Flores Department

Flores Department
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Flores Department & its capital
Coordinates (Trinidad): 33°32′S 56°53′W / 33.533°S 56.883°W
Country	Uruguay
Capital of Department	Trinidad
Government
• Intendant	Armando Castaingdebat
• Ruling party	Partido Nacional
Area
• Total	5,144 km^2 (1,986 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	25,050
• Density	4.9/km^2 (13/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Poronguero
Time zone	UYT (UTC-3)
ISO 3166 code	UY-FS
Website	www.imflores.gub.uy

Flores is a department of Uruguay, positioned in the southwest of the central part of the country. Its capital is Trinidad. It borders Durazno Department to the north and east, Florida Department to the southeast, San José Department to the south and Soriano Department to the west. Its density of population was the lowest during the 2011 census, closely followed by the departments of Durazno and Treinta y Tres.^[1]

History

The department was formed in 1885 from part of San José Department, during the government of President Máximo Santos. It is named after the former Colorado Party leader, Venancio Flores, who was born in Trinidad in the nineteenth century.

The department has many sites of prehistoric rock art. Such examples of rock art are particularly concentrated at Chamangá (Localidad Rupestre de Chamangá).

Another site of interest is the Palace Cave.

Economy

Outside Trinidad, Flores is agricultural, primarily raising cattle for export and sheep for wool and Gauchos, the South American cowboys, can still be seen riding the plains. There are many active ranches (Spanish: estancias), some of which can be visited by tourists.

However, Flores keeps its traditions whilst utilising the best of modern technology. For example, in Trinidad horsecarts can still be widely observed, but communications are all digital, and wireless internet is available throughout the department.

Fauna

Over 100 species of birds can be found in Flores. For example, rufous horneros, with their oven-like nests, can be seen sitting atop fence posts. Huge colonies of green parrots' nests hang high in the tall eucalyptus. Southern lapwings, locally known as teros, burrowing owls, and elegant-crested tinamou nest in open fields while long wing harriers, gray eagles, and hawks soar high above. Some of the largest great kiskadees are extremely common as are the guira, a type of cuckoo. Along quiet country lanes giant wood rails, pink spoonbills and kingfishers can be seen, alongside flocks of ibis and white egrets in the pastures. Red headed cardinals, both orange throated and red necked woodpeckers, and scissor-tailed nightjars can be seen in the small stands of trees that dot the countryside. Long, split tailed flycatchers zip above the rich grass around twilight. Glittering-bellied emerald hummingbirds drink from the tall purple flowers that carpet the fields from Spring until Fall.

Tegu lizards, armadillos, fox, skunks, hares, opossums and snakes enjoy the undeveloped pastures which dominate the department.

A nature reserve is maintained in the department's capital, Trinidad.

Population and Demographics

Topographic map of Flores Department showing main populated places and roads

It is the most sparsely populated of all the Uruguayan departments with a population density of under 5 people per km² and 350,000 head of cattle. Of the total population of 25,050, some 21,430 live in the capital Trinidad.

As of the census of 2011, Flores Department had a population of 25,050 (12,342 male and 12,708 female) and 10,589 households.^[2]

Demographic data for Flores Department in 2010:

• Population growth rate: 0.151%
• Birth Rate: 14.73 births/1,000 people
• Death Rate: 9.25 deaths/1,000 people
• Average age: 34.3 (33.2 male, 35.5 female)
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 78.66 years
  • Male: 74.82 years
  • Female: 82.20 years
• Average per household income: 26,324 pesos/month
• Urban per capita income: 11,025 pesos/month

2010 Data Source:^[3]

Main Urban Centres	Other towns and villages
Population stated according to the 2011 census.[4]
City / Town Population Trinidad 21,429	City / Town Population Ismael Cortinas 918 Andresito 261

Rural population

According to the 2011 census, Flores department has a rural population of 2,068.^[2]

Culture

Noted local musical talent includes that of the musician Danilo Pallares Echeverría.

The Duo Chamangá (see also: Chamangá#Singing duo) is a noted local musical partnership.

Noted local individuals

• Dr. Armando Castaingdebat is the administrative head of Flores Department.
• Danilo Pallares Echeverría is a local writer and musician, author of the 'Flores Hymn'.
• Faustino Harrison was President of Uruguay 1962-1963.
• Benito Medero was a government minister in the 1970s and Ruralist leader in the 1960s.

See also

• List of populated places in Uruguay#Flores Department
• Máximo Santos#Creation of Flores Department
• Himno a Flores (Flores hymn)
• Trinidad, Uruguay#Nature reserve

References

1. "Censos 2011 (needs flash plugin)". INE. 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
2. "Censos 2011 Flores (needs flash plugin)". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
3. "Uruguay en cifras" (PDF) (in Spanish). INE. 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
4. "Censos 2011 Cuadros Flores". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

External links

• Official site of Flores
• INE map of Flores Department
• Nuestra Terra, Colección Los Departamentos, Vol.2 "Flores"

Coordinates: 33°36′0″S 56°50′0″W / 33.60000°S 56.83333°W