Minas is the capital of the Lavalleja Department in Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the twelfth-most populated city in the country. Th…Minas is the capital of the Lavalleja Department in Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the twelfth-most populated city in the country. The city is located in the south of the department, on the intersection of Route 8 with Route 12.