% (2004)
- Birth Rate: 19.36 births/1,000 people (2004)
- Death Rate: 7.46 deaths/1,000 people
- Average age: 27.3 (25.6 Males, 28.8 Females)
- Life Expectancy at Birth (2004):
- Total population: 75.07 years
- Male; 70.62 years
- Female: 79.70 years
- Average Family Size: 2.77 children/woman
- Urban per capita income (cities of 5,000 inhabitants or more): 2,928.1 pesos/month
Main Urban Centres
Population stated as per 2004 census.| City / Town | Population |
|---|---|
| Artigas Artigas, Uruguay Artigas is the capital of the Artigas Department of Uruguay. The name Artigas comes from that of the national hero, Jose Gervasio Artigas, who fought for the emancipation of the River Plate, and sought to create a federative nation from these colonies... |
41,689 |
| Bella Unión Bella Unión Bella Unión is a city in the north part of Artigas Department of Uruguay. It is located at the north end of Route 3, on the banks of the Uruguay River, near the mouth of Río Cuareim... |
13.187 |
| Tomás Gomensoro Tomas Gomensoro Tomás Gomensoro is a village in the Artigas Department of northern Uruguay. It is located on a road that joins Route 3 with Route 30, about southeast of Bella Unión... |
2,818 |
| Baltasar Brum Baltasar Brum, Artigas Baltasar Brum is a town in the Artigas Department of northern Uruguay. It is located south of the hill Cuchilla Guaviyú on the road that separates from Route 3 in an eastward direction towards the spa town Termas del Arapey in Salto Department, northeast of the spa... |
2,472 |
| Las Piedras Las Piedras, Artigas Las Piedras is a suburb of Bella Unión in the Artigas Department of northern Uruguay. It is located on Route 3 and borders the urban area of the city to the south, suburb Franquia to the north and suburb Cuareim to the west... |
2,164 |
| Pintadito | 1,487 |
Other towns and villages
|
|
Rural population
According to the 2004 census, Artigas department has an additional rural poulation of 7,177.See also
- List of populated places in Uruguay#Artigas Department
- Uruguayan-Brazilian border dispute