Mercedes (Spanish pronunciation: [meɾˈseðes]) is the capital and largest city of the department of Soriano in Uruguay. According to the census 2011, it is the tenth most populated city of the country.
Mercedes
La Hermosa del Sur | |
|---|---|
Capital city | |
 Plaza Independencia | |
  Mercedes Location in Uruguay | |
| Coordinates: 33°15′0″S 58°2′0″W / 33.25000°S 58.03333°W | |
| Country |  Uruguay |
| Department |  Soriano |
| Founded | 1788 |
| Population (2011 Census) | |
| • Total | 41,974 |
| • Demonym | mercedario-a |
| Time zone | UTC -3 |
| Postal code | 75000 |
| Dial plan | +598 453 (+5 digits) |
| Climate | Cfa |
Mercedes is an important centre of tourism, commerce and a commercial port. Its main industries are based on agriculture, dairy products, paper manufacturing and industrial activities. Its rambla (riverside promenade) is one of the widest in the country.
History edit
Mercedes was founded in 1788 by the priest Manuel Antonio de Castro y Careaga with the name of Capilla Nueva de las Mercedes. It had acquired the status of "Villa" (town) before the Independence of Uruguay. On 6 July 1857, its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) and it was designated as capital of Soriano, one of the nine original departments of the Republic at the time, by the Act of Law Nº 531. Previously, the capital of the department was Villa Soriano.[1]
Population edit
In 2011, it had a population of about 41,974[2]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1908 | 15,667 |
| 1963 | 31,325 |
| 1975 | 34,518 |
| 1985 | 36,701 |
| 1996 | 39,320 |
| 2004 | 42,032 |
| 2011 | 41,174 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[1]
Geography edit
The city is located on the junction of Route 2 with Route 14, and is situated on the south bank of the Río Negro. Also Route 21 from Colonia del Sacramento of Colonia Department terminates in this city.
Climate edit
| Climate data for Mercedes, Uruguay (1991–2020, extremes 1941–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 42.8 (109.0) |
41.6 (106.9) |
40.0 (104.0) |
36.0 (96.8) |
32.2 (90.0) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
33.3 (91.9) |
36.1 (97.0) |
36.6 (97.9) |
39.7 (103.5) |
42.0 (107.6) |
42.8 (109.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.5 (88.7) |
29.8 (85.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
16.6 (61.9) |
19.1 (66.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
23.8 (74.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
30.0 (86.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) |
23.5 (74.3) |
21.7 (71.1) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.5 (58.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
10.9 (51.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
14.5 (58.1) |
17.5 (63.5) |
20.6 (69.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
17.8 (64.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
15.3 (59.5) |
11.7 (53.1) |
8.7 (47.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.2 (52.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
11.5 (52.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 5.0 (41.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
0.4 (32.7) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 133.1 (5.24) |
123.8 (4.87) |
134.2 (5.28) |
116.9 (4.60) |
78.9 (3.11) |
68.0 (2.68) |
61.1 (2.41) |
70.7 (2.78) |
78.5 (3.09) |
120.9 (4.76) |
96.8 (3.81) |
131.5 (5.18) |
1,214.4 (47.81) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 72 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64 | 69 | 72 | 76 | 78 | 80 | 77 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 68 | 63 | 72 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 293.0 | 243.6 | 244.4 | 180.2 | 168.3 | 139.3 | 160.1 | 188.7 | 200.6 | 224.8 | 262.0 | 272.6 | 2,577.6 |
| Source 1: Instituto Uruguayo de Metereología[3][4][5] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (precipitation and sun 1991–2020),[6] Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (humidity 1980–2009)[7] | |||||||||||||
Places of worship edit
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy (Roman Catholic)
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church (Roman Catholic)
- St. John the Baptist Parish Church (Roman Catholic, Sisters of the Divine Savior)
- St. Pius X Parish Church (Roman Catholic)
Sports edit
Mercedes was one of the host cities of the official 1967 Basketball World Cup.
Notable people edit
- Ricardo Paseyro (1925–2009), diplomat and poet
References edit
- ^ a b "Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004)". INE. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Soriano". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
- ^ "Estadísticas climatológicas" (in Spanish). Dirección Nacional de Meteorología. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "RECORDS METEOROLOGICOS EN EL URUGUAY" (in Spanish). Dirección Nacional de Meteorología. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "86490: Mercedes (Uruguay)". ogimet.com. OGIMET. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Mercedes Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Castaño, José; Giménez, Agustín; Ceroni, Mauricio; Furest, José; Aunchayna, Rossina. "Caracterización Agroclimática del Uruguay 1980–2009" (PDF) (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
External links edit
