The Garzón lagoon is located in the limits of the departments of Maldonado and Rocha, and was formed due to the damming of low flowing water courses, being the Garzón stream the most important of them. Only a year ago the Garzón lagoon bridge was inaugurated, which allows joining these two bordering departments through the coast, thus eliminating the old raft crossing system.

The landscape around the lagoon is made up of hills, hills, low plains, the coastal strip and a portion of the coastal platform. In the adjacent area there are other smaller bodies of water that drain into the Garzón lagoon, such as the Nueva, Rincón de Techera, Mansa, Larga and Chica lagoons. The fauna of the lagoon is characterized by the presence of birds such as black-necked swans, white geese and flamingos, white herons, plovers, coots, oystercatchers, royal terns and various types of gulls and terns.

Laguna Garzón Bridge is located in a privileged place in Uruguay, very close to the ocean beaches of Maldonado and Rocha that receive thousands of tourists during the summer season to enjoy its transparent waters.

The construction of the bridge was not without controversy. In 1960, the construction of a bridge was started for the first time with the idea of joining the departments of Maldonado and Rocha through Route 10, but the work was left unfinished due to the controversies that this project generated in the community that inhabited the area at that time. Since those years, the discussion on whether or not to build a bridge was several times in the political debate in the country. Many organizations were against it, alluding that a bridge in the area could affect the eco-system, but also the real estate sectors saw the need and importance of having a bridge connecting these two departments to be able to market the land located on the Rocha side, which had been difficult to access until then.

Finally, in September 2014, the construction of what today is the Laguna Garzón Bridge began. Until then, the crossing of the lagoon was done using a raft installed by the Dirección Nacional de Hidrografía (National Directorate of Hydrography).

In January 2013, the National Directorate of Environment granted prior environmental authorization for the construction of the Laguna Garzón Bridge. The project was submitted by the Ministry of Transportation and Public Works, based on a design by architect Rafael Viñoly. The bridge was finally inaugurated on December 22, 2015.

Its particular feature is that its design is circular, with pedestrian walkways that allow scenic sightseeing.

Near the Laguna Garzón Bridge is Bodega Garzón, a must for all visitors to the area where you can live different experiences and taste a variety of premium wines as well as Colinas de Garzón, the first Uruguayan extra virgin olive oil to be awarded abroad.

Credits: https://bodegagarzon.com