South of Latin America we find a small, picturesque and charming country that is well worth discovering. With an interior full of greenery and livestock, and a coast bathed by the most beautiful and quiet beaches, the curiosities of Uruguay take us on a walk in which enjoyment and peace go hand in hand. From the ideal coasts for summer holidays, to towns where ancient history is breathed, this country combines natural beauty, culture and tradition, which captivates everyone who knows it. Today in Supercurioso we wanted to reach South America, and discover with you the best curious facts about Uruguay. Can you come with us?
20 Curiosities of Uruguay that you will love
The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, embraced by the borders with Argentina and Brazil, and with coasts bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, is the second smallest country in South America, only preceded by Suriname. With a temperate climate that lasts practically all year round, it is a livestock and agricultural powerhouse. It is also visited by tourists, especially from neighboring countries. Montevideo, Punta del Este and Colonia del Sacramento are the most requested destinations. Let’s start this journey through the most interesting curiosities of Uruguay.
1. The first Soccer World Cup
We open this tour of the curiosities of Uruguay, with a piece of information that will fascinate football lovers. It turns out that this South American country It was the site of the first Soccer World Cup championship of which there has been a record in history. The sporting event took place between June 13 and 30, 1930. Thirteen nations participated on that occasion: Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Mexico, Romania, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the United States, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru. The final was played between Uruguay and Argentina, the winning result being the host team, with a score of 4-2.
2. The champion team
And among the curious facts about Uruguay linked to the world of football, we have this country is not only the venue where the World Championship was born, but also His team is the one that has collected the most wins in the Copa América. Uruguay has fifteen awards, followed by Argentina, which has fifteen, and Brazil, which accumulates nine.
3. Precursors of the Olympic Tour
Another of the interesting facts about Uruguay in the world of sports is the fact that the Uruguayan team was the first to complete an Olympic Tour. The event occurred at the Paris Olympics in 1924. After listening to their national anthem, the Uruguayan athletes began to walk around the track, making greeting gestures towards the public. From that moment on, the complete tour of the stadium was established, like the traditional Olympic Tour.
4. The law on equal marriage
One of the most interesting curious facts about Uruguay is the advanced conception of its society. An example of this is that It was the first country in Latin America to recognize and legalize equal marriage in its territory. This legislation is in force since April 10, 2013.
When we talk about Carnival, almost everyone comes to mind with one image: the iconic Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil. But the neighbor, Uruguay, also has a lot to contribute in this sense, since It has the longest festivity of this style in the world. For forty days Uruguayans celebrate Carnival in their own way. People take to the streets and go to the tablados, where different groups animate the night. Murgas, bands of musicians that celebrate with rudimentary instruments, are common.
6. The first sustainable school in Latin America
And advanced thinking in some aspects inherent to life in society, also covers what is related to environment. In the Uruguayan resort of Jaureguiberry we find the first self-sustaining school or eco-school in Latin America. Built with more than two thousand tires, eight thousand cans, five thousand glass bottles and more than two thousand square meters of cardboard, the space also has the capacity to produce its own energy.
7. The maximum connection speed
Another of the most useful curiosities of Uruguay if you plan to spend a vacation in this country, is the fact that They have the fastest internet connection in all of Latin America. This is thanks to the fiber optics that supports a good part of the country’s connection systems.
8. The landscape that prevails in Uruguayan lands
Uruguay, beyond having a developed trade and service industry, sustains a good part of its economy in the countryside. When we travel to the interior of the country, we find enormous extensions of the landscape that predominates in the country: the Uruguayan padrera, which covers about 75% of the national territory.
9. The traditional drink of Uruguay
This is one of the nicest curiosities of Uruguay, and in which assertion the Argentines present their conflicting positions. It turns out that Uruguayan and Argentine lands share Mate as a national drink. It is a hot water infusion made from Yerba Mate. Its natural flavor is bitter, although many sweeten it with sugar.
