San Javier (''Сан-Хавьер'') is a town situated on the east bank of the river
Río Uruguay in the
Río Negro Department
Río Negro Department (, ) is a department of the northwestern region of Uruguay. It has an area of and a population of 57,334. Its capital is Fray Bentos. It borders Paysandú Department to the north, Tacuarembó Department to the east, Durazno ...
of
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 was founded in 1913 by a Russian group of settlers, members of the
New Israel religious sect, who migrated under the influence of the then spiritual leader
Vasily Lubkov, from the
Voronezh
Voronezh ( ; , ) is a city and the administrative centre of Voronezh Oblast in southwestern Russia straddling the Voronezh River, located from where it flows into the Don River. The city sits on the Southeastern Railway, which connects wes ...
region of
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
.
Geography
It is located west of Route 24, north of the department capital
Fray Bentos, west of
Young and south of
Paysandú
Paysandú () is the capital and most populous city of the Paysandú Department in western Uruguay. Located on the banks of the Uruguay River, it is the country's List of cities in Uruguay, fourth-largest city and a vital cultural and economic hu ...
, the capital of
Paysandú Department. Russian is the second official language after Spanish.
History
A populated centre was founded here by 300 families of Russian settlers on 27 July 1913
[ They belonged to the Russian sect New Israel and were seeking religious freedom, which was denied to them under the ]Czar
Tsar (; also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar''; ; ; sr-Cyrl-Latn, цар, car) is a title historically used by Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word '' caesar'', which was intended to mean ''emperor'' in the Euro ...
. Their leader, Basilio Lubkov had been imprisoned in Russia as a religious dissident. The settlers introduced the sunflower
The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds, which are often eaten as a snack food. They are also used in the pr ...
, as well as some advanced agricultural techniques to Uruguay. They constructed a flour mill and the first sunflower oil producing plant in the country.
Military Dictatorship (1973-84)
During the Uruguayan military dictatorship (1973–84) the Russian inhabitants were persecuted, as the military saw each one as a possible communist
Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...
sympathizer. Many residents stopped speaking Russian, and most Russian books were destroyed. The cultural centre Máximo Gorki—where music, dance and other cultural activities were held—was closed, and traditional dance costumes were burnt. In 1984, the town became known throughout Uruguay for the execution of Vladimir Roslik, a Russian-Uruguayan medical doctor who was tortured and later killed by the Uruguayan military. For some he is a hero and a symbol of internal struggle in Uruguay.[
]
Return of Democracy
With the restoration of democracy by 1989, the cultural centre Máximo Gorki has again been revived as a focal point for cultural activities in the town. It is home of the traditional dance group Kalinka, who have won many prizes in Uruguayan dance competitions.
Today the inhabitants of San Javier are proud to have maintained many of their traditions, including food, dances, embroidery and music. They celebrate a festival on 27 July, the date of foundation, with a feast of traditional food, music and dancing. Over the years, Russian marriages have been memorable events with three days of festivities that include dancing, singing, and traditional meals.
Centennial
In July 2013, celebrations were held remembering the arrival of the first Russian settlers.
Population
In 2011, San Javier had a population of 1,781,
Esteros de Farrapos National Park
The town is one of two access points for the new Esteros de Farrapos National Park and Islands of the Uruguay River, which is recognised under the Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar site, Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on We ...
as a Wetland of International Significance. Esteros de Farrapos which is 17,496 Ha, includes 24 islands. It one of the last known refuge for the puma in Uruguay, and the only protected area where maned wolf
The maned wolf (''Chrysocyon brachyurus'') is a large canine of South America. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Paraguay, and is almost extinct in Uruguay. Its markings resemble those of a red fox, but it is neither a fox nor ...
have been recorded. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the park, 30 mammals, 14 reptiles, 8 amphibians and many butterflies.
Tourism is not yet well developed in the park, however there is limited accommodation in San Javier, and a well-equipped camping area at nearby Puerto Viejo ('Old Port'). Activities including fishing, boating, horse riding and birdwatching. Boats are available for hire, as well as experienced nature guides.
Bibliography
*
References
External links
Ramsar NominationArticle from ''El Pais'' newspaperwww.sanjavier.unlugar.com Oscar Sergio Malarov Urivskywww.museodelosinmigrantes.blogspot.com Museum of Russian immigrant pioneers in San Javier (Leonardo Martinez)INE map of San Javier
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Río Negro Department
Populated places established in 1913
Russian diaspora in Uruguay
1913 establishments in Uruguay