Montevideo (Uruguay)

Montevideo is a major seaport, as well as Uruguay's capital and largest city with population over 1,7 million (metro over 1,95 million), which is about 1/3 of Uruguay's total population. It is also South America's southernmost capital city.

Port Montevideo - a large, deep-water natural harbour - was one of the reasons why the town was founded by the Spanish in 1726. Two jetties were built to further protect the port entrance from waves. Port's main rivals in the region are Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Río de la Plata (Uruguay). The largest port development projects were conducted in the period 1870-1930, among which construction of piers (docks), warehouses, a separate port (on La Plata River, with dredging of the river basin), building the La Teja refinery. Seaport's proximity to the city contributes to various maritime and logistic businesses based in the bay-surrounding area.

The seaport is one of South America's largest cargo ports, growing consistently due to increased foreign trade (mainly with Europe). As cruise port, Montevideo serves some of world's largest passenger shipping companies (like MSC, Costa, Princess, Holland America) homeporting here seasonally big-sized liners with capacity over 3000 passengers.

The town was established to secure the area against the Portuguese infiltrating from Brazil. It frequently changed hands during the Spanish-Portuguese wars of early-19th century, until in 1828 became the capital of Uruguay. The state itself was founded as a buffer between Portuguese Brazil and Spanish Argentina. Large numbers of Europeans (mainly from Italy and Spain) migrated here in late-19th - early-20th centuries.

As Uruguay's political, economic and cultural center, the city boasts an impressive architecture. The best-known tourist attractions and landmarks include Cerro (hill), Jose Gervasio Artigas (mausoleum), numerous restaurants, waterfront cafes, boutique shops, casinos, perfect beaches. Many tourists visit nearby beach resorts (including Punta del Este). City's economy is based on maritime shipping (port activities), banking and financial services, tourism, hotels and retailing, media, transport, private education, healthcare (public and private services). The city is served by Carrasco International Airport (Uruguay's largest) located in the Carrasco neighbourhood and opened in 1947 The airport serves direct domestic and international flights linking Montevideo with USA (Miami), Spain (Madrid, Cordoba), Colombia (Bogota), Peru (Lima), Brazil (Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre), Panama (Panama City), Chile (Santiago), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Paraguay (Asuncion).