A road trip thru eastern departments of Treinta Tres and Cerro Largo.
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Hills of Cerro Largo
Rio Yaguaron separates Cerro Largo from the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. At low water times, one can easily wade across to the other country. There was no customs or immigration official - the borders between the two countries are very porous...as long as you are not a cow! Three Uruguayan military guards were posted at this spot - they were more keen on bar-b-que-ing armadillo and ensuring that none of the waders had any cattle with them as Uruguay remains a nation free of Aftosa disease.
South 32 08.453 West 53 45.058
pH =7.2; Water temp = 79 F; Air temp = 89 F; Hardness = 61 ppm
Brazilian rice cultivation is adding chemicals to this river
A male Crenicichla punctata. Rio Yaguaron, Centurion, Uruguay-Brasil border, Cerro Largo. March 2001.
Close up of C. punctata. It is the southern most representative of the lacustris group. As expected, it is an aggressive aquarium resident. My numerous attempts at getting a compatible pair have all failed. Hope one of you have better luck. Old grouchy males make great pets.
Gotcha! Revenge!
The horseflies here were worse than I have ever seen - nothing could keep them off!
At one point, we literally ran back into our truck to escape the pain.
This flowering cactus was relatively common outside the town of Melo.
C'mon! Where else can you see such a sight? I love Uruguay!
We were driving along and we came upon this handsome, old gaucho riding across the country to attend a fiesta. He had 150 Km more to go. It was an honor to meet this person, shake his hand and give his dog some water. I truly felt like I'd traveled back in time.
The competition.
The Amazon Kingfisher's (Chloroceryle amazona) is found as far south as Cerro Largo.
Arroyo de las Averias. South 33 11.429 West 54 48.102.
pH = 7.5; Hardness = 66 ppm (mg/L); Water temp. =75.4 F; Oxygen = 8 mg/L.
I saw this stream pictured in Weidner's book and had to go there, so I did.
It is about 40 or 50 Km from the town of Treinta Tres. We camped here overnight.
Caught the following:
- Gymno. gymnogenys
- G. labiatus
- G. rhabdotus
- C. punctata
- C. lepidota.
- Great place for catfish - caught more species of catfish here than anywhere else on that trip:
- Corydoras paleatus
- Rhineloricaria sp. 5- 6 inches
- Rhineloricaria sp. Giant 20 inches
- Chaetostoma sp.
- Ancistrus sp.
- Hepapterus mustelinus
- Rhamdia sp.
- Loricaria sp.
Mustangs of Cerro Largo
Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia)
Arroyo Ceibal, home of Australoheros sp. Red Ceibal.
Arroyo Escuela near Centurion, Cerro Largo, Uruguay. March 2001.
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