Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in weather fronts
Environment-current issues: substantial pollution from Brazilian industry along border; one-fifth of country affected by acid rain generated by Brazil; water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Uruguay:People
Population: 3,284,841 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 405,894; female 386,479) 15-64 years: 63% (male 1,019,682; female 1,048,844) 65 years and over: 13% (male 176,467; female 247,475) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)