Country Uruguay Area 9,370 km2 | Capital Rivera Population 103,493 | |
Rivera Department is a department of the northern region of Uruguay. It has an area of 9,370 km2 (3,620 sq mi) and a population of 103,493. Its capital is the city of Rivera. It borders Brazil to the north and east, Cerro Largo Department to the southeast, Tacuarembo Department to the south and west and Salto Department to the northwest.
Contents
Map of Rivera Department
History
The first division of the Republic in six departments happened in 1816. Two more departments were formed later that year. At that time, Paysandu Department included all the territory north of the Rio Negro, which included the actual departments of Artigas, Rivera, Tacuarembo, Salto, Paysandu and Rio Negro. On 17 June 1837 a new division of Uruguay was made and this territory was divided in three parts. In the new division, the Tacuarembo Department included also the actual department of Rivera, until it was split from it in 1884.
On 7 May 1862 the village Pueblo de Ceballos was created, in honour of the Spanish viceroy Pedro de Cevallos. In July 1867 it took on the official name "Rivera". The Brazilian town Santana do Livramento already existed just across the border. On 1 October 1884, it became capital of the newly formed Department of Rivera by the Act of Ley Nº 1.757.
Geography
Along the eastern borders of the department with Cerro Largo Department flows Rio Negro, with its tributaries flowing through the easternmost part of the department. From north to south, these are: Arroyo San Luis, which forms part of its border with Brazil, Arroyo del Hospital with its tributary Arroyo Blanco and Arroyo Ceibal.
The western part of its southern border with Tacuarembo Department is formed by Rio Tacuarembo, with its tributaries flowing through most of the department. From west to east, these are: Arroyo Rubio Chico, Arroyo Laureles which also forms part of the southern border of the department, Arroyo Cunapiru with its tributaries Arroyo Batovi, Arroyo Mangueras, Arroyo de los Medanos, Arroyo Corrales and Arroyo Zapucay, Arroyo Yaguari with its tributary Arroyo Carpinteria, and Arroyo Caraguata with its tributary Arroyo Coronilla.
At the northwest end of the department reaches the hill range Cuchilla de Haedo from the south turning into the Cuchilla Negra hill range, with the hill Cerro de los Peludos between them. Along the borders with Brazil, to the north, runs the hill range Cuchilla de Santa Ana. In the middle of the department is the hill Cerro de la Cruz, while on its eastern end are the hills Cerro del Hospital and Cerro Bonito.