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Treinta y Tres Department (Uruguay)

image by Daniel Rentería, 8 November 2025
based on photo from https://informacionsocialuruguay.com

Description of the flag
Coat of arms

See also:

Description of the flag

The departmental flag was adopted officially on 11 February 2003 through Decree N° 01/2003, part of the motivation being the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the city of Treinta y Tres on 10 March. The proposal came through on 7 February previously, through letter No. 36/2003 also by the departmental government. The flag was created in 1997, being the winning design of a contest held by the Intendency's government. The same flag was designed by plastic artist Caryl Suárez.

Clearly, the sun and blue/white stripes take inspiration from the national flag. As the decree adopting the flag describes in Article 2, translated as literally as possible:
Over a white field, four blue waves to its left which symbolize the waters of the department [the Cebollati and Olimar rivers; and the Yerbal and Laguna Merín arroyos]; significance of the color blue: air and the ideals of justice and truth. To its right, a half-sun of gold color, which represents the
- department of the east
- [gold for] light and the ideals of nobility
- in a circle of purity, the old raven, in swift flight, as defying the abysses of the Ravine [a literal representation of the Quebrada de los Cuervos protected area], which goes away from the zucará [Calliandra tweediei] in green and red coloring, one of the autochthonous elements of our natural countryside.
Its color...fire, enunciates ideals of liberty, hope, value, and happiness. The silver color of the bird signifies "bird of the ravine"; it is the land and ideals of integrity and purity.
Departamental decree: at http://www.juntatreintaytres.com.uy/Decretos/2003/Otros/01-03.htm

Daniel Rentería, 8 November 2025

Coat of arms

image by Daniel Rentería, 8 November 2025

The coat of arms of Treinta y Tres was created by José Gorosito Tanco, being designed for the 75th anniversary of his former school Santa Catalina de Sena in 1955. Underneath the shield, a ribbon reads TREINTA Y TRES EL PAGO MAS ORIENTAL [Treinta y Tres, the Easternmost Countryland]. The shield is diagonally divided into three sections. The uppermost section depicts a background of 9 alternating stripes of white and blue, reminiscent of the national flag. The four stripes are for the Cebollati, Olimar, Yerbal, and Laguna Merín streams. A coast by the Olimar River is seen, as well as a white circle which depicts over it a sword with two spears crossed together behind it, serving as a reminder of the Spanish and Indian origins of the people. The central section depicts the points of the spears of the Thirty-Three Orientals in blue, from whom the name is derived. The lower section depicts a branch from which three ceiba flowers emerge as a national flower. Serving as a crest to the shield is a sun, also reminiscent of the national flag.

Sources: http://www.explore-uruguay.com/image-files/xdepartment-of-treinta-y-tres.jpg.pagespeed.ic.jb5xrElqqp.webp
Drawing created using https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Treinta_y_Tres_Department.svg

Daniel Rentería, 8 November 2025