Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country located in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.4 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area. An estimated 88% of the population are of European descent.
Uruguay's only land border is with Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to the north. To the west lies the Uruguay River, to the southwest lies the estuary of Rio de la Plata, with Argentina only a short commute across the banks of either of these bodies of water, while to the southeast lies the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Uruguay, with an area of approximately 176 thousand km2, is the second smallest nation of South America in area after Suriname.
Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the country from north to south. Because of its central location in South America, is sometimes referred to as Corazon de America, or the Heart of America.
As of 2009 the population was estimated at 6.3 million. The capital and largest city is Asuncion. The official languages are Spanish and Guarani, both being widely spoken in the country. Most of the population are mestizos.