Melo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melo | |
  Melo
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Uruguay |
| Department | Cerro Largo Department |
| Founded | 1795 |
| Founder | Agustín de la Rosa |
| Elevation | 80 m (262 ft) |
| Population (2004) | |
| - Total | 50,578 |
| - Demonym | melense |
| postal code | 37000 |
| Area code(s) | +064 |
For the play and film adaptations, see Mélo.
Melo is a city in north-eastern Uruguay. It is the capital of the department of Cerro Largo. The population is of 50,578 inhabitants, according to the 2004 census.
Located in the central area of Cerro Largo, 60 km. west of the border with Brazil, over the edge of Conventos Stream (a branch to the Tacuarí River), this urban settlement can easily be found at km. 387 on the 8th road. Other leading ways to the city are roads 7, 26 and 44.
It was Founded on June 27, 1795 by Agustín de la Rosa, an officer to the Spanish Empire. Melo is still an old-fashioned city with low buildings, most of which still keep some ancient wells in their yards.
Given its proximity to some Portuguese colonies in Brazil, the "Melo Village" (in Spanish, "Villa de Melo"), as it was once named; was invaded by Portuguese forces in 1801, 1811, and 1816. With Uruguayan independence, Melo was officially declared capital of the department of Cerro Largo.
In 1845, the city square was rebaptized in honor of Manuel Oribe, a former President of Uruguay and a political leader of the White Party (Partido Blanco), which brought out to light the relations of this corner of the country with that National Movement (the vast majority of its inhabitants have belonged to that same political community).
The Conventos Stream, which was once used for boat races carried out by the Club Remeros Melo, has become severely polluted over time and was consequently forbidden to public access.
 |
This Uruguay location article is a stub. You can help by expanding it. |
