The land is an area of topographical transition from the humid Argentine Pampa to the uplands of S Brazil. Spanish is the official language, but a dialect containing elements of Spanish and Portuguese is spoken along the Brazilian frontier. The majority of the population is nominally Roman Catholic. Cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs are the major livestock animals. Grains for cattle fattening and human consumption make up the bulk of the harvested crops.
Rice is the major food crop, followed by wheat and sugarcane.
Corn is the principal feed concentrate. In the vicinity of Salto there are many orchards and vineyards. Despite Uruguay's basically agricultural-pastoral economy, its dependence upon imports for most raw materials, and its lack of fuel resources, there is considerable industrialization. Meat, wool, and hides and skins constitute the majority of Uruguay's exports. Other manufactures include beverages, textiles, construction and building materials, chemicals, and petroleum and coal derivatives.