TACUAREMBO
About Tacuarembo
It is the only province, which still maintains its primitive Indian name. It was named after the river Tacuarembo. Tacuarembo is a type of cane, "tacuara", which the Indians used to knit basket.
In 1832 President Fructuoso Rivera asked his brother, Bernabe, to found a settlement which would help them to vigilate the region the region, and so a villa called San Fructuoso was founded -today Tacuarembo, capital city of the province-. Five years later the province was fenced dividing it from Paysandu and till 1884 Rivera formed part of Tacuarembo.
Whit an area of 15.969,3 Km2, Tacuarembo is proud of being the largest province in Uruguay According to the census is has a population of 84.600 Inhabitants, 64% of which dwell in the urban centers.
The landscape varies from east to west. Different tones and hues of green paint this area, it's sandy soil, covered whit forests, ferns and lichens, it's rolling hills and valleys, where streams flow are ideal for the cultivation of rice. The famous "sierras" of basalt rock and sand offer the tourist different places to visit, such as "Sierra del Infiernillo", "Valle Eden", "Canas" , "Los Helechos"C"los Cuervos". These two are famous caves where fauna and flora abound. There is an underground water reserve unpolluted still. A chain of flat hills sometimes appear in this landscape, they are the remains of bigger hills destroyed by the erosion of streams which formed new valleys.
"Valle Eden", 16 km from the capital city, is a paradise, sited in the heart of "Sierra de Tambores", neat the frontier line with Paysandu. This place is full of lovely birds, larks, black birds, and pigeons, which feed on the seeds of the thistles. Other kinds of birds are "dormilones" mysterious nocturnal creatures, of long gray wings, similar to the owls.
The vegetation consists of "talas", the famous cactus, "viraroes", "canelones" and "blanquillos". Snakes, and big lizards are found, too, especially in the summer. Some historian's claim that the house where Carlos Gardel was born is here in there are plans to build a museum in his honor.
The dense hydrographic net covers all the territory providing water for the cattle and for the sheep, being these, of great importance to this region. "Frigorifico Tacuarembo" is a modern industrial plant, which exports its products to various parts of the world.
There are other small industries, such as timber, tobacco, rice and vineyards. The Brazilian influence affects Tacuarembo not only in the language but also in its culture. The Brazilian influence is highly seen in the way the "gauchos" dress -felts hats, or straw hats, the typical "bombacha"- and even in their way of being. As the Brazilian "gaucho", the Tacuarembo man is sociable, friendly, witty, and fond of playing the guitar, gambling and likes going to the "boliche". The "gaucho" in Tacuarembo is not melancholic, quite different from his southern neighbor.
Tacuarembo still maintains its traditions. Since 1987, every February, the council organizes the famous "Fiesta de la Patria Gaucha". Countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay participate in this event. There is a parade of "gauchos" along the streets of the witty ending in the square "19 de abril" as a tribute to the general don Jose G. Artigas.
The capital city of the province is a neat, clean and well-lighted city. The architecture ranges from the colonial style to the vanguardism found in the murals by the architect Walter Domingo, who built the stadium and rebuilt the park and other centers in different neighborhoods.
The cathedral of San Fructuoso, erected in 1899, is in 19 de abril square. Surrounding this square you can find the Police Station, an antique theatre, Escayola Theatre, (classic style), had an important role in the life of these people. The Indian and the Gaucho Museum "Washington Escobar" has unique treasures, which belonged to the Indians and the gauchos.
This capital city has lovely parks and squares, the "Laguna de las Lavanderas", where groves and lakes offer an excellent spot for camping and recreations not far from the city. Rodo Park is on the banks of the river "Tacuarembo chico", Batlle Park, with bridges, which cross over the streams offering the traveler a spectacular sight.
To the north, taking the road on the right, you get to Balneario Ipora, 4 km from Tacuarembo. It was designed surrounding an artificial lake, and the place is covered with pine trees and eucalyptus. It is a tourist attraction; there is a parador, large swimming pools, a camping site and tennis courts. Cottages can be rented for the weekend.
In 1945, a famous dam called Gabriel Terra was built in "Rincon del Bonete" originating a big lake. The dam supplies electricity to the region. "San Gregorio de Polanco" is a picturesque village, situated on the banks of the lake. Founded in 1852 by the coronel Jose Gregorio Suarez, the village grew with some Italian, Irish, Lebanese, Spaniard and natives. It was a fertile land, especially to grow oranges trees.
Today, San Gregorio de Polanco is a tourist center, with a population of about 3000 inhabitants, which increases during the summer season. Old buildings, now recycled, alternate with modern houses. The building of the dam affected some of the natives, because they lost their lands, but on the other hand they were compensated because this artificial lake has attracted the interest of many tourists, which visit Uruguay.
People can practice water sports, go fishing, practice jet skiing, or water skiing, enjoy the warmth of the sandy beaches and swim in the clear blue waters.
This peaceful village has a high school, a primary school, a polytechnic, the Bank of the Republic, and public transportation from and to Tacuarembo and Blanquillo. Social clubs, and sports clubs, a hotel, cottages, a camping site and a park covered with trees stand next to the beach in the lake.
A small fishing industry exports fish to Brazil, private corporations and building corporations offer different jobs for the inhabitants of the region.
The most outstanding feature in San Gregorio, is its "open air" museum. More than 30 local artists like Clever Lara, J. Alvarez and Gustavo Alamon worked for nine months to decorate the village without charge. They painted colorful murals, and their enthusiasm was so great that they even decorated the water tank which belongs to OSE. San Gregorio looks like a town in a fairy tale.
"Paso de los Toros" has a population of 13.000 inhabitants. It is the second important city in Tacuarembo. It was founded in 1876 under the name of Santa Isabel. Then it was changed to the present name. It is said that this was the place where cattle used to cross the Rio Negro on their way to Montevideo, that was the reason for this new name. That "paso" is situated on the banks of the river Negro, a few kilometers from the Bonete dam. The village has one elegant church -neo gothic style-, large squares with flowers beds and a very important commercial life.
Tacuarembo's cultural patrimony is well represented in literature through the works of Mario Menendez, Ildefonso Pereda Valdez, Jesualdo Sosa, Sara de Ubanes, Mario Benedetti, Circe Maia and Tomas de Mattos.
Tacuarembo, a generous land, with a sweet name, a landscape of cattle and hills, shelter of forests and water, home of strong men and women, a real gem.
@