Artigas Department

Artigas Department

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Location of Artigas Department & its capital

Coordinates (Artigas): 30°28′S 56°28′W / 30.467°S 56.467°W / -30.467; -56.467
Country  Uruguay
Capital of Department Artigas
Government
 • Intendant Patricia Ayala
 • Ruling party Frente Amplio
Area
 • Total 11,928 km2 (4,605 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
 • Total 73,378
 • Density 6.2/km2 (16/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Artiguense
Time zone UYT (UTC-3)
ISO 3166 code UY-AR
Website www.artigas.gub.uy

Artigas Department (Spanish: Departamento de Artigas, Spanish pronunciation: [arˈtiɣas]) is the northernmost department of Uruguay, located in its northwestern region. Its capital is the city of Artigas, which borders on the Brazilian city of Quaraí. Artigas Department has an area of 11,928 square kilometres (4,605 sq mi), making it the fifth largest in the country. The population is 73,378 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census.

It is bordered on the north and east by Brazil, from which it is separated by the Cuareim River. To the south, Artigas Department borders on Salto Department, and to the west is Argentina, from which it is separated by the Uruguay River. Artigas is the only Uruguayan department that borders two other countries.

The department and its capital city are named after José Gervasio Artigas (1764–1850), leader of the Orientales (inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, the Eastern bank of the Uruguay River) during Uruguay's wars of independence.

History

Owner region of a prehistoric past which later became "no man's land" between the Spanish and Portuguese empires. The initial indigenous predominance (chanás-charrúas-Guarani) was displaced by the native settlement and subsequent colonies of immigrants.

Artigas department was created by law on 1 October 1884, on territory previously belonged to the department of Salto; from that date it is designated to Villa de San Eugenio as capital, which in 1915 passed to the category of city with the name of Artigas, capital of the department with the same name in tribute to the national hero of Uruguay José Gervasio Artigas. He was linked to the fact Colonel Carlos Lecueder, first politician and police chief Artigas.

Sacred Heart Church </ center>

Its capital Artigas comes at the end of the "Guerra Grande" in order to consolidate the borders with Brazil, with the name of San Eugenio del Cuareim. It was founded on September 12, 1852 by Don Carlos Catala, choosing as the best site located on the banks of the Cuareim River opposite the Villa San Juan Bautista on the other side of the river, which was a military settlement that was then transformed into what is today the city of Quaraí.

With the name of Santa Rosa del Cuareim was founded the current Bella Union by Fructuoso Rivera and refugees Guarani after the campaign Eastern Missions against Brazil in 1829. In 1852 after winning the allies Colorados Brazil national, territory north of Cuareim was yielded to Brazil which prompted an evacuation of the population. It was refounded in 1853 under the name of Santa Rosa de la Bella Union Quareim. In 1929 the national government to mark the centenary of the campaign of Missions, sent a bill to the Senate, which established the name Bella Union, which for that time was a villa .

Geography and climate

Topographic map of Artigas Department showing main populated places and roads

Two portions of the department's border with Brazil are disputed (Isla Brasilera or Brazilian Island near Bella Unión, and an area called Rincón de Artigas near Masoller), but unlike many border disputes between Latin American countries, this issue has not strained Uruguay's relations with Brazil, which remain friendly.

Two main geostructural regions can be found inside Artigas' limits:

Artigas Department's average temperature is the highest in the whole country (over 19°C or 66°F, and may go as high as 47°C or 116°F during the summer months). So are its precipitation levels (up to an annual average of 1400 mm).

Economy

Plantations in Bella Unión, north of Artigas.

The unique climatic conditions of Artigas has made possible the development of an important agro-industrial centre around the city of Bella Unión. Several crops are planted, namely fruits and vegetables, sugar cane, and rice. In the rest of the department, the main economic activity is livestock raising.

Semi-precious gemstones, such as agates and amethysts, are also found in the department, and an entire industry has risen up around their extraction and manufacturing, especially near the capital 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).

Population and Demographics

A polished slice of an amethyst stalactite from Artigas Department

As of the census of 2011, the Artigas Department had a population of 73,378 (36,079 male and 37,299 female) and 26,231 households.[1]

Demographic data for Artigas Department in 2010:

2010 Data Source:[2]

Main Urban Centres Other towns and villages
Population stated according to the 2011 census.[3]
City / Town Population
Artigas 40,658
Bella Unión 12,200
Las Piedras 2,771
Tomás Gomensoro 2,659
Baltasar Brum 2,531
Pintadito 1,642
Sequeira 1,149
Town / Village Population
Franquia 935
Cerro Ejido 790
Cuareim 710
Mones Quintela 531
Colonia Palma 440
Town / Village Population
Coronado 438
Cerro San Eugenio 425
Bernabé Rivera 380
Cainsa 355
Portones de Hierro
y Campodónico 		323
Rural population

According to the 2011 census, Artigas department has a rural population of 3,524.[1]

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 "Censos 2011 Artigas (needs flash plugin)". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Uruguay en cifras" (PDF) (in Spanish). INE. 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  3. ↑ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Artigas". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Artigas Department.

Coordinates: 30°36′0″S 56°57′0″W / 30.60000°S 56.95000°W / -30.60000; -56.95000

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