- Nuevo Berlín
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Nuevo Berlín — Town — Memorial with stone from the Berlin Wall
Nuevo BerlínCoordinates: 32°58′45″S 58°3′10″W / 32.97917°S 58.05278°WCoordinates: 32°58′45″S 58°3′10″W / 32.97917°S 58.05278°W Country 
UruguayDepartment Río Negro Department Population (2004) – Total 2,438 Time zone UTC -3 Postal code 65002 Area code(s) +598 4568 Nuevo Berlín (New Berlin) is a town in the Río Negro Department of western Uruguay. It is located on the east bank of Uruguay River 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northwest of the junction of Route 24 with Route 20. South of the town flows the stream Arroyo de la Yeguada and to its west, in the Uruguay River, is the island Isla del Burro. Its distance from the capital of the department Fray Bentos is 42 kilometres (26 mi) via Route 42 and Route 2.
Contents
Population
In 2004 it had a population of 2,438.[1]
Year Population 1963 1,893 1975 2,659 1985 2,097 1996 2,366 2004 2,438 Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[2]
History
German settlers
In the 19th century, some German settlements were created next to the river, mostly composed by farmers. One of the first settlements was named Nueva Melhem (New Melhem) by two brothers, Richard and Karl Wendelstandt. They migrated from Germany around 1850.
Farming activities
Then Richard and Karl Wendelstandt bought the farm “El Curupí” in the Department of Soriano. Some years later, they bought properties in Paysandú which they renamed as Nueva Melhem. This new farm, with some 27,000 hectares was surrounded by 32 “positions”, 31 of which were occupied by other German families.
Town development
Meanwhile, the Wendelstandt family in Germany decided to invest in their relatives’ properties in Uruguay. With these investments, the surroundings of farm “Nueva Melhem” became the town Nuevo Berlín around 1865-1868, with the approval of the brothers Wendelstandt, who requested Mr. Fridolin Quincke to design it. The task was finished by the end of 1874.
Aviation accident
Flight 2553, a Douglas DC-9-32, registration LV-WEG, en route from Posadas to Buenos Aires, crashed near Nuevo Berlín,[3] Uruguay, after entering a storm, resulting in the death of all 74 occupants, of whom 69 were passengers.
References
- ^ "2004 Census of Rio Negro department" (XLS). INE. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/fase1new/Rio%20Negro/Cuadro7_12.XLS. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "1963–1996 Statistics / N" (DOC). Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/toponimico/TOPOletraN.doc. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "75 Die in Crash of Argentine Plane in Uruguay". The New York Times. 12 October 1997. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/12/world/75-die-in-crash-of-argentine-plane-in-uruguay.html?scp=66&sq=aerolineas%20argentinas&st=cse. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
External links
Río Negro Department of UruguayCapital: Fray BentosTowns and
villagesAlgorta • Barrio Anglo • Fray Bentos • Grecco • Nuevo Berlín • San Javier • Young
Sights Esteros de Farrapos National Park
Categories:- Populated places in the Río Negro Department
- Populated places established in 1892
- Uruguay River
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