CERRO LARGO

About Cerro Largo

Cerro Largo occupies a region of great geographic variety. The semiplains are crossed by the rivers Yaguaron, Negro, Tacuari, some streams and the large Merin lagoon.

Its ancient capital, Melo, where human warmth is tradition, was first a frontier village founded in 1794 by Agustin Larrosa, and it turned into a city in 1895.

The main street of the city is general Justino Muniz. Opposite to the Plaza Independencia, where there is a market every Sunday, there are the Espana Theatre and "Centro Union Obrero", a socio-cultural institution founded in the year 1900.

"Plaza Constitution" was the first square of the province. It is surrounded by the cathedral "Nuestra Senora del Pilar y San Rafael", "Club Union", and the Regional Historical Museum".

Melo is the birthplace of many famous writers like Emilio Oribe, Justino Zabala Muniz, Juana de Ibarblourou who was called "Juana of America". Aparicio Saravia, the well-know leader of the White Party, was born in Melo too. "El Cordobes" was his estate, today, a museum, which holds his personal possessions, documents, photographs and testimonies of one of the best-known characters in our national history.

"Fuente de los sapos", a symbol of the identity of this region was opened to the public in 1895. Today it can be seen in the park, Zorrilla de San Martin, on the margins of the "Conventos" stream. The Rivera Park, sited three kilometers from Melo, has 40 hectares covered with trees and places of recreation. Nearby is the zoo, another attraction for the people in general. Other attractions in this province are the Merin lagoon resort and the "Gruta de los Cuervos", in the Sierra de Acegua.

Carnival, which is celebrated each February, is one of the most colorful popular festivals, which attracts all kinds of people. The Brazilian influence is strongly seen in the rhythms, the luxurious costumes the parades and the beautiful platforms, thus be coming an attraction for tourists.

In 1995, the city celebrated its 200 years and the "Paseo" and the "Bicentenario Fountain" were inaugurated. In that same year two important roads joined boulevard "Matta" with "Ejido" avenue which leads to "de las Americas" Avenue.

Cerro Largo occupies an extension of 13.851 km2 with a population of 81.400 inhabitants, according to the 1996 census. Its economy is based in cattle rising, sheep and pork breeding though, in the last years, the cultivation has become extremely important for this area.

Coleme pasteurizes and distributes the milk in the province. Buy an agreement with Conaprole this company can manufacture dairy products, such as cheese, butter and "dulce de leche". Cattle auctions and rural exhibitions take place in the agricultural society. On the margin of Yaguaron River, Rio Blanco is a typical border city, with its activities of importation and exportation of goods and the colorful fairs that stand on both sides of the Maua Bridge.

By the end of the 19th century, President Giro, built a bridge over "Chuy" stream. Two Basques named Etcheverry built "Posta del Chuy" which was for many years the place where travelers used to pay toll if they canted to cross the border.

Cerro Largo was in colonial times, the guardian of the Uruguayan border, and nowadays it continues to preserve the ethnics, the morals and the Uruguayan culture.