uruguay: the switzerland of south america
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Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America. Not because of any geographical similarity! 4 times larger than Switzerland highest peak is only 501 m no chocolate or watches! and certainly no Yodeling!. Swiss-like attributes (30-60s): peaceful country with a bountiful economy - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Uruguay: the Switzerland of South America
Not because of any geographical similarity!
• 4 times larger than Switzerland• highest peak is only 501 m• no chocolate or watches!• and certainly no Yodeling!
Swiss-like attributes (30-60s):• peaceful country with a bountiful economy• home to South America's first democracy• cradle-to-grave welfare system• urban, homogeneous and educated population
Changes in world trade patterns led Uruguay into economic and political decline: not longer the Switzerland of South America
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RIO DE LOS PAJAROS PINTADOS (RIVER OF COLORFUL BIRDS)
Denmark
Albania
Ireland
Lesotho
plus 9 x Andorra
or 9000 Vatican cities!!!
?
Portugal
Spain
England
Argentina
Brazil
Paraguay
Charrúas• nomadic people
• fishing and foraging
• no permanent structures
• killed explorer Juan Díaz de Solís during his 1515 voyage up the Río de la Plata
• 1831: massacred at Salsipuedes ("Get-out-if-you-can")
• 4 survivors were taken to a museum and died in France
• 1680: Portuguese founded Colonia as a rival to Spanish-held Buenos Aires • 1726: Spain responded by building its own citadel at Montevideo
• 1815: the national hero, José Gervasio Artigas, declared independence
• 1816-1820: Portuguese captured Montevideo and Artigas fled to Paraguay
• 1821: Uruguay was annexed to Brazil
• 1825: “33 orientales" ("33 Easterners") issued a declaration of independence
• Uruguay's first president, Rivera: the Colorados party (reds).
• The second president, Oribe: the Blancos party (whites)
• 1903-1929: President Batlle y Ordóñez: welfare state funded by meat and wool exports: “the Switzerland of South America”
• 1950s: decline as successive governments struggled to maintain a large bureaucracy and social benefits
1960s: political and social crisis and left-wing terrorist activity
1973: military dictators control government, thousands of prisoners
1985: the brutal military regime ended; political and civil rights were restored
1980-90s: reforms to reduce inflation and public sector, and privatization
2002: recession and budget deficit, a growing public debt, and a weakening of the peso on international markets
2004: first victory of a left party: Socialist Broad Front won
Population• white 94% (European)• mestizo 6%• amerindian nonexistent
• estimated 600,000 Uruguayans emigrated• Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and USA
• Roman Catholic (62%)• Protestant (4%)• Jewish (3%), • nonprofessing group (31%)
Education• High literacy rate
• Compulsory for students aged 6–11
• Free at all levels
• Montevideo: centre for higher education
• The University of the Republic (1849): distinguished medical school that draws students from the region
• Vocational training: Labour University of Uruguay (1878)
• Catholic University of Uruguay (1985): prominent private institution
• Discrepancy between university training and job opportunities • Substantial level of emigration of the best-educated young professionals
December to March 80-100F
June to September 40-60F September to December 60-70F
March to June 60-70F
August 2005
• 120 miles/h wind
• 20,000 lost electricity and telephone
• airport was shut down
• 7 people killed
Economy
• Gross domestic product: U$11,646 (ranked 61st)
• Unemployment rate: 10.8%
• External debt: $11.4 billion
• Exports: $ 4.0 billion– Meat, rice, leather products, dairy, wool, electricity– Brazil , US, Argentina, China, Germany, Russia, Mexico
• Imports: $4.5 billion– Vehicles, electrical and industrial machinery, metals, petroleum– Brazil, Argentina, US, Paraguay, China, Venezuela
Economy• Tourism
– Seaside resorts– Punta del Este: jet set playground of South America– Ecotourism– International cruises: October to March– Montevideo: Mercosur secretariat,
• Common Market of the South (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay)
• Software and consulting– well-educated workforce and lower wages: IT field – Tata Group: headquarters for the Spanish speaking world
• “Zona America” Business and Technology Park
• Financial and educational center for the Mercosur ???
Gauchos
Uruguayan food pyramid
Mate
Tango
Carlos Gardel
Carnaval: candombe y llamadas
Soccer: Two world Cups
• 1930: vs Argentina 4-2• 1950: vs Brazil 2-1
– Maracana stadium – Maracanazo: "The Maracana Blow“– one of the biggest upsets in football
history
Colonia del Sacramento
Montevideo
“Monte vide eu”
“Monte VI De Este a Oeste”
La Rambla
Ciudad Vieja (Old Town)
Ferias
Punta del Este
“Pearl of the Atlantic“
“the Hamptons of Latin America”
Punta del Este
Casapueblo - Carlos Paez Vilaró
Jose Ignacio Beach
Punta del Diablo (Devil's Point)
Cabo Polonio
Sierra de Minas (Minas range)
Towns……………..
Cerros Chatos (Flat Hills)
Thermal springs
Eco-estancias
“Uruguayans love beef, mate, soccer, the beach, and relaxing (but they are not lazy)!”
Hector’ s
tavern