Río de la Plata literally means “river of silver,” but looking at the river today you might think that the river would be more aptly named Río de Marrón (river of brown). The coasts of the Río de la Plata are the most densely populated areas of Argentina (Buenos Aires) and Uruguay (Montevideo). Due to pollution from these areas and the abundance of river sediment, the river is usually a brown color. Fortunately there are currently several efforts underway to restore the river and protect its unique wildlife.