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Uruguay is situated in southeast of South America, sandwiched between its larger neighbors Brazil and Argentina. Its capital, Montevideo, is an Atlantic port on the River Plate, lying on the opposite bank to the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. Uruguay became independent in 1828, after nearly 150 years of Spanish and Portuguese control. Decades of liberal government ended in 1973 with a military coup that was to result in 12 years of dictatorship, during which 400,000 people emigrated. Most have since returned. Almost the entire low-lying landscape is devoted to the rearing of livestock, especially cattle and sheep. Uruguay is a leading wool exporter, but in recent years modern service industries have become increasingly important.