Artigas Department

Artigas Department
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Artigas Department and its capital
Coordinates (Artigas): 30°28′S 56°28′W / 30.467°S 56.467°W / -30.467; -56.467
Country	Uruguay
Capital of Department	Artigas
Government
• Intendant	Pablo Caram Murillo
• Ruling party	Partido Nacional
Area
• Total	11,928 km2 (4,605 sq mi)
Population  (2011 census)
• Total	73,378
• Density	6.2/km2 (16/sq mi)
Demonym	Artiguense
Time zone	UTC-3 (UYT)
ISO 3166 code	UY-AR
Website	www.artigas.gub.uy

Artigas Department (Spanish: Departamento de Artigas, Spanish pronunciation: [aɾˈtiɣas]) is the northernmost department of Uruguay, located in its northwestern region. Its capital is the city of Artigas, which borders on the Brazilian city of Quaraí. Artigas Department has an area of 11,928 square kilometres (4,605 sq mi), making it the fifth largest in the country. The population is 73,378 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census.

It is bordered on the north and east by Brazil, from which it is separated by the Cuareim River. To the south, Artigas Department borders on Salto Department, and to the west is Argentina, from which it is separated by the Uruguay River. Artigas is the only Uruguayan department that borders two other countries.

The department and its capital city are named after José Gervasio Artigas (1764–1850), leader of the Orientales (inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, the Eastern bank of the Uruguay River) during Uruguay's wars of independence.