nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue
a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face (delineated in black) known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy
the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay
the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil)
the sun features are said to represent those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag
