Aiguá (city)

It has a population of 2,676 inhabitants.

It is one of the most montanious regions of the state. To the south, there are the Carapé Hills, to the west, Aiguá stream which shows the limit with Lavalleja, and to the east, Alférez stream separates Aiguá from Rocha. 

The present city of Aigué was born in the geographical area of Indiano, place of the Iguá or Aleiguá as it was then called. This expression are of native origins. Aiguá is conquer and east projection: doughter of Maldonado -head city- and of San Carlos -colonizing village- both gave it, during the course of its life, the labourious and useful element, militar and political protection and spiritual supply.  

Text extracted from book "Historia de Maldonado" - Volume II -Edition: year 1988. Author: Proffesor María A. Díaz de Guerra.

The rough landscape of the area, particularly attractive because of the variety of forms and colours, constitutes an interesting elemnt, mountain ranges and hills where granite predominates, among other rocks, cutting out the grey outline above the green landscape of tje native wood that cover the base. The mountain is low and multicoloured, there are lots of trees with good wood, like the crown, the aruera, the caroba and the guayabo.

In its deep ravines there are hares, tatú armadillo, guazubirás, foxes, birds of prey and an infinite variety of birds with beautiful and attractive feathers and a lovely singing.

To the north, the aggressiveness of the landscape is softened gradually and to both sides of route 13 Aiguá- Lascano the horizon widens in an endless succession of hillocks and Valleys (Aiguá, Sarandí and Alférez) which join in the north vertex of the state forming Rincón de Aparicio, to the confluence of streams Alférez ans Aiguá.

There are in the area places of unbeatable beauty, the Salamanca caves, product of an underground erosion, the open to the side of the hill Salamanca, a few metres from route 13 near km 188.  
The biggest cave covers and aproximate area of a thousand square metres and is associated to the legendary path of Lemos' bandit.

Source: Maldonado County. Text extracted from book "Historia de Maldonado" - Volume II -Edition: Year 1988
Author: Proffesor María A. Díaz de Guerra