Zagarzazú

Zagarzazú
Balneario Zagarzazú
Village, resort
Zagarzazú

Location in Uruguay

Coordinates: 33°58′0″S 58°20′0″W / 33.96667°S 58.33333°WCoordinates: 33°58′0″S 58°20′0″W / 33.96667°S 58.33333°W
Country  Uruguay
Department Colonia Department
Population (2011)
 • Total 96
Time zone UTC -3
Postal code 70100
Dial plan +598 4542 (+4 digits)

Zagarzazú or Balneario Zagarzazú is a resort village in the Colonia Department of southwestern Uruguay.

Location

Zagarzazú is located on the coast of Río Uruguay, north of the city of Carmelo and just south of Route 21. To the west of the resort, is situated the famous and luxurious hotel Four Seasons Resort of Carmelo,[1] which shares the beach of the resort and its beautiful surroundings. To the north of the hotel and the resort is situated a big golf course.

Population

In 2011 Zagarzazú had a population of 96 permanent inhabitants and 165 dwellings.[2] According to El Pais, the majority of the dwelings are rented by people from Carmelo either for summer vacation or as residence during the whole year, as many of them are employees of the Four Seasons Hotel.[3]

Year Population Dwellings
1975 18 41
1985 20 37
1996 41 65
2004 66
2011 96 165

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[4]

History and airport controversy

Monument to Isidro Zagarzazú

A statue of the founder of the resort, Isidro (Chiquito) Zagarzazú, can be found at the end of the entrance road, near the beach.

Just east of the Zagarzazú resort, is situated the "Aeropuerto Zagarzazú of Carmelo" (Zagarzazú Airport). This airport was built along with the resort by Isidro Zagarzazú. "Aeropuerto Zagarzazú" was later donated to the City of Carmelo as a means of making it an International Airport. Since its donation, there has been political pressure to make it a Domestic Airport again, in order to increase traffic to its neighbouring airport, the "Aeropuerto de Colonia".[5][6] According to Mr. Parodi, subdirector of Tourism at the time, in 2009, a movement of 20 privately chartered flights per day was recorded in this International Airport, transporting people who came to play golf or to stay in the Four Seasons Hotel.[3]

Much controversy has begun taking place due to the issue of the airport, which, if turned to Domestic, would break the clause and the basis on which the airport was initially donated. If this happens then the airport donation clause will be voided and the airport should be returned to the Zagarzazú Family.

The beach of Zagarzazú

The beach

The beach of Zagarzazú is reminiscent of the resorts of the Costa de Oro of Canelones Department, though the number of visitors is much smaller.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Four Seasons Hotel, Carmelo
  2. ↑ "Censos 2011 Colonia (needs flash plugin)". ΙΝΕ. 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Colonia, al otro lado del río" (in Spanish). El Pais, Uruguay. 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "1963–1996 Statistics / Z" (DOC). Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay. 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  5. ↑ Article about the political considerations on the airport of Zagarzazú
  6. ↑ Article about the problematic around the functioning of the airport of Zagarzazú

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zagarzazú, Colonia.