Soriano

Department in southwest Uruguay, bounded on the west by the River Uruguay, on the north by the Río Negro, on the east by the Arroyo Grande, and on the south by the Cuchilla San Salvador range; area 9,008 sq km/3,478 sq mi; population (1996) 83,700. Soriano's territory includes Lobos and Vizcaino islands in the Rí Negro. Mercedes is the departmental capital. The principal economic activities are agriculture and livestock breeding.

Villa Soriano (formerly known as Santo Domingo de Soriano) was the first town to be founded in Uruguay.