uruguay

• country in southeastern south america; uruguay river, river of southeast south america that forms the brazil-argentina border and the argentina-uruguay border
the eastern republic of uruguay is a country in south-eastern south america. it became independent from spain in 1825. in the late 1960s an urban guerrilla campaign by the tupamaros led to increasing political suppression and to military control of the government in 1973. democracy was restored in 1985. luis alberto lacalle herrera, of the national party (pn), also called the blanco party, became president in 1990. uruguay is a member of the organization of american states. it exports textiles, beef and leather, wool, and fish. tourism is an important industry. high inflation and large foreign debts are serious economic problems.