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Rivera () is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. The border with Brazil joins it with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which is only a street away from it, at the north end of
Route 5 Route 5, or Highway 5, may refer to routes in the following countries: International * AH5, Asian Highway 5 * European route E05 * European route E005 Argentina * National Route 5 (Argentina), National Route 5 Australia New South Wales * ...
. Together, they form an urban area of around 200,000 inhabitants. As of the census of 2011, it is the sixth most populated city of Uruguay.


History

On 21 March 1860 a ''pueblo'' (village) named Pereira was created by the Act of Ley Nº 614. On 7 May 1862, it was substituted by the ''villa'' (town) named Ceballos and founded by the Act of Ley Nº 704, in honour of the Spanish viceroy Pedro de Cevallos. In July 1867 it took on the official name Rivera and was recognized as a ''villa''. The Brazilian town Santana do Livramento already existed just across the border. On 1 October 1884, it became capital of the Department of Rivera by the Act of Ley Nº 1.757. Its status was elevated to ''ciudad'' (city) on 10 June 1912 by the Act of Ley Nº 4.006. In 1943, the Plaza Internacional Rivera-Livramento (see photo) was built to celebrate the Fifth Conference of the Commission Mixta for Mixed Limits and as a hope for the future integration of the two towns, claimed to be the only international square in the world. From 1851 to this day, inhabitants of both communities are free to move in both sides. Today, duty-free shops are one of the main economic resources of Rivera. The first inhabitants of the city were
Spaniards Spaniards, or Spanish people, are a Romance peoples, Romance ethnic group native to Spain. Within Spain, there are a number of National and regional identity in Spain, national and regional ethnic identities that reflect the country's complex Hist ...
, Italians, Portuguese and some
Brazilians Brazilians ( pt, Brasileiros, ) are the citizens of Brazil. A Brazilian can also be a person born abroad to a Brazilian parent or legal guardian as well as a person who acquired Brazilian citizenship. Brazil is a multiethnic society, which me ...
immigrants who lived in Santana do Livramento, on the Brazilian side of the border.


Border control

The two cities of Rivera (Uruguay) and Santana do Livramento (Brazil) maintain an open border without any physical border barriers or checkpoints. Inhabitants of the twin cities are free to move anywhere within the two communities without having to undergo checks. Travellers crossing the border here and proceeding further into the other country are required to complete border formalities at an integrated border control post located at Siñeriz Shopping in Rivera. The integrated border control post housing the immigration and customs offices of both countries was inaugurated on 28 December 2016. Previously, travellers had to visit various offices located in different parts of the twin cities.


Economy

One of the main economic activities of the city of Rivera is the duty free stores. These are aimed at Brazilian neighbors, mainly coming from the cities of
Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul (, , ; "Great River of the South") is a Federative units of Brazil, state in the South Region, Brazil, southern region of Brazil. It is the Federative_units_of_Brazil#List, fifth-most-populous state and the List of Brazilian st ...
, near the border with Uruguay. The close proximity of Rivera makes it a popular destination for buying imported dollar products. With the fall in the price of the US currency, many devices can be bought for prices up to 40% less than similar ones sold in Brazil. The Rivera shopping limit is $300 per person. Purchases above this amount must be declared at the Federal Revenue Office for the payment of the corresponding import tax so that the product can legally enter Brazil. There is also a casino, located on one of the avenues where the border between the two countries runs. Within the department, livestock farming, agriculture and afforestation predominate.


Population

In 2011, Rivera had a population of 64,465 Source: ''Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay''


Climate

The climate in Rivera, as well as in Santana do Livramento, is humid subtropical (''Cfa'', according to the Köppen climate classification), temperate in the winter and relatively warm in the summer.


Places of worship

* Church of the Immaculate Conception ( Roman Catholic) * Parish Church of St. Dominic (Roman Catholic) * Parish Church of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic) * St. Peter Parish Church (Roman Catholic)


Consular representation

Brazil keeps
Consulate in Rivera
located at 1159 Calle Ceballos.


Notable local people

* Ronald Araújo, professional
footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
for FC Barcelona, was born in Rivera. * Luiz Eduardo Garagorri, professional mixed martial artist, currently signed for UFC. * Aparicio Méndez, from Rivera, was
President of Uruguay The president of Uruguay ( es, Presidente del Uruguay), officially known as the president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (), is the head of state and head of government of Uruguay. Their rights are determined in the Constitution of Urugua ...
from 1976 to 1981. He was never elected democratically and was chosen by the military dictatorship. * Rodrigo Mora, professional footballer for Club Atlético River Plate, was born in Rivera.


Transportation

There are regular bus services to
Montevideo Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...
. A rail service to
Tacuarembó Tacuarembó ( Guarani: ''Takuarembo'', literally: "Bamboo shoot") is the capital city of the Tacuarembó Department in north-central Uruguay. Location and geography The city is located on Km. 390 of Route 5, south-southwest of Rivera, the c ...
has been run intermittently. Rivera is served by Pres. Gral. Óscar D. Gestido International Airport, which receives light aircraft and a regular service by Brazilian airline GOL to Porto Alegre.


Sports

The Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera holds 27,115 people and was used in the
1995 Copa América The 1995 Copa América football tournament was staged in Uruguay. It was won by Uruguay, who beat Brazil 5–3 in the penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in the final. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, with Mexico and the United States invited i ...
. The Skatepark of Rivera is on Presidente Viera Street.


Twin towns – sister cities

Rivera is twinned with:


See also

* Rivera Department * List of diplomatic missions in Uruguay#Consulate-General in Rivera *
Rivera HVDC Back-to-back station Rivera HVDC Back-to-back station is the first HVDC Back-to-back station situated south of Rivera, Uruguay Rivera () is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. The border with Brazil joins it with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, w ...


References


External links


INE map of Rivera, Santa Teresa, Mandubí and Lagunón
{{Authority control Rivera Department Populated places in the Rivera Department Populated places established in 1867 Divided cities Brazil–Uruguay border crossings