On April 22, Ambassador and Mrs. Baxter visited the department of Rocha in southeastern Uruguay to know more about the country's regions, its resources and its people.

Following a tour of the city of Rocha, (see related photo essay) Municipal Intendant Artigas Barrios accompanied Ambassador Baxter and his wife Kathy to visit the department's main tourist resorts. Rocha has more than 100 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches and interesting coastal towns rich in history. La Paloma, located approximately 160 miles east of Montevideo is the largest.

The Cabo Santa Maria lighthouse in La Paloma is a major attraction. It was erected in 1874 and is said to be "the tallest sun clock in the world," with a vertical gnomon almost 40 meters high (131 feet.)

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