FACTS

Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Area (only Total) total: 176,220 sq km

Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Population: 3,477,778 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Spanish

Government type: constitutional republic

Capital (Name): Montevideo

Capital (Time Difference): UTC-3

Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)