10. The poorest president
Among the Uruguayan characters who have drawn the attention of the entire world, a politician who is considered the poorest man to assume the Presidency of a country stands out. we talk about Jose «Pepe» Mujica, who directed the destinations of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015. He is a highly appreciated character in Uruguayan and international society, who lived under austerity parameters that fully corresponded to his speech. Before, during and after the presidency, Pepe Mujica maintained his simple country lifestyle.
11. The legalization of marijuana
We add to the list of the best curiosities of Uruguay, the fact that It was the first country in the world to legalize the consumption, planting and distribution of marijuana. This was done through the promulgation of a law that regulates everything related to the plant, and which came into effect in 2013, during the government of José Mujica.
12. The famous Uruguayan barbecue
In the typical gastronomy of Uruguay We find tasty dishes such as chivito, empanadas, milanesas or choripán. But few dishes are as autochthonous and at the same time as international as barbecue. The Uruguayan cattle tradition has been maintained for many years, leading the production of meat with export quality., and recognized among the best in the world. If you visit Uruguay, you cannot stop stopping at a traditional grill to enjoy a delicious barbecue.
13. The Guinness Record for meat
And we continue in the curious facts of Uruguay related to the delicious barbecue. On this occasion, we tell you that the country managed to obtain the Guinness Record for having made the largest barbecue in the world. The gigantic total was 12,000 kilos and 1,252 grills. They have also set some records for making the world’s largest lentil stew and fried cake.
14. The typical Uruguayan sweet
We continue with the curiosities of Uruguay linked to good food, but this time with sweet flavors. The typical dessert of the country is dulce de leche, which, being emblematic of the Río de la Plata area, is also shared with Argentina. It is a mixture of sugar and milk, which are cooked until they reach a particular texture, color and flavor. Also added to this list are alfajores and rice pudding.
15. The town of Los 33
We add to the curiosities of Uruguay, a quite special one, linked to the history of the country. In the interior we find a city called Treinta y tres, capital of the homonymous department. This region, famous for being the cradle of national folk music, receives its name in honor of a group of thirty-three men who, in the year 1825, led an insurrection to recover a territory which had been occupied by Brazil.
16. The size of the country
Among the curious facts about Uruguay, it has always been considered as a small country. Indeed, with its little more than 176 thousand kilometers, we could include Uruguay in the territory of Argentina some 16 times, in Brazil some 48 times and in Mexico some 11 times.
But, changing the perspective a bit, we find that In the kilometers that make up Uruguay, the Netherlands would enter about four times, Malta about 558 times and San Marino more than 2,800 times. That is, the size depends on the perspective!
17. An aging population
And among the curiosities of Uruguay linked to its population, we have that the country has been going through a process of demographic aging for some decades. In recent years it has increased, to the point that people over 60 years of age represent just over 19% of the total population.
18. The country of the free press
One of the curiosities of Uruguay of which its nationals are most proud, is the freedom of the press of its journalists and media. In a report carried out in 2009 by the team of reporters without bordersthe result was thrown that Uruguay is the nation with the highest press freedom index in all of Latin America.
19. A country of immigrants
In Uruguay, as also happens with its neighbor, Argentina, 88% of the population is of European descent. Mainly we find born, children and grandchildren of Spaniards and Italians.
20. Precursor of the female vote
We close this cultural trip with the most interesting curiosities of Uruguay, highlighting its trend towards social development. He not only set the tone on issues such as the law of equal marriage or the permits for the consumption of marijuana. It is also notable for having been the first country in Latin America that enshrined the female vote as a right, in 1927. Uruguay is a nation with a progressive social vision and autochthonous and rural traditions, which are well worth knowing.
Other curiosities of America | By countries
How did you like these? curious facts about Uruguay, one of the most interesting and innovative countries in the world in the region? Do you want to know the most surprising side of other American countries, such as Venezuela, Mexico, USA…? You’re lucky! In the following list you will discover more curiosities of America, distributed by country, that will fascinate you. Do not miss it!