Cerro Chato

History

The town was founded based on extensive livestock farming in the area. In the 19th century, the area of Cerro Chato was a point of passage for postilions, stagecoaches and troops of cattle destined for other regions of Uruguay. In 1908, the national railroad reached the town, which turned it into a point from where cattle could be transported nationwide. On 8 January 1942, Cerro Chato was declared a "Pueblo" (village) by the Act of Ley Nº 10.112. Its status was elevated to "Villa" (town) by the Act of Ley Nº 13.299 on 17 November 1964. In 1927, a non-binding plebiscite took place in Cerro Chato to decide to which department it would belong: Durazno, Florida or Treinta y Tres. For this referendum, every citizen of the town was called to vote, including women. That was the first time in Latin America that women exercised the right to vote. The Department of Durazno won the plebiscite, but this result was not accepted by the authorities. Therefore, Cerro Chato still is split between the three departments.

Geography

The town is located along Route 7, northeast by road from Valentines and southwest of Santa Clara de Olimar. It is located close to the source of the Yí River.

Most-observed species

• Monk Parakeet

  Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  7
• Great Kiskadee

  Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  7
• Rufous Hornero

  Furnarius rufus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  7
• Red-crested Cardinal

  Paroaria coronata (J.F.Miller, 1776) · Aves
  7
• Greater Rhea

  Rhea americana (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6
• Gray Monjita

  Xolmis cinereus (Vieillot, 1816) · Aves
  5
• Brown-and-yellow Marshbird

  Pseudoleistes virescens (Vieillot, 1819) · Aves
  5
• Grayish/Pale Baywing

  Agelaioides badius (Vieillot, 1819) · Aves
  5