The Uruguay River is an exotic corner of South America

South America is famous for its abundance of rivers. Everyone knows that the biggest pool is the Amazon, whose area is more than 7 million km². But we know practically nothing about other water arteries of this continent. To fill the gaps in knowledge, today we will get acquainted with the peculiarities of the river Uruguay.

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 refers to the basin of the Atlantic Ocean. The source of the water artery is formed in the Cordilleras, at an altitude of 2,050 meters above sea level.

The food of the river Uruguay is mainly rain. Spring and autumn are floods. It forms the boundary between several states. On its right coast are the countries of Uruguay and Brazil, and on the left - Argentina.

The duration of the waterway is about 1,500 km, and its basin covers an area of 365,000 km². The Uruguay River flows from the northern part of the continent in a southerly direction. It flows into the flooded mouth of the Parana River, La Plata Bay. The main tributaries are the Rio Negro and Ibicuy.

The economic importance of the river

The Uruguay River has a special economic and commercial significance in the life of countries located on its shores. In addition, it attracts many tourists, thanks to the natural colors typical of South America. By the way, the word "Uruguay" is translated from the Indian language Guarani as "the river of variegated birds."

The main ports are Fray Bentos, Salto and Paysandu in Uruguay, as well as Concordia and Paso de los Libres, located on the territory of Argentina.

The waters of the river are used for navigation, to provide water supply to cities. Also here are the three largest hydroelectric power plants in South America. And the communication between the banks is secured by the presence of bridges that are of international importance.

Landscape

The rivers in South America have a specific, diverse landscape. In this case, the river described was no exception. So, in the upper part of the waterway, up to the village of Sao Tome, the stream passes through many rapids. Further, the river flows through the lava plateau and gathers acceleration, which causes a rapid, powerful flow.

A particularly strong current is recorded near the settlements of Concordia and Salto, where the navigable route passes. In Argentina, the landscape of the river is flat, and in Brazil it is hilly.

Fishing

The rivers of Paraná and Uruguay are rich in fish. On the coasts there are specially equipped areas where fishermen can spend their time doing their favorite things. The best season for fishing is in the period from September to March. In Uruguay it is possible to catch fairly large specimens of Dorado, mangurui and others.

In the city of Formosa (Argentina) on July 15 there are national competitions, during which the participants catch the Dorado. This fish, by the way, is dedicated to the exhibition, which is held in August, in the town of Paso de la Patria.

Climatic conditions

The region of the river basin is in the subtropical climatic zone. On average, there is about 1 000 mm of precipitation per year. Humidity is about 60%. The coldest month (when the average temperature is kept within + 11 ° C) is July. But January is the warmest. The average temperature index at this time is + 22 ° C. During the rainy season that fall in the fall and spring, floods occur on the rivers of South America.

sights

On the river described there is a tourist route named "El Litoral". It starts from the river port of Concepcienc del Uruguay. In these places there is something to see:

1. 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, an artificial lake, where sailing regattas were held, as well as the palace itself. The estate has 38 rooms, and on the main facade are two symmetrical towers. The palace has a beautiful design, it can see frescoes and paintings by Uruguayan artist Juan Manuel Blanes.
2. Thermal springs, rich in various minerals, are located on the river. Arapei Grande, which is the left tributary of the Uruguay River.
3. Picturesque coast opens before the eyes of tourists, near the village of Colon (Argentina). Here is a huge bridge, the length of which is more than 2 000 m. It connects the city of Paisandu (Uruguay) with the territory of the neighboring state - Argentina.
4. North of the Colones, 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.

On the coast of the river Uruguay there are many fascinating places. There are numerous waterfalls and small ponds in which tourists can dive during walks. Fans of extreme entertainment can be offered a ferry ride, canoe trips or horseback riding. For those who prefer quiet rest, we recommend boat trips along the quiet waters of Ibera and Pilcomayo.