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Montevideo

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For other uses, see Montevideo (disambiguation).
Montevideo
The Plaza Independencia, Independence Square.
The Plaza Independencia, Independence Square.
Flag of Montevideo
Flag
Coat of arms of Montevideo
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
none
Motto(s): 
Con libertad ni ofendo ni temo
With liberty I offend not, I fear not.
Location of Montevideo
Coordinates: 34º 53'S 56º 10'W
CountryUruguay
DepartmentMontevideo Department
Founded1726
Founded byBruno Mauricio de Zabala
Government
 • Municipal IntendentRicardo Ehrlich
Elevation
43 m (141 ft)
Population
 (2004)
 • Total1,325,968
 • Rank
1st
 • Demonym
Montevideano
Time zoneUTC-3
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2 (GMT -2 (DST))
postal code
10000
Area code+02
Websitewww.montevideo.gub.uy

Montevideo (Spanish pronunciation: [monteβiˈðeo]) is the largest city, the capital and chief port of Uruguay. Montevideo is the only city in the country with a population over 1,000,000. According to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Montevideo provides the highest quality of life in Latin America.[1][2][3] It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montevideo.

Geography

Montevideo is situated in the south of the country, The geographic coordinates are 34.5° S, 56°W.

18 de Julio is the city's main avenue and extends from the Plaza Independencia, which is the junction between the Ciudad Vieja (the historical quarter) and the rest of the city, to the boundary between the neighborhoods of Cordón and Parque Batlle.

Montevideo
Libertador Avenue
1888 German map of Montevideo

History

Early history

The city's first economic boom occurred when the Spanish Crown gave Montevideo the right to be the only slave port in the Viceroyalty of la Plata, infuriating the Viceroyalty's capital, Buenos Aires.[citation needed] In 1776, the Crown further made Montevideo the main naval base (Real Apostadero de Marina) for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, Fernando Po, and the Falklands.[4]

In 1828, the town became the capital of Uruguay.[citation needed]

The city fell under heavy British influence from the early 19th century until the early 20th century as a way to circumvent Argentine and Brazilian commercial control. It was repeatedly besieged by Blanco leader Manuel Oribe and Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas between 1838 and 1851. Between 1878 and 1911, British-owned railway companies built an extensive railway network linking the city and its port to the countryside.

20th century

Independence Plaza, c. 1900
Main article: German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee

During World War II, a famous incident involving the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee took place in Punta del Este, 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Montevideo. After the Battle of the River Plate with the Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy on December 13, 1939, the Graf Spee retreated to Montevideo's port, which was considered neutral at the time. To avoid risking the crew in what he thought would be a losing battle, Captain Hans Langsdorff scuttled the ship on December 17. Langsdorff committed suicide two days later.

On 10 February 2006, the eagle figurehead of the Admiral Graf Spee was salvaged.[5] To protect the feelings of those still sensitive to Nazi Germany, the swastika on the figurehead was covered as it was pulled from the water.

Since 2005 the Mayor of Montevideo (styled Intendente Municipal in Spanish) has been Ricardo Ehrlich, of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front), gaining 61% of the vote in the Mayoral elections, beating Pedro Bordaberry of the Partido Colorado, who scored 27%.[citation needed]

Economy and demographics

Montevideo began as a minor settlement. In 1860, Montevideo had a population of 37,787.[citation needed] By 1884, the population had grown to 104,472, including many immigrants.[citation needed]

During the mid-20th century, a military dictatorship and economic stagnation caused a decline whose residual effects are still seen today. Many rural poor flooded the city, with a large concentration in Ciudad Vieja.[citation needed]

Transport

Montevideo is served by Carrasco International Airport.

Panorama of Montevideo. Taken from the Torre Antel Torre de las Telecomunicaciones. The Salvo Palace is visible on the far right.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods of Montevideo

Map of Montevideo

  1. Ciudad Vieja
  2. Centro
  3. Barrio Sur
  4. Aguada
  5. Villa Muñoz
  6. Cordón
  7. Palermo
  8. Parque Rodó
  9. Tres Cruces
  10. La Comercial
  11. Larrañaga
  12. La Blanqueada
  13. Parque Batlle, Villa Dolores
  14. Pocitos
  15. Punta Carretas
  16. Unión
  17. Buceo
  18. Malvín
  19. Malvín Norte
  20. Parque Guaraní, Las Canteras
  1. Punta Gorda
  2. Carrasco
  3. Carrasco Norte
  4. Bañados de Carrasco
  5. Flor de Maroñas
  6. Maroñas
  7. Villa Española
  8. Ituzaingó
  9. Pérez Castellanos
  10. Mercado Modelo, Bolivar
  11. Brazo Oriental
  12. Jacinto Vera, La Figurita
  13. Reducto
  14. Capurro, Bella Vista
  15. Prado
  16. Atahualpa
  17. Peñarol
  18. Belvedere
  19. La Teja
  20. Tres Ombúes, Pueblo Victoria
  1. Cerro, La Paloma
  2. Casabó, Pajas Blancas
  3. Paso de la Arena
  4. Nuevo París
  5. Conciliación
  6. Sayago
  7. Piedras Blancas
  8. Colón Centro y Noroeste
  9. Lezica, Melilla
  10. Colón Sudeste, Abayubá
  11. Manga, Toledo Chico
  12. Casavalle
  13. Cerrito
  14. Las Acacias
  15. Jardines del Hipódromo
  16. Lavalleja, 40 Semanas
  17. Manga
  18. Punta de Rieles, Bella Italia
  19. Villa García, Manga Rural

Montevideo, Pocitos Neighborhood

Education

The University of Uruguay Law School
Solis Theatre
Playing golf in Punta Carretas. Montevideo has a golf course within the city.
File:Water sports montevideo.jpg
Kitesurfing in Ramírez Beach, Mercosur's Pro Tempore Secretariat Building in the background. Even in winter Montevideo is a great place for water sports.
Pocitos Beach in Montevideo
Centenario Stadium

Culture

Montevideo has a very rich architectural heritage and an impressive number of writers, artists, and musicians. Uruguayan tango is a unique form of dance that originated in the neighborhoods of Montevideo towards the end of the 1800s. Tango, candombe and murga are the three main styles of music in this city.

Sports

Montevideo hosted all the matches of the 1st FIFA World Cup in 1930. Its Estadio Centenario is considered a major stadium. The city is home to five significant South American football clubs: Peñarol, Defensor Sporting,Danubio,Montevideo Wanderers and Nacional.

Sites of interest

Sister cities

Climate

Montevideo enjoys a subtropical climate with, mild and dry winters, hot and humid summers, agitated springs with numerous thunderstorms, and without Tropical cyclones.

Climate data for Montevideo
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: Servicio de Oceanografía, Hidrografía y Meteorología de la Armada

References

  1. ^ See also La Nación, Chilean newspaper article that mentions the three Latin American cities with highest quality of life according to the MHRC 2007 investigation.
  2. ^ Montevideo, la mejor ciudad para vivir de América Latina (Montevideo, the best town to live in Latin America) at Uruguayan newspaper La República (April 3, 2007)Template:Es
  3. ^ Article from the Café Template:Es
  4. ^ Armada Nacional, 2008. http://www.armada.mil.uy/general/historia/historia-armada.html. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  5. ^ "Graf Spee's eagle rises from deep". BBC News. February 10, 2006.
  6. ^ St. Petersburg in figures > International and Interregional Ties
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