Uruguay is a land of very little geographical contrast. Located at 33˚ S and 56˚ W, Uruguay is mostly covered in rolling topography of valleys and grasslands along with low plains and hills. At only a few hundred feet above sea level, the highest point in the country is the 1,685 foot tall peak of Cerro Catedral near the southeastern coast.
The Pampas Lowlands that extend from Argentina into Uruguay stand between the coastline and hills in the southwest. There are many beaches on the 410 mile coastline along the Atlantic Ocean filled with bays and lagoons such as the Merín Lagoon. In the north, low mountains flow into the Brazilian Highlands with many rivers and streams. The Uruguay river flows south along the Uruguayan border with Argentina. Along with the Paraguay, Paraná, Yí, and Negro rivers, the Uruguay River empties into Río de la Plata, the largest estuary in the world. A large artificial lake, the Lago Artificial de Rincón del Bonete, is formed by dams along the Negro river and stands in the center of the country. |
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