Flores Department
Encyclopedia
History and cultural heritage
The department, created by President Máximo SantosMáximo Santos
Máximo Santos was a Uruguayan political and military figure.-Background:Santos pursued a career in the military, prior to serving as Minister for War from 1880 to 1882...
, is named after the former Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Uruguay)
The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
leader, Venancio Flores
Venancio Flores
Venancio Flores Barrios was a Uruguayan political leader and general. Flores was President of Uruguay from 1854 to 1855 and from 1865 to 1868.-Background and early career:...
, who was born in Trinidad in the nineteenth century.
The department has many sites of prehistoric rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
. Such examples of rock art are particularly concentrated at Chamangá
Chamangá
Chamangá is an area within a rocky terrain in the Flores Department of Uruguay, where a considerable quantity of ancient rock art has survived..The Chamangá River, a tributary of the Yí River, flows nearby....
.
Music
Noted local musical talent includes that of the musician Danilo Pallares EcheverríaDanilo Pallares Echeverría
Danilo Pallares Echeverría is a Uruguayan writer and musician.He is the author of the 'Flores Hymn' .Pallares is an accomplished musician who, as at 2008, was specializing in the live music scene in Uruguay...
.
The Duo Chamangá (see also: Chamangá#Singing duo) is a noted local musical partnership.
Economy
Outside Trinidad, Flores is agricultural, primarily raising cattle for export and sheep for wool and GauchoGaucho
Gaucho is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American pampas, chacos, or Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Chile, and Southern Brazil...
s, the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s, can still be seen riding the plains. There are many active ranches (Spanish: estancias), some of which can be visited by tourists. However, Flores keeps its traditions whilst utilising the best of modern technology. For example, in Trinidad horsecarts can still be widely observed, but communications are all digital, and wireless internet is available throughout the department.
Fauna
Over 100 species of birds can be found in Flores. For example, rufous horneroHornero
The horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America.Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens...
s, with their oven-like nests, can be seen sitting atop fence posts. Huge colonies of green parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s' nests hang high in the tall eucalyptus. Southern lapwing
Lapwing
Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. Its length is 10-16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers and dotterels. The Vanellinae are...
s, locally known as teros, burrowing owl
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is a tiny but long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America. Burrowing Owls can be found in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, or any other open dry area with low vegetation. They nest and roost in burrows, such as those excavated...
s, and elegant-crested tinamou nest in open fields while long wing harriers, gray eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s, and hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
s soar high above. Some of the largest great kiskadees are extremely common as are the guira, a type of cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
. Along quiet country lanes giant wood rails, pink spoonbills and kingfishers can be seen, alongside flocks of ibis and white egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s in the pastures. Red headed cardinals, both orange throated and red necked woodpeckers, and scissor-tailed nightjars can be seen in the small stands of trees that dot the countryside. Long, split tailed flycatchers zip above the rich grass around twilight. Glittering-bellied emerald hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s drink from the tall purple flowers that carpet the fields from Spring until Fall.
Tegu lizards, armadillo
Armadillo
Armadillos are New World placental mammals, known for having a leathery armor shell. Dasypodidae is the only surviving family in the order Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra along with the anteaters and sloths. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one"...
s, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
s, hares, opossums and snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s enjoy the undeveloped pastures which dominate the department.
A nature reserve is maintained in the department's capital, Trinidad.
Population and Demographics
It is the most sparsely populated of all the Uruguayan departmentsDepartments of Uruguay
||Uruguay consists of 19 departments :# Artigas . Formed in 1884 from part of Salto Department. The only department to border both Argentina in the west and Brazil in the north and east.# Canelones . One of the original 6 departments created in 1816...
with a population density of under 5 people per km² and 350,000 head of cattle. Of the total population of 25,000, some 20,000 live in the capital Trinidad
Trinidad, Uruguay
Trinidad is the capital city of Flores in southern Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Route 3 with Route 14.-History:Named for the Spanish word for 'Trinity', its naming reflects a less secular period in the country's history. The city was initially called: 'Santísima Trinidad de los...
.
As of the census of 2004, there were 25,104 people and 8,137 households in the department. The average household size was 3.0. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males.
- Population growth rate: -0.313% (2004)
- Birth Rate: 14.20 births/1,000 people (2004)
- Death Rate: 9.97 deaths/1,000 people
- Average age: 34.2 (32.8 Males, 35.7 Females)
- Life Expectancy at Birth (2004):
- Total population: 76.96 years
- Male: 75.98 years
- Female: 81.10 years
- Average Family Size: 2.13 children/woman
- Urban per capita income (cities of 5,000 inhabitants or more): 15,754.1 pesos/month
Cities, towns and villages
Population stated as per 2004 census.| City / Town | Population |
|---|---|
| Trinidad Trinidad, Uruguay Trinidad is the capital city of Flores in southern Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Route 3 with Route 14.-History:Named for the Spanish word for 'Trinity', its naming reflects a less secular period in the country's history. The city was initially called: 'Santísima Trinidad de los... |
20,982 |
| Ismael Cortinas Ismael Cortinas Ismael Cortinas is a town in the Flores Department of Uruguay. It is located on the junction of Route 23 with Route 12, at southwest edge of the department and borders the departments of Soriano, Colonia and San José. It was elevated to "Pueblo" category on 15 November 1963 by decree Ley No... |
1,069 |
| Andresito Andresito, Uruguay Andresito is a village in the north of Flores Department of Uruguay. It is located on Km. 238 of Route 3 and close to its junctions with Route 14. A bridge passes Route 3 over Arroyo Grande to national park Parque Bartolome Hidalgo northwest from the village and then, after another , another... |
271 |
Rural population
According to the 2004 census, Flores department has an additional rural poulation of 2,439.Noted local individuals
- Dr. Armando CastaingdebatArmando Castaingdebat-Background:He is a member of the National Party . ....
is the political head of Flores Department. - Danilo Pallares EcheverríaDanilo Pallares EcheverríaDanilo Pallares Echeverría is a Uruguayan writer and musician.He is the author of the 'Flores Hymn' .Pallares is an accomplished musician who, as at 2008, was specializing in the live music scene in Uruguay...
is a local writer and musician, author of the 'Flores Hymn'. - Faustino HarrisonFaustino HarrisonFaustino Harrison was a Uruguayan political figure.- President of Uruguay :He was President of Uruguay from 1962 to 1963....
was President of UruguayPresident of UruguayThe President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the head of state of Uruguay. His or her rights are determined in the Constitution of Uruguay. Conforms with the Secretariat of the Presidency, the Council of Ministers and the Director of the Office of Planning and Budget, the executive branch...
1962-1963. - Benito MederoBenito MederoBenito Medero was an Uruguayan politician.-Background:He was a 5th generation cattle rancher in the Flores Department.He was intendente and council member of Flores...
was a government minister in the 1970s and Ruralist leader in the 1960s.
See also
- List of populated places in Uruguay#Flores Department
- Máximo Santos#Creation of Flores Department
- Himno a FloresHimno a FloresHimno a Flores is the Departmental anthem , designated by the Uruguayan Flores Department.-Cultural note:Uruguay is notable for the fact that, as well as its national anthem, various of its departments have also adopted their own anthems in an effort to promote civic identity and...
(Flores hymn) - Trinidad, Uruguay#Nature reserve