乌拉圭(Uruguay)
正式名称乌拉圭东岸共和国（Oriental Republic of Uruguay）
南美洲东南部国家。面积176,215平方公里。人口约3,303,000（2001）。首都︰蒙特维多。主要种族集团为高加索人，其祖先多为西班牙人和义大利人，其余为梅斯蒂索人、穆拉托人和黑人，印第安人极少。语言︰西班牙语（官方语）。宗教：天主教、新教和犹太教。货币︰乌拉圭披索（Ur$）。南美洲唯一位在热带以外的国家。地形主要由低高原和低山丘带组成。主要河流是内格罗河，乌拉圭河形成该国与阿根廷的西部边界。矿产和能源资源有限。牧场约占土地面积的4/5，饲养了大量牲畜，以生产肉类、羊毛和皮革。主要作物有小麦、玉米、燕麦和大麦。其他重要工业包括旅游业、渔业、纺织品、化学产品和运输设备。政府形式是共和国，两院制。国家元首暨政府首脑为总统。
在欧洲人来此殖民之前，乌拉圭主要居住着查鲁亚印第安部落。1516年西班牙航海家迪亚斯.德索利斯驶入拉布拉他河湾。1680年葡萄牙人建立移民镇。嗣後，西班牙人将葡萄牙人逐出，於1726年建立蒙特维多城，五十年後乌拉圭成为拉布拉他总督辖区的一部分。1811年脱离西班牙独立。1821年葡萄牙人又占领该地区，并为巴西的一省。1825年乌拉圭人发动暴乱反叛巴西，1828年获得独立。1865～1870年与巴拉圭交战。第二次世界大战中保持了中立。1951年撤废总统职位，以九人委员会取代之。1966年颁布新宪法，恢复总统体制。1973年发生一场军事政变，1985年回到文人统治。1990年代经济逐渐好转。
English version：
Uruguay
Country, southeastern South America. Area: 68,037 sq mi (176,215 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 3,185,000. Capital: Montevideo. Caucasians, mostly of Spanish and Italian origin, are the predominant ethnic group; the remainder are mestizos, mulattos, and blacks. Few Indians remain. Language: Spanish (official). Religions: Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism. Currency: Uruguayan peso. The only South American country lying entirely outside the tropics, its topography consists mainly of low plateaus and low hilly regions. The principal river is the Negro; the Uruguay River forms the country's entire western border with Argentina. Mineral and energy resources are limited. Pastures, covering almost four-fifths of the land area, support large herds of livestock for meat, leather goods, and wool. Chief crops include wheat, corn, oats, and barley. Other important industries are tourism, fishing, and the manufacturing of textiles, chemicals, and transportation equipment. It is a republic with two legislative houses; its head of state and government is the president. Prior to European settlement, Uruguay was inhabited mainly by the Charrúa Indians. The Spanish navigator Juan Díaz de Solís sailed into the Río de la Plata in 1516. The Portuguese established Colonia in 1680. Subsequently, the Spanish established Montevideo in 1726, driving the Portuguese from their settlement; 50 years later Uruguay became part of the viceroyalty of Río de la Plata. It gained independence from Spain in 1811. The Portuguese regained it in 1821, incorporating it into Brazil as a province. A revolt against Brazil in 1825 led to its being recognized as an independent state in 1828. It battled Paraguay 1865-70. For much of World War II it remained neutral. The presidential office was abolished in 1951 and replaced with a nine-member council. The country adopted a new constitution and restored the presidential system in 1966. A military coup occurred in 1973. It returned to civilian rule in 1985. The 1990s brought a general upturn in the economy.