Minas de Corrales: the gold town in Uruguay
Minas de Corrales is a town in the department of Rivera, Uruguay, located on the banks of the Corrales stream. The town gets its name from the mines of various minerals found in the area, making it the gold capital of Uruguay.
Minas de Corrales is a hidden gem in the heart of South America and is rich in history, culture, and beautiful landscapes. Here, you can visit its gold mines, its pioneering aerorail system, the Cuñapiru hydroelectric dam, and the ruins of Uruguay’s first mining town. Additionally, the small town has excellent infrastructure for visitors, including hotels, restaurants, social clubs, and organized tours and walks through various local points of interest.
Minas de Corrales
This characteristic rural town in the interior certainly offers a striking contrast between tradition and modernity. On the main Dr. Davison Avenue, along the entire length of the central stone masonry, you can admire various remnants of mining activity during the 19th century in the area. At the same time, the beauty of the Miriñaque and Vigilante hills, with their unique varieties of dwarf palms, draws attention. The galleries of the old mining extractions are located on the banks of the Corrales stream, providing a perfect backdrop to imagine the tough life of miners in the past.
Plaza de Deportes
Minas de Corrales Tradizioni
In the town, we find Plaza de Deportes, which played an important role for the country’s residents, mainly for the recreation and fun of children. Minas de Corrales is a place where there is great respect for traditions; country style, clothing, customs are values inherent in the local people. Dressage, pencas, equestrian raids are events that capture everyone’s interest.
One of the historically rich attractions to visit in the surroundings is the ruins of the Cuñapirú dam, located 12 kilometers from Minas de Corrales, between Tacuarembó and Rivera, in northern Uruguay. This place was the scene of a major strike that took place between January and August 1880. About 200 Italian miners, working in the Represa de Cuñapirú, rebelled against the inhumane conditions they were subjected to. The company, which continued to commit abuses, sought the military intervention of the government, which initially refused, and an ending that remained shrouded in mystery. The Represa de Cuñapirú was the first hydroelectric power plant in South America, managed by the “Compañía Francesa de las Minas de Oro del Uruguay.”
Museo dell oro
Museo dell oro
In Minas del Corrales, as mentioned, you will also find the Gold Museum, a space dedicated to showcasing the extraction process and the history of its founder Don Tito Pereira. The Gold Museum takes you on a journey through different eras, places, people, trades, tools, and minerals; a visit is certainly a must. Mr. Tito Pereira, Mrs. Marta Rodríguez, Mr.
Hugo Pereira, have been fundamental to the history of Minas de Corrales but above all in the history of gold. History tells us that Don Tito, with much patience, instructed on the subject by showing his work environment, his mortar, the way he trampled, the water tank where he put the gravel, the way the gold detached from the stone. He was a reference point for all the people of Corrales; Don Tito Pereira was and will be the Great Miner of the Mines of Corrales.
Minas de Corrales is, therefore, a testimony to the rich history and cultural significance of mining activity in the region, allowing visitors today to experience and learn about a world shaped by the toil and determination of past generations, in a journey through time and space.
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