Official name: República Oriental del Uruguay (Republic of Uruguay)
Located in the Southern cone of South America, Uruguay borders Brazil to the North and Northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the Southeast, the Río de la Plata Estuary (River Plate) to the South and Argentina to the West. It is the second country with the smallest surface in the continent. The Uruguay river clearly marks its border with the Republic of Argentina. The country´s surface is 176.215 km2. Montevideo, its capital, is the city with the highest population, a main port, and an economic center.
     Uruguay´s border is partially composed of 193 km along the Atlantic coast and 813 km along the river bank (area close to the Uruguay river); 435 km along the Uruguay river and 378 km along the River Plate.

Physiographical Regions: The Southern area consists of undulating plains covered with pasture except the marshy region that borders the Atlantic coast. The Haedo hill range is a low plateau located in the central and northern region where also a 400 m height small hill range is extended.
     The Cuchilla Grande is placed in the Western and Southern region of the country and is a hill range that crosses the country North through South, from Brazil to Punta del Este surroundings. Its highest peak, Catedral hill (514 m) is also the highest peak in the country. The forest prevails along the riverbanks.
     The Río Negro river is the largest river in the interior of the country and it can only be navigated through its estuary. The Uruguay river can be navigated from its estuary through Salto City.