Atlántida, Uruguay Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Atlántida
City

Atlántida, Uruguay Location in Uruguay
Country	Uruguay
Department	Canelones
Founded	1911
Population (2011 Census)
• Total	5,562
Time zone	UTC -3
Postal code	16000
Dial plan	+598 437 (+5 digits)

Atlántida is a popular resort town located on the coast of Uruguay. It's part of the Costa de Oro (Gold Coast) in the Canelones Department. You can find it about 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital city.

The name Atlántida also refers to the larger area, or municipality, that includes the town itself. This municipality also covers other smaller resort towns nearby, like Estación Atlántida, City Golf, Villa Argentina, and Fortín de Santa Rosa, along with some countryside areas.

History of Atlántida
Population in Atlántida
Beaches of Atlántida
Interesting Landmarks
- Church of Christ the Worker
- El Águila (The Eagle)
Places of Worship
Images for kids
See also

History of Atlántida

Atlántida began in the early 1900s as a special vacation spot. It was a place where wealthy families from Montevideo would come to relax. This continued until the mid-1950s. Today, it's mostly a resort for middle-class families. More than 10,000 people live there all the time.

The first plans for a resort in this area were made in 1911. The next year, land was divided into plots and sold. In 1913, the Hotel Las Toscas was built near the beach. In 1915, this hotel and the area around it were named Atlántida.

Development really sped up from 1939 onwards. This happened when Natalio Michelizzi, a rich Italian businessman from Buenos Aires, bought all the undeveloped land. He then invested a lot of money to build up the area. Atlántida officially became a city on September 7, 1967.

Population in Atlántida

According to a count in 2011, Atlántida had 5,562 people living there. However, in 2010, the local government of Canelones counted 10,393 people for the whole Atlántida municipality during elections. This shows that many more people live in the wider area.

Location map of the Municipality of Atlántida

Year	Population
1963	1,559
1975	2,268
1985	2,764
1996	3,989
2004	4,580
2011	5,562

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay (National Institute of Statistics of Uruguay)

Beaches of Atlántida

Playa La Mansa

The beaches in Atlántida are mostly visited by Uruguayan families. These beaches are special because they have many pine trees along their edges. The two main beaches are Playa La Brava and Playa La Mansa.

Playa La Mansa is great for families. The water there is usually very calm and gentle.
Playa La Brava often has stronger waves and currents. This makes it a popular spot for people who enjoy water sports.

During the winter months, these beaches become very quiet and almost empty.

Interesting Landmarks

Atlántida and its nearby areas have some unique buildings and places to see.

Church of Christ the Worker

The Church of Christ the Worker is a very special building. It was built between 1958 and 1960 by a famous architect named Eladio Dieste. You can find it in Estación Atlántida, which is just north of the main highway. The church looks amazing! It's described as a simple rectangle, but its side walls curve up in wavy shapes.

El Águila (The Eagle)

In the nearby resort of Villa Argentina, there's a mysterious stone building called "El Águila," which means "The Eagle." This building has led to many interesting stories and legends. Some people thought it was a secret hideout for smugglers. Others believed it was a Nazi observatory or even a place that collected "cosmic energy."

The building was actually built by Natalio Michelizzi, the businessman who helped develop Atlántida. He first called it "La Quimera." Michelizzi used La Quimera as a place to meet friends or to spend many hours reading by himself. After he passed away, the building and its gardens became run down. Michelizzi also started one of the first hotels in the area, the Hotel Planeta Palace, which is still standing today.