Uruguay

In the northeastern river country, wetlands, grasslands and wooded margins form a landscape shaped by water. The Uruguay River is one of the major waterways of the wider region, while seasonal changes in water level affect movement through the wetlands. Fishing, hunting, gathering and cultivation supported communities in different parts of this varied country.

The wider Paraná and Uruguay river region included Guaraní communities and other Indigenous peoples. Trade and migration crossed lands later divided by colonial governments. Spanish and Portuguese expansion brought missions and military expeditions, while rivers remained routes connecting people across the interior.