Salto is Uruguay's second largest city, sitting on the Uruguay River near the border with Argentina and about 500 km northwest of Montevideo. It is the centre of a major citrus-growing region, and the orange groves that surround the city give the countryside here a distinctly pleasant character.
The city's main draw beyond the centre is the Salto Grande Dam, about 20 km north of town, a joint Uruguay-Argentina hydroelectric project whose construction flooded the original falls that gave Salto its name. Guided tours are available through the tourist office. In the centre itself, Plaza Artigas and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista anchor the historic core, with the 19th-century Larrañaga Theatre alongside. The Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología is one of the better provincial museums in the country.
The Costanera promenade along the river is the city's evening gathering place, with views across to Argentina and the ferry terminal for crossings to Concordia. The area's hot springs are a major draw: Termas del Daymán is 10 km south — a large thermal complex with public pools popular with Uruguayan families on weekends. Most travellers pass through Salto heading to or from Argentina, but those who stay a day or two find more than they expected.