Uruguay Geography
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Location:
    Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil.

Geographic Coordinates:
    33 00 S, 56 00 W

Map Refrences:
     South America

Area:
     Total: 176,220 sq km

     Land: 173,620 sq km

     Water: 2,600 sq km

Area - Comparitive:
     Slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land Boundaries:
     Total: 1,564 km

     Border Countries: Brazil 985 km, Argentina 579 km

Coastline:
      660 km

Maritime Claims:
      Contiguous Zone - 24 NM

      Continental Shelf - 200 m depth

      Exclusive Economic Zone - 200 NM

      Territorial Sea - 12 NM

Climate:
      Warm temperate, freezing conditions almost unknown

Terrain:
      Mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastland lowland

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/tanning industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Geography - note:
       Second-smallest South American country; most of the low-lying landscape is grassland which is ideal for ideal for cattle and sheep raising

Land Use:
      Arable Land - 7%

      Permanent Crops - 0%

      Permanent Pastures - 77%

      Forests and Woodlands - 6%

      Other - 10%

Natural Resources:
      Arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Elevation Extremes:
       Lowest Point - Atlantic Ocean 0 m

       Highest Point - Cerro Catedral 514 m

Irrigated Land:
       7,700 sq km

Capital:
       Montevideo

Other Cities:
       Salto, Melo, Treinta y Tres, Minas, Fray Bentos, Mercedes, Colonia, San Jose