South America is famous for its abundance of rivers. Everyone knows that the largest basin has the Amazon, whose area is more than 7 million km². But we know almost nothing about other waterways of this continent. To fill the gaps in knowledge, today we will get acquainted with the features of the Uruguay River.
Location
The named river is formed in the highlands of Serra do Mar from the confluence of the waters of Canoas and Pelotas in Brazil. It belongs to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The source of the water artery is formed in the Cordillera, at an altitude of 2,050 m above sea level.
The food of the Uruguay River is predominantly rainy. In spring and autumn, floods occur. It forms the border between several states. The countries of Uruguay and Brazil are located on its right coast, and Argentina on the left.
The duration of the water artery is approximately 1,500 km, and its basin covers an area of ​​365 thousand km². The Uruguay River flows from the northern part of the continent in a southerly direction. It flows into the flooded mouth of the Paraná River, La Plata Bay. The main tributaries are the Rio Negro and Ibiquui.
The economic importance of the river
The Uruguay River has special economic and commercial significance in the life of countries located on its banks. In addition, it attracts many tourists, thanks to the natural color characteristic of South America. By the way, the word "Uruguay" is translated from the Indian language of Guarani as "river of colorful birds."
The main ports are Frei Bentos, Salto and Paysandu in Uruguay, as well as Concordia and Paso de los Libres, located in Argentina.
The waters of the river are used for shipping, to ensure water supply to cities. Also here are the three largest hydroelectric power plants in South America. And communication between the banks is provided by the presence of bridges that are of international importance.
Landscape
Rivers in South America have a specific, diverse landscape. In this case, the described river was no exception. So, in the upper part of the water artery, right up to the village of Sao Tome, the stream goes through many rapids. Then the river flows through the lava plateau and picks up acceleration, which creates a stormy, powerful stream.
A particularly strong current is recorded near the settlements of Concordia and Salto, where the shipping route passes. In Argentina, the landscape of the river is flat, and in Brazil it is hilly.
Fishing
The Parana and Uruguay rivers are rich in fish. There are specially equipped platforms on the coasts where fishermen can spend their time doing what they love. The best season for fishing is from September to March. In Uruguay, you can catch quite large specimens of dorado, manguruy fish and others.
In the city of Formosa (Argentina) on July 15, national competitions are held, during which participants catch a dorado. Incidentally, this fish is also dedicated to the exhibition, which is held in August in the town of Paso de la Patria.
Climatic conditions
The river basin area is located in the subtropical climate zone. On average, there is approximately 1,000 mm of rainfall per year. Humidity is about 60%. The coldest month (when the average temperature is within + 11 ° ) is July. But January is the warmest. The average temperature at this time is + 22 ° C. During the rains that fall in autumn and spring, floods occur on the rivers of South America.
sights
A tourist route called “El Litoral” has been laid on the described river. It starts from the river port of Concepcien del Uruguay. In these places there is something to see:
- 30 km from the starting point of the route is the national museum - the Palace of San Jose, which was built in the middle of the XIX century. The adjacent territory of the estate covers an area of ​​2,500 hectares, there is a huge park, an orchard, a lake of artificial origin, where sailing regattas were held, as well as the palace itself. The estate has 38 rooms, and on the main facade there are two symmetrical towers. The palace has a beautiful design, in it you can see the frescoes and paintings of the Uruguayan artist Juan Manuel Blanes.
- Thermal springs rich in various minerals are located on the river. Arapei Grande, which is the left tributary of the Uruguay River.
- The picturesque coast opens before the eyes of tourists, not far from the village of Colona (Argentina). There is a huge bridge with a length of more than 2,000 m. It connects the city of Paysandu (Uruguay) with the territory of the neighboring state - Argentina.
- To the north of Colona, ​​about 50 km, you can visit the Palmar National Park. Here you can see the ancient palms of Yatai, whose age is about 800 years.
There are many fascinating places on the coast of the Uruguay river. There are numerous waterfalls and small ponds where tourists can take a dip while walking. Fans of extreme entertainment can offer rafting, canoeing or horse riding. For those who prefer a relaxing holiday, we recommend a boat trip through the calm waters of Iberia and Pilcomayo.