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Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America

Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America. Not because of any geographical similarity! 4 times larger than Switzerland highest peak is only 501 m no chocolate or watches! and certainly no Yodeling!. Swiss-like attributes (30-60s): peaceful country with a bountiful economy

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Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America

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  1. Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America

  2. Not because of any geographical similarity! • 4 times larger than Switzerland • highest peak is only 501 m • no chocolate or watches! • and certainly no Yodeling!

  3. Swiss-like attributes (30-60s): • peaceful country with a bountiful economy • home to South America's first democracy • cradle-to-grave welfare system • urban, homogeneous and educated population Changes in world trade patterns led Uruguay into economic and political decline: not longer the Switzerland of South America

  4. RIO DE LOS PAJAROS PINTADOS (RIVER OF COLORFUL BIRDS)

  5. Denmark Albania Ireland Lesotho plus 9 x Andorra or 9000 Vatican cities!!!

  6. Brazil Paraguay Argentina ? Spain Portugal England

  7. Charrúas • nomadic people • fishing and foraging • no permanent structures • killed explorer Juan Díaz de Solís during his 1515 voyage up the Río de la Plata • 1831: massacred at Salsipuedes ("Get-out-if-you-can") • 4 survivors were taken to a museum and died in France

  8. 1680: Portuguese founded Colonia as a rival to Spanish-held Buenos Aires • 1726: Spain responded by building its own citadel at Montevideo • 1815: the national hero, José Gervasio Artigas, declared independence • 1816-1820: Portuguese captured Montevideo and Artigas fled to Paraguay • 1821: Uruguay was annexed to Brazil

  9. 1825: “33 orientales" ("33 Easterners") issued a declaration of independence • Uruguay's first president, Rivera: the Colorados party (reds). • The second president, Oribe: the Blancos party (whites) • 1903-1929: President Batlle y Ordóñez: welfare state funded by meat and wool exports: “the Switzerland of South America” • 1950s: decline as successive governments struggled to maintain a large bureaucracy and social benefits

  10. 1960s: political and social crisis and left-wing terrorist activity 1973: military dictators control government, thousands of prisoners 1985: the brutal military regime ended; political and civil rights were restored 1980-90s: reforms to reduce inflation and public sector, and privatization 2002: recession and budget deficit, a growing public debt, and a weakening of the peso on international markets 2004: first victory of a left party: Socialist Broad Front won

  11. Population • white 94% (European) • mestizo 6% • amerindian nonexistent • estimated 600,000 Uruguayans emigrated • Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and USA • Roman Catholic (62%) • Protestant (4%) • Jewish (3%), • nonprofessing group (31%)

  12. Education • High literacy rate • Compulsory for students aged 6–11 • Free at all levels • Montevideo: centre for higher education • The University of the Republic (1849): distinguished medical school • that draws students from the region • Vocational training: Labour University of Uruguay (1878) • Catholic University of Uruguay (1985): prominent private institution • Discrepancy between university training and job opportunities • Substantial level of emigration of the best-educated young professionals

  13. March to June 60-70F December to March 80-100F June to September 40-60F September to December 60-70F

  14. August 2005 • 120 miles/h wind • 20,000 lost electricity and telephone • airport was shut down • 7 people killed

  15. Economy • Gross domestic product: U$11,646 (ranked 61st) • Unemployment rate: 10.8% • External debt: $11.4 billion • Exports: $ 4.0 billion • Meat, rice, leather products, dairy, wool, electricity • Brazil , US, Argentina, China, Germany, Russia, Mexico • Imports: $4.5 billion • Vehicles, electrical and industrial machinery, metals, petroleum • Brazil, Argentina, US, Paraguay, China, Venezuela

  16. Economy • Tourism • Seaside resorts • Punta del Este: jet set playground of South America • Ecotourism • International cruises: October to March • Montevideo: Mercosur secretariat, • Common Market of the South (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay) • Software and consulting • well-educated workforce and lower wages: IT field • Tata Group: headquarters for the Spanish speaking world • “Zona America” Business and Technology Park • Financial and educational center for the Mercosur ???

  17. Gauchos

  18. Uruguayan food pyramid

  19. Mate

  20. Tango Carlos Gardel

  21. Carnaval: candombe y llamadas

  22. Soccer: Two world Cups • 1930: vs Argentina 4-2 • 1950: vs Brazil 2-1 • Maracana stadium • Maracanazo: "The Maracana Blow“ • one of the biggest upsets in football history

  23. Colonia del Sacramento

  24. Montevideo

  25. “Monte vide eu” “Monte VI De Este a Oeste”

  26. La Rambla

  27. Ciudad Vieja (Old Town)

  28. Ferias

  29. Punta del Este “Pearl of the Atlantic“ “the Hamptons of Latin America”

  30. Punta del Este

  31. Casapueblo - Carlos Paez Vilaró

  32. Jose Ignacio Beach

  33. Punta del Diablo (Devil's Point)

  34. Cabo Polonio

  35. Sierra de Minas (Minas range)

  36. Towns……………..

  37. Cerros Chatos (Flat Hills)

  38. Thermal springs

  39. Eco-estancias

  40. Hector’ s tavern “Uruguayans love beef, mate, soccer, the beach, and relaxing (but they are not lazy)!”

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