Short facts about the geography of Uruguay
| Location: |
Southern South America, bordering the
South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and
Brazil |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
33 00 S, 56 00
W |
| Map
references: |
South
America |
| Area: |
total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water:
2,600 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than the state of
Washington |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985
km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth
of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
warm temperate; freezing temperatures
almost unknown |
| Terrain: |
mostly rolling plains and low hills;
fertile coastal lowland |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514
m |
| Natural
resources: |
arable land, hydropower, minor
minerals, fisheries |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
77%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 10% (1997
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
7,700 sq km (1997
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a
chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather
barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather
fronts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
water pollution from meat
packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste
disposal |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban | Source: World Factbook |
