In addition to visiting all things associated with international borders, IBRG expeditions find time to visit geographical extremities. The southernmost point of mainland Uruguay is Punta de las Salinas in Punta del Este, while the absolute southernmost point of the country’s entire territory is the offshore Isla de Lobos. Punta de las Salinas approximately 34°58′24″S 54°57′06″W marks the meeting place of the Río de la Plata estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. I visited this point as part of the IBRG SATEX-25 expedition.

The spot is marked by a concrete point on the rocks and a symbolic anchor, reflecting the region’s maritime heritage.  The nearby Memorial for Peace (Memorial para La Paz) in Punta del Este, Uruguay, features an anchor salvaged from the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee alongside an anchor from the British ship HMS Ajax. The Battle of the River Plate was where the European war came to the coastline of Uruguay and locals gathered to watch the gunfire on the horizon. The heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee engaged the light cruisers HMS Ajax, HMNZS Achilles and the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter. Exeter was severely damaged and forced to retire, making for the Falklands; Ajax and Achilles suffered moderate damage. Damage to Graf Spee, although not extensive, was critical because her fuel system was crippled and led to her entering the port of Montevideo where it was scuttled.

Punta del Este is a glamorous beach resort city located on a peninsula in south eastern Uruguay. Known as the “St. Tropez of South America,” it attracts travellers with its upscale hotels, lively nightlife, and scenic coastline. Highlights include the Faro de Punta del Este (Punta del Este Lighthouse), which offers stunning coastal views, and the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Church, located nearby. In addition there is the La Mano de Punta del Este, a famous outdoor sculpture of five human fingers emerging from the sand on Brava Beach in Uruguay. At Punta Ballena there is the amazing Museo Casapueblo.

Punta de las Salinas – the southernmost point of Uruguay

The focus of our visit with the southernmost point.

Memorial for Peace (Memorial para La Paz)

The memorial is located in Great Britain Square (Plaza Gran Bretaña) at the tip of the peninsula, featuring the anchor of the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee to commemorate the 1939 Battle of the River Plate. It displays the anchor from the Graf Spee alongside maritime artifacts to celebrate peace and reconciliation between nations after the historic naval battle.