Tacuarembó Department

Tacuarembó is the largest department in Uruguay and is located in the northern part of the country. The capital city of Tacuarembó Department is also named Tacuarembó. To the north and east, it shares a border with the Rivera Department, while to the west, it is next to the departments of Salto, Paysandú, and Río Negro. The river Río Negro runs along its southern edge, separating it from the departments of Durazno and Cerro Largo. This area is important for understanding the geography of Uruguay.

History

In 1816, Uruguay was divided into six departments, and two more were added that same year. At first, the area called Paysandú included many lands to the north, such as where Tacuarembó is today. Later, in 1837, Uruguay was divided again, and Tacuarembó was created, including what is now Rivera. Rivera became its own department in 1884.

Geography

The southern edge of Tacuarembó is marked by the Río Negro, a river that flows into a large lake called the Rincón del Bonete Reservoir, or Gabriel Terra Reservoir. This is the biggest lake in South America, covering about 4,000 square miles (10,000 km²). Several smaller streams and rivers flow into the Río Negro, including the Río Tacuarembó and its many tributaries.

The western edge of the department features a range of hills known as the Cuchilla de Haedo, including notable peaks like Cerro de las Minas and Cerro Lambaré.

Demographics

As of the census of 2011, Tacuarembó Department had a population of 90,053 people and 37,647 households.

In 2010, some important facts about the people living there included a population growth rate of 0.786%, a birth rate of 16.69 births for every 1,000 people, and an average age of 31.1 years. The average per household income was 21,854 pesos per month.