9781422286487

Land of Green Rolling Plains 11

lands Cuchilla Grande (Big Knife) because knifelike formations of rock jut through the soil on many of the ridges. Overall, though, these hilly areas are remarkably featureless. The highest point in Uruguay, Cerro Catedral, rises 1,683 feet (514 meters) in the Cuchilla Grande. A Water-Rich Land Uruguay enjoys an abundance of water. Experts believe that in the language of the country’s original inhabitants, “Uruguay” means “rivers of fishes.” Large bodies of water bound Uruguay on the east, south, and west. Even the boundary with Brazil consists mostly of small rivers. Lakes and lagoons are numerous, and a high water table makes digging wells easy.

A gaucho, or cowboy, guides a herd of cattle through green pastureland. Uruguay’s low-lying grasslands are ideal for cattle ranching.