Rivera is the capital city of the Rivera Department in Uruguay. It is located at the northern end of Route 5, where it shares a direct border with Brazil.
The city is notable for its proximity to the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which sits only one block away across the border. Together, these two cities form an integrated urban area with a combined population of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. As of the 2011 census, Rivera was ranked as the sixth most populated city in Uruguay.