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

Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 176,220 sq km
land area: 173,620 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Washington State

Land boundaries: total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Coastline: 660 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nm

International disputes: short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Natural resources: soil, hydropower potential, minor minerals

Land use:
arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 78%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 10%

Irrigated land: 1,100 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

NOTE: The information regarding Uruguay on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Uruguay Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Uruguay Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.