Uruguay
GEOGRAPHY
Size: 176,220 square kilometers.
Topography: Country consists mostly (75 percent) of gently rolling plateau, interrupted at two points by low hilly ridges (cuchillas). Remainder fertile coastal lowlands, including narrow coastal plain--sandy and marshy, occasionally broken by lagoons--and somewhat broader littorals of Río de la Plata and Río Uruguay.
Climate: Country situated in temperate zone (only Latin American country lying wholly outside tropics). Climate mild and fairly uniform nationwide, although northwestern area farther inland has warmer summers and drier winters than rest of country. Seasonal variations pronounced, but freezing temperatures almost unknown. High humidity, high winds, and fog common. Winter warm spells can be abruptly broken by a strong pampero, a chilly and occasionally violent wind from Argentine pampas.
Data as of December 1990
Home>Study Abroad>Uruguay>Sports Country Information: Uruguay
Soccer (fútbol in Spanish) is the most important sport in Uruguay. Uruguay has won two Olympic gold medals in soccer in 1924 and in 1928, which were considered World Cups before the technical term "World Cup" was adopted in 1930, hence the four stars on the Uruguayan jersey. The first World Cup, which Uruguay won, was held in 1930 in Montevideo. The Estadio Centenario was built for the World Cup, and serves to this day as the country's main soccer stadium.
Uruguay also won the World Cup in 1950, beating Brazil in Rio de Janeiro at Maracanã Stadium, a fact of which many Uruguayan soccer fans still boast. At present, Uruguayan soccer is devalued as a consequence of the economic crisis as well as corruption in the sport's administration. However, Uruguay still produces remarkable players, such as Alvaro "El Chino" Recoba, who currently plays for the Italian club team Inter Milan and Diego Forlan, who plays for the Spanish team Villareal.
While soccer is undoubtedly the most popular sport in Uruguay, rugby and basketball...