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The municipality (department) of Rocha is located in eastern Uruguay, on the border with Brazil. As of the census of 2004, there were 69,937 people and 24,834 households in the department. Its main cities are Rocha, Castillos, Lascano, Chuy and La Paloma. Rocha's primary economy is cattle and agriculture, but the department is better known for its beaches and resort towns which swell with tourists during the summer months.

Ambassador Frank E. Baxter visited Rocha on April 22 to meet with Municipal Intendant Artigas Barrios and other local government officials. He also visted the Alianza binational centers in the cities of Rocha, Castillos and Chuy.

>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter meets with Rocha officials, chief of police Nestor Artigas Lema, Intendant Artigas Barrios and Secretary Daniel Altez.		>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador and Mrs. Baxter observe a pair of carved capibaras they received from Intendant Artigas Barrios.

>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter with Intendant Barrios during a press conference in Rocha.		>Click to enlarge photo  Students and teachers welcome ambassador and Mrs. Baxter to the Alianza Binational Center in Rocha.

>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador and Mrs. Baxter are greeted by students as they arrive at the Alianza Binational Center in Rocha.		>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter chats with students at the Binational Center in Rocha. [VIDEO ]

>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter presents a boxed U.S. flag to Binational Center director Silvia Montenegro.		>Click to enlarge photo  A young student makes sure to capture the ambassador's visit to the Alianza Binational Center in Rocha.

>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter joins students in a group photo at the Rocha Binational Center.		>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter receives a plaque with the coat of arms of Rocha from the binational center students.

>Click to enlarge photo  Rocha's Secretary Daniel Altez with Intendant Artigas Barrios, Mrs. Kathy Baxter, Silvia Montenegro, Ambassador Baxter.		>Click to enlarge photo  Ambassador Baxter signs autographs in front of the Alianza Binational Center in Rocha.

>Click to enlarge photo		>Click to enlarge photo
Ambassador Baxter and Intendant Barrios tour the city of Rocha. At right, they visit the recently renovated Teatro 25 de Mayo.

MORE PHOTOS:

• La Paloma and La Pedrera

• Santa Teresa National Park

• Castillos (Binational Center)

• Chuy (Binational Center)