Last modified: 2025-12-06 by rob raeside
Keywords: salto | trabajo | sabiduria | prudencia |
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![[Salto flag]](../images/u/uy-st.gif)
image
by J.J. Andersson, 17 August 2002
and Daniel Rentería, 10 November 2025 based on photo from
https://salesianosalto.edu.uyTranslated from https://www.salto.gub.uy/simbolos-departamentales/bandera-departamental:
Through a public call, the Flag of Salto was created, which through unanimity of the members of the jury designated for that purpose, they resolved that the same would be presented to the Lt. Colonel Carlos Alfredo Etchevers Vianna. The Departmental Junta granted the approval through Decree 5.919/97 on 31 July 1997. The 1st of August of the same year, the corresponding to be achieved was signed by the Departmental Executive. It is composed of a panel whose fly is 1.5 times greater than its hoist. On a sky-blue field, it bears the complete Coat of Arms of Salto, placed along its vertical axis at a distance proportional to 3.5 parts of the flag’s length, measured from the hoist toward the fly, and along its horizontal axis at a distance proportional to 3.1 parts of the height, measured from the top edge downward. Under the Coat of Arms, adopting the form in a curved sector the words "Trabajo - Sabiduría - Prudencia" [Work - Knowledge - Prudence] with the type of letters appropriately in gold yellow color. In the lower third of the flag in horizontal form, there are five white triangles, each with a width of one-sixth of the hoist. They extend from the hoist to the fly, forming a 45° angle along three-fifths of their length, continuing at that angle up to four-fifths, and returning to horizontal in the last fifth.
The specifications themselves don't seem quite right though, in my opinion. The flag clearly references the National Flag with its stripes. Flag Ratio: 2:3 (official).
Daniel Rentería, 10 November 2025
![[arms]](../images/u/uy-st).gif)
image
by Daniel Rentería, 10 November 2025
from
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki
The coat of arms of the Department of Salto was adopted on 27 June 1927
through Decree Nº54, being designed by the artist and assembly member Eriberto
Prati. The debate about adopting one originally emerged in 1920, around the time
of decentralization. The original design by Prati that year apparently looked
too similar to the national coat of arms, and he was encouraged to make one more
unique in 1927; it was unanimously approved by the council. The decree Nº49 of
28 December 1973 required the coat of arms to be used on government documents,
vehicles, etc. Since the original decree did not mention it as becoming a
departmental symbol, it was declared one by Decree 5842/95 on 5 October 1995 by
the council; this same decree revoked the 1973 one, but in practice was the same
and expanded further on it.
Translation of Article 2 of the 1927 decree:
An oval divided into three fields. In the upper part, a white field and another
blue; in the lower, a silver one. On the white field, a rising golden sun,
symbol of the future, and within the sun, an anvil, a hammer, and a bundle of
rods, representing labor. In the blue field, wisdom and prudence are symbolized
by Minerva, who holds Destiny in her right hand and rests her left upon the
shield. In the silver field, a waterfall symbolizes the city of Salto and the
origin of its name. To the right of the oval, an olive branch, and to the left,
an oak branch, representing peace and nobility, respectively. At the top,
outside the oval, appears the name “SALTO.” The motto of the shield reads: “En
el trabajo está su porvenir y en la sabiduría y prudencia, su destino” [In work
lies its future, and in wisdom and prudence, its destiny].
The motto is not a
part of the coat of arms itself, but is found alongside it for people to
understand its significance. Prati added this after suggestions from the
council.
Source: a 17 page PDF about the coat of arms at [https://www.salto.gub.uy/sites/default/files/2024-07/ESCUDO_DE_SALTO.pdf
Daniel Rentería, 10 November 2025
