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Río Negro (Uruguay)

image by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
based on photo from https://www.instagram.com

Description of the flag
Coat of arms
Flag used by the Intendent

See also:

Description of the flag

Horizontally divided blue-white-blue, in the centre two blue waves between a yellow ear of wheat (placed upright) and a black anchor (placed diagonally); a yellow sun appears between the ear and the anchor, above the waves..
Jan Mertens, 13 Nov 2007

The flag was designed by Edgardo Cánepa and created through a departmental contest, with a jury recognizing the design on 1 February 1995. This jury was composed of Intendent Mazziotto, Mirna Linale de Rosas, Omar Britos, and Martin Russo.

The flag depicts, over its central white band: waves as a source of life and the Uruguay River; the anchor its port at Fray Bentos; the sun for daily life and the Uruguayan nation; and an ear of wheat for agriculture.

Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025

Coat of arms

image by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025

The coat of arms was adopted by Decree on 28 January 1943. Apparently, it was designed by Juan José Zamora, who won a contest held by the departmental government. It depicts, in its center, a shield bordered in gold with three points at the top. It is divided horizontally into two sections: the upper section depicts patriotic gauchos on horseback, most with lances but the one at the front having a sword recognizing the Battle of Rincón against Brazilians. Cutting through the center of the shield and just outside of it is a rectangle outlined in black reading the motto "SOMOS INDUSTRIA Y RIQUEZA" [We are Industry and Wealth] for it having good agriculture, livestock, and river economic activities. The lower section is divided into two vertically by an ear of wheat for agriculture, having on the left a cow for the ranching industry. The right side depicts a diagonal anchor over four blue waves, alluding to the national flag and the port of Fray Bentos on the Uruguay River. Above the shield is a white ribbon reading in black RIO NEGRO; two branches of laurel and olive surround the shield, tied together by a blue ribbon.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org

Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025

Flag used by the Intendent

image by Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025
based on photo from https://www.elpais.com.uy

The flag used by the Intendent and the original version are different. The elements in the white stripe are separated and the waves are both simpler and in the same darker blue as the upper and lower stripes.
Daniel Rentería, 9 November 2025