Montevideo

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Montevideo
Iglesia Punta Carretas
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): none
Motto: Con libertad ni ofendo ni temo With liberty I offend not, I fear not.
Coordinates: 34°53′S 56°10′W / 34.883°S 56.167°W / -34.883; -56.167Coordinates: 34°53′S 56°10′W / 34.883°S 56.167°W / -34.883; -56.167
Country	Uruguay
Department	Montevideo Department
Founded	1726
Founder	Bruno Mauricio de Zabala
Government
- Municipal Intendent	Ricardo Ehrlich
Elevation	43 m (141 ft)
Population (2004)
- Total	1,325,968
- Rank	1st
- Demonym	Montevideano
postal code	10000
Area code(s)	+02
Website	www.montevideo.gub.uy

1888 German map of Montevideo

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].

Geography

Satellite view of metro area

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.

History

Early history

In 1776, Spain made Montevideo its main naval base (Real Apostadero de Marina) for the South Atlantic, with authority over the Argentine coast, Fernando Po, and the Falklands.^[4]

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.^{[citation needed]} It was briefly occupied by Britain in 1807, and 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.^{[citation needed]}

20th century

Independence Plaza, c. 1900

Libertador Avenue

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.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

The D.N.T. is the office in charge of the organization and development of the transport infrastructure [1]

• Air
  • Montevideo is served by Carrasco International Airport.Commercial flights [2]
  • Melilla Airport. Private airport and minor charter companies

• Sea
  • Port of Montevideo. Cargo and Passengers[3]
  • Several minor sport ports

• Land
  • Bus central station[4]
  • Highway system connecting with the rest of the country
  • Rail system, check A.F.E. (national rail Company)[5]

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

Neighborhoods

Education

The University of Uruguay Law School

Solis Theatre

Playing golf in Punta Carretas. Montevideo has a golf course within the city.

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

• University of the Republic, Uruguay
• Stella Maris College (Montevideo)
• The British Schools of Montevideo
• ORT Uruguay
• Instituto Alfredo Vásquez Acevedo
• Instituto Preuniversitario JUAN XXIII
• Lycée Français de Montevideo
• Escuela Brasil (Montevideo)
• Liceo Joaquín Suárez
• Saint Patrick's College

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 1^st 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.

Noted local people

Luis Diego López (Cagliari footbaler)

Gabe Saporta (Musician)

El Cuarteto de Nos (Rock Band)

Sites of interest

• Centenario Stadium
• Salvo Palace
• Telecommunications Tower
• Solis Theatre
• Palacio Legislativo
• Catedral Metropolitana
• Cabildo de Montevideo
• Feria de Tristán Narvaja
• Monument to Sexual Diversity

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Montevideo is twinned with:

Climate

Montevideo enjoys a humid subtropical climate with, mild and dry winters, hot and humid summers and volatile springs with numerous thunderstorms. Tropical cyclones rarely strike the city.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Montevideo

• Montevideo official website
• (Spanish) PRESS The First Uruguayan Neighborhood and Documentatio Agency
• (Spanish)/(English) A City Built by Us All

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