Let's Hear it for Uruguay Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oriental Republic of Uruguay

Uruguay is named after the river of the same name. In colonial times, Uruguay and nearby territories were known as "the East Bank of the Uruguay River" and later the "Eastern province." In Spanish, "Oriental" literally means "eastern" but when the country's official name is translated into English, the term "Oriental" is used, even though most English speakers associate "oriental" with Asia.

Answer: Nudism

Playa Chihuahua is located in Chihuahua, a small resort town about ten miles from Punta del Este, a city in the department of Maldonado, located on the coast of Río de la Plata. The full name of the beach is "Playa Nudista Naturista Chihuahua" ("Nudist Naturist Chihuahua Beach") and is sought out specifically by people who enjoy the nudist lifestyle.

There are a range of beach hotels with facilities for tourists on a wide range of budgets.

Answer: Widest river in the world

The Río de la Plata ("Plate River") is the estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay and the Parana rivers, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the south-eastern coastline of South America. About 290 kilometres long, the river starts with a width of 2 kilometres and reaches a maximum width of 220 kilometres, wider than any other river in the world.

It has many major ports along its length, including Buenos Aires on the western, and Montevideo on the northern shore.

Answer: Tropic of Capricorn

The Tropic of Capricorn is a line of latitude that defines the boundary between the tropical zone to the north and the southern temperate zone. (The Tropic of Cancer marks the northern boundary of the tropical zone.) Uruguay is the world's most southernmost sovereign nation and one of only four countries in the world to be entirely south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

The other three are New Zealand, Lesotho, and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Uruguay has a fairly uniform climate nationwide, which is described as humid subtropical, with marked but not extreme seasonal variation.

Answer: Tango

Tango as a style of music originated in the nineteenth century among European migrants in Argentina and Uruguay living along the Río de la Plata and has strong African influences. Palacio Salvo is built on the site where Gerardo Matos Rodríguez composed "La Cumparsita," which is one of the most famous tangos of all time.

The Tango Museum of Montevideo exhibits the history of La Cumparsita and of Uruguayan Tango, and is located within Palacio Salvo, alongside a mixture of offices and private residences.

Answer: Jose Gervasio Artigas

José Gervasio Artigas was a key figure in the Spanish American wars of independence in the nineteenth century, and is sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood," even though he died a few years before Uruguay finally achieved independence. He passed away in Paraguay in 1850, during a long exile.

The Artigas Mausoleum was built as a monument to him, and his remains were transferred there in 1977, which opened the same year. There is a prominent statue of him in the centre of Plaza Independencia, and his remains are interred in a room underneath.

Answer: Rambla

The Rambla, which is Spanish for "avenue," is the longest continuous sidewalk in the world at over 22.2 uninterrupted kilometres and overlooks the city's many beaches. The Rambla is considered an integral part of the city's culture and is an important place for many kinds of recreational and leisure activities.

Answer: Ciudad Vieja

Ciudad Vieja ("Old City") was originally a fortified area surrounded by a protective wall. The wall was torn down in 1829, although its gateway, Puerta de la Ciudadela, remains standing to this day as an emblem of the city. Ciudad Vieja is notable for many beautiful historic buildings and in recent years for its many nightclubs that have transformed it into the main centre of nightlife in Montevideo.

Answer: False

On the contrary, Uruguay is considered the most secular nation in the Americas. Although a 2008 survey showed that over 45% of the population identified as Roman Catholic, and another 9% as other Christian, it also showed that over 40% had no religion.

The Church played a relatively minor role in Uruguay during the colonial era compared to other Spanish colonies, and anti-clerical ideas took hold in the country after independence. Religious instruction is banned in state schools and the country's constitution guarantees religious freedom and requires complete separation of church and state.

Answer: Very high

The United Nations Development Programme ranks countries on a Human Development Index that combines measurements of life expectancy, education, and per capita income. In 2018, Uruguay had a Human Development Index of 0.808 (where 1.00 is perfect), indicating "very high" human development, the highest category awarded. Uruguay has also achieved the highest ranking in Latin America on democracy, peace, and low levels of corruption, and ranks highly in the world on personal rights. Uruguay is also considered a socially progressive nation, as it was the first country in modern times to legalize cannabis (in 2013) and has also legalized gay marriage.