Rocha | |
---|---|
Capital city | |
Location in Uruguay | |
Coordinates: 34°29′0″S 54°21′0″W / 34.48333°S 54.35000°WCoordinates: 34°29′0″S 54°21′0″W / 34.48333°S 54.35000°W | |
Country | Uruguay |
Department | Rocha Department |
Founded | 1793 |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 25,422 |
• Demonym | rochense |
Time zone | UTC -3 |
Postal code | 27000 |
Dial plan | +598 447 (+5 digits) |
Climate | Cfb |
Rocha (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈrotʃa]) is the capital city of the Rocha Department in Uruguay.
The city is located on the intersection of Route 9 with Route 15, about 70 kilometres (43 mi) northeast of San Carlos of Maldonado Department. The stream Arroyo Rocha flows along the west limits of the city.
It was founded in 1793 and had acquired the status of "Villa" (town) before the Independence of Uruguay. On 7 July 1880 it was made capital of the Department of Rocha by the Act of Ley Nº 1.474, while its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) on 10 January 1894 by the Act of Ley Nº 2.252.
In 2011 Rocha had a population of 25,422.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
Rocha is on the main road from Montevideo to the border with Brazil. Buses connect it to Montevideo. The rail station was closed in the 1980s. There is a small airfield locally. There are plans to improve the local infrastructure substantially. The major project planned is to build a deep water port in or near La Paloma. There are also some plans to build an airport to bring in tourism.
Rocha has a mild oceanic climate (Cfb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with pleasant summers and cool winters. The precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, with an average of 1,123 mm (44.21 in). The hottest month, January, has an average temperature of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F), and the coldest month, July, has an average of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F). The average yearly temperature is 16 °C (60.8 °F).