Paysand� is the capital of Paysand� Department in western Uruguay. The city is located on the banks of Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina. It lies 378 kilometres (235 mi) northwest of Montevideo via Route 1 and Route 3, on the junction of the latter with Route 90.
A small distance north of the city is the General Artigas Bridge that links Uruguay with the Entre R�os Province of Argentina, south of the city Col�n.
Paysand� is more cosmopolitan than most Uruguayan cities, with many settlers from Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Belgium and various African nations