Rocha Department

Summary

Rocha (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈrotʃa]) is a department in the east of Uruguay. Its capital is the city of Rocha. It borders Maldonado Department to its west, Lavalleja Department to its northwest, Treinta y Tres Department to its north, while to its northeast Laguna Merín forms part of its border with Brazil and at the south end of the lake it also borders the southernmost end of Brazil, with the city of Chuy "shared" between both countries, the border passing through its main commercial avenue.

Flag of Rocha Department
Coat of arms of Rocha Department
Rocha Department is located in Uruguay
Rocha Department
Location of Rocha Department and its capital
Coordinates (Rocha): 34°29′0″S 54°21′0″W / 34.48333°S 54.35000°W / -34.48333; -54.35000
Country Uruguay
Capital of DepartmentRocha
Government
 • IntendantAlejo Umpiérrez
 • Ruling partyPartido Nacional
Area
 • Total10,551 km2 (4,074 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total68,088
 • Density6.5/km2 (17/sq mi)
DemonymRochense
Time zoneUTC-3 (UYT)
ISO 3166 codeUY-RO
Websitewww.rocha.gub.uy

Rocha has natural beauties like Cabo Polonio, Valizas, Santa Teresa National Park. It is well known for its beach resorts, like Punta del Diablo or La Esmeralda, which swell with visitors during the summer holidays. Inland, the primary economy of Rocha is based on large cattle ranches.

History edit

On 7 July 1880, the department of Rocha was formed from territory that had belonged to the department of Maldonado since the first division of the Republic in departments in 1819.[citation needed]

Population and Demographics edit

Ethnic groups in Rocha (2011 est.)[1]
Ethnic groups Percent
White
91.5%
Black
7.0%
Indigenous
4.6%
Asian
0.3%
None/Other/Unspecified
2.8%
 
Topographic map of Rocha Department showing main populated places and roads

As of the census of 2011, Rocha Department had a population of 68,088 (33,269 male and 34,819 female) and 46,071 households.[2]

Demographic data for Rocha Department in 2010:

  • Population growth rate: -0.082%
  • Birth Rate: 14.04 births/1,000 people
  • Death Rate: 10.44 deaths/1,000 people
  • Average age: 35.0 (34.0 male, 36.0 female)
  • Life Expectancy at Birth:
    • Total population: 75.82 years
    • Male: 72.17 years
    • Female: 79.43 years
  • Average per household income: 19,978 pesos/month
  • Urban per capita income: 8,635 pesos/month

2010 Data Source:[3]

Main Urban Centres edit

Population stated as per 2011 census. [4]

City / Town Population
Rocha 25,422
Chuy 9,675
Castillos 7,541
Lascano 7,645
La Paloma 3,495
Cebollatí 1,609
La Aguada y Costa Azul 1,090
Velázquez 1,022

Other towns and villages edit

Population stated as per 2011 census.[2]

Town / Village Population
18 de Julio 977
Punta del Diablo 823
San Luis al Medio 598
La Coronilla 510
Puimayen 505

Rural population edit

According to the 2011 census, Rocha department has an additional rural population of 4,146.

 
La Paloma, Rocha

In literature edit

Rocha department features in Carlos Maria Dominguez's 2004 novel Casa de Papel (trs English, 2005, The House of Paper). The narrator visits the ruins of a house of books ergo, 'house of paper', which had been built and then destroyed by an obsessive book collector on the sand spit separating Rocha lagoon from the ocean.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Población por sexo y ascendencia étnico racial, según departamento" (in Spanish). National Institute of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Censos 2011 Rocha (needs flash plugin)". INE. 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Uruguay en cifras" (PDF) (in Spanish). INE. 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Rocha". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

External links edit

  • Official site of the Department of Rocha - About the Department
  • INE map of Rocha Department
  • Tourism in Uruguay, Rocha
  • Nuestra Terra, Colección Los Departamentos, Vol.10 "Rocha"

33°56′0″S 54°0′0″W / 33.93333°S 54.00000°W / -33.93333; -54.00000