Municipal Governor: Julio Silveira

Surface: 11,928 km2 (source: Enciclopedia gráfica del Uruguay; Montevideo Comm)

Population: 78,019 habitants (source: 2004 census, National Statistics Institute)

Capital City: Artigas (40,045 habitants)

Created by an 1884 law, the department of Artigas is the fifth largest in surface area (11,928 km2) and ranks 12th in population (78,019 according to a 2004 census) in Uruguay. Artigas borders Brazil to the north and Argentina to the west. Five years after the arrival of the first railroad in 1886, Artigas had its first parish and police station. Many rivers, streams and hills and much of its flora and fauna retain the names given by the indigenous peoples that populated the area. In 1852, following the end of the Great War and with the purpose of reaffirming the border with Brazil, San Eugenio de Cuareim was founded. In 1915, the town was reclassified as a city, renamed Artigas and became the capital of the department. Wool, rice, sugar, precious stones and wine are the most significant activities in the department. Traditionally governed by the Colorado Party, Artigas elected its first Nacional Party intendant, Julio Silveira, in 2005.

Major cities Artigas The city of Artigas, the department’s capital, was founded as San Eugenio del Cuareim on 12 September 1852 by Don Carlos Catalá in homage to Eugenio Garzón, a Uruguayan army officer who fought alongside Artigas in the battle of Las Piedras. According to a 2004 census, the city has 41,687 inhabitants. Bella Unión Bella Unión was founded in 1829 by General Fructuoso Rivera with the name Santa Rosa del Cuareim. A century later, the city was renamed Bella Unión. It is located in the northeast of the department at the border with Argentina and Brazil. According to a 2004 census, the city has 13,187 inhabitants. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artigas_Department http://www.tacuy.com.uy/Servicios/Artigas/index.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Uni%C3%B3n