Río Branco is a city in the
Cerro Largo department of northeastern
Uruguay
Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
, it borders the
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
ian city of
Jaguarão
Jaguarão () is a municipality in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul located on the shores of the Jaguarão River, bordering Uruguay.
It lies a short distance inland from the Mirim Lagoon.
Geographical and historical proximity ...
, with which it communicates through the
Baron of Mauá International Bridge
The Baron of Mauá International Bridge (, ) is a bridge that crosses the Jaguarão River, linking the cities of Jaguarão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and Río Branco, Uruguay.
Built between 1927 and 1930, it was named in honor of Irineu Evangeli ...
.
Name
The words ''Rio Branco'' mean "white river" in
Portuguese. However, the name does not refer to any local river; it is a tribute to Brazilian diplomat
José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco
José Maria da Silva Paranhos Júnior, Baron of Rio Branco (in Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Barão do Rio Branco'') (20 April 1845 – 10 February 1912) was a Brazilian Brazilian nobility, nobleman, diplomat, geographer, historian, politic ...
, who negotiated the definitive borders of Brazil and Uruguay. Hence the Portuguese name, instead of
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
''Río Blanco'' (although the city's name has an acute accent on the first word that is required in Spanish, but absent from the Portuguese spelling).
Geography
It is located at the east end of Route 26, about east-southeast of the department capital city of
Melo.
The
Yaguarón River (), which forms the natural border with Brazil, flows along the city's northern limits. Right across the river lies the Brazilian town of
Jaguarão
Jaguarão () is a municipality in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul located on the shores of the Jaguarão River, bordering Uruguay.
It lies a short distance inland from the Mirim Lagoon.
Geographical and historical proximity ...
, with the
Baron of Mauá International Bridge
The Baron of Mauá International Bridge (, ) is a bridge that crosses the Jaguarão River, linking the cities of Jaguarão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and Río Branco, Uruguay.
Built between 1927 and 1930, it was named in honor of Irineu Evangeli ...
joining the two cities.
History
On 31 August 1915, the ''villa'' (town) previously known as Artigas was given its present name by Act of Law 5330.
[ On 1 July 1953, its status was elevated to a ''ciudad'' (city) by Act of Law 11,963.
]
Population
In 2011, Río Branco had a population of 14,604.
Source: ''Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay''
Consular representation
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
has a Vice-consulate in Río Branco.
Places of worship
* St. John the Baptist Parish Church (Roman Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
)
References
External links
INE map of Río Branco
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rio Branco, Uruguay
Populated places in the Cerro Largo Department
Cities in Uruguay
Uruguay (geography) articles