Uruguay is one of the most progressive Latin American countries. It was the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex civil unions, even if Roman Catholicism is the most dominant religion in this nation, occupied by over 3.4 million people. The South American nation has a land area of 176,215 square kilometers (43.5 million acres). Uruguay also ranks first in the region when it comes to democracy, peace, e-government, and press freedom. Uruguay is the safest country in South America and was once named “country of the year” by The Economist for its stance on the legalization of cannabis.
The country is also a significant exporter of rice, soybeans, malt, milk, and frozen beef. Corned beef became popular during the wars—World War I and World War II. During the Second World War, the corned beef came from Uruguay’s Fray Bentos, which exported over 16 million cans in 1943. Over 16 million cans of corned beef were exported that year. The Fray Bento factory from that year, which was in a place once considered a meat-packing district in Uruguay, is now a World Heritage Site.
Most of the tourism in Uruguay involves heritage structures and historical monuments. A walk on Uruguayan streets already invokes a cultural experience. Another thing that is part of Uruguay’s culture is tango, which people often trace to Argentina. Tango originated in both Argentina and Paraguay, the same with gaucho, the national symbol for both countries.
Although not as abundant in other countries, Uruguay also has its own set of national parks that are worth exploring. So here are some of the country’s unexplored parks:
1. Arequita National Park
The centerpiece of the park located in Lavalleja is the Cerro Arequita, which is a large volcano. The imposing natural structure helps define a skyline in this part of Uruguay. There are also several caves in the area with a lot of bats.
One of the most important plant species in the park is the Ombu tree. There is an abundance of Phytolacca dioica or the Ombu in the park. These are massive deciduous trees native of the Pampa, lowlands that stretch to a few areas in Argentina and Brazil, and a very large part of Uruguay. The branches bend showcasing a canopy of leaves. Each tree has a diameter of between 12 and 15 meters and a height of 12 to 18 meters.
2. Esteros de Farrapos National Park
There is nothing unique about the ecosystem in this park and proves to be of minor significance to the entire country. For one, it is only where the endangered maned wolf has been seen in all of Uruguay. This species is the largest of the canid family that is found in South America. While it may look a bit like a fox, it is most definitely not a fox. And while it may be called a wolf, it is also not a wolf.
There are also over 200 species of birds documented in the park with some aquatic birds roosting in the Rio Negro. There are also some pumas within the park.
3. Laguna de Rocha
This is an important water resource in the country’s Rocha Department. It is significant not just for its beauty but for its ecosystem. It is part of a series of coastal lagoons in the country, which also stretch to Southern Brazil. It is shallow and brackish with a sandy bar. When the water level is high, the sandbar is submerged and the lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
Hundreds of thousands of waterbirds migrate to the lagoon during spring and summer. It is also very exciting for tourists because there are different birds in the area during different months. For example, from October to March, most of the birds in the lagoon are Antarctic migrants. By April, the temporary residents are those birds from Patagonia. The birds stay there for three to four months. The lagoon is known to be home to about six percent of the entire population of the Buff-breasted sandpiper or cinnamon plover in the world. It also has a large concentration of pampas or American golden plover. The area has since been named an Important Bird Area and Ramsar Site.
The park is generally unexplored compared to its neighbors. This park is nearby the La Paloma resort, which is a favorite among tourists. For those who happen to be in the area, they should check out the lively birds from Laguna de Rocha.
4. Palace Cave
This historical and geological marvel is located in the Flores Department. Its most important attraction is the sandstone, which dates back to the Late Cretaceous, which is around 66 million years ago. This type of rock was believed to have aged during the Paleocene, between 56 and 66 million years ago. The area was established as a national park to protect its geological heritage. It is even in the list of places considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, specifically as a geopark.
The Flores Department has the Palace of Cave in its emblem.
5. Santa Teresa National Park
This is yet another nationally-protected area located in the Rocha Department. It is a seaside forest. It is situated on the Atlantic coast of Route 9, which a national route of the country. Various sandy beaches have beautiful blue waters and fine sands. They are great for swimming and some underwater diving and snorkeling. The beaches are the following: Playa Achiras, Playa del Barco, Playa de Los Pesqueros, and Playa La Moza. There are also imposing promontories within the park that gives a great vista of the surrounding areas.
The park also hosts a nature reserve that is home to various animals. There is also a campsite for visitors who want to stay the night, to enjoy being one with nature while also stargazing at night. There is also a greenhouse within the park that houses significant species of plants, a lot of which are endemic to the country.
The historic Fortaleza de Santa Teresa is also within the park. The fort was created in October 1762 by the Portuguese.