The South American country of Paraguay is landlocked, meaning that it is surrounded by land. The country's many rivers, however, provide a vital link to the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers are very important to Paraguay's economy and also form many of its borders with other countries. The name Paraguay is said to come from an Indian word meaning “river that gives birth to the sea.” The capital is Asunción. GeographyParaguay covers an area of 157,048 square miles (406,752 square kilometers) in the south-central part of South America. It borders Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the northwest and north, and Argentina to the south and west. The Paraguay, Apa, Paraná, and Pilcomayo rivers run along four fifths of the country's borders. - Paraguay River, near Asunción, Paraguay
The Paraguay River flows from north to south and divides Paraguay into two very different parts. West of the river is a dry, barren region called the Chaco Boreal. The land there is a flat plain with some low forests. The Chaco Boreal covers about two thirds of the country and forms the northeastern part of the larger Gran Chaco region, which extends into Bolivia and Argentina. Few people live in this part of the country. To the east of the Paraguay River the land is mostly rolling, wooded hills and grassy plains. The area features the Paraná and Paraguay river valleys and some low-lying mountain ranges. The country's highest peak is Mount San Rafael in the southeast, which rises 2,789 feet (850 meters). Almost all of Paraguay's people live in the east. Being south of the equator, Paraguay has its summer from October to March. The summer is hot and rainy. The winter is generally warm and fairly dry. The whole country sometimes experiences floods and droughts, which cause severe farming losses. Plants and animalsBeginning in the second half of the 20th century many of Paraguay's forests were cut down, especially to make room for growing crops. The remaining trees in eastern Paraguay are mostly evergreens. They include one tree related to holly whose leaves are used to make yerba maté, a kind of tea that is very popular in Paraguay and neighboring countries. Much of the Chaco is covered by cacti and thorny scrub. The quebracho tree of the Chaco has wood so hard that its name comes from Spanish words meaning “axe breaker.” A substance called tannin is taken from the quebracho's bark and used in making leather. Animals found in Paraguay includes monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, otters, wild boars, tapirs, jaguars, and ocelots. The forests are home to brilliantly colored tropical birds such as parrots and toucans. They have become increasingly rare, however, because of hunting and illegal trading. Snake and iguana skins are also exported. People and cultureThe first people to live in what is now Paraguay were the Guaraní Indians. Spanish colonists arrived in the 16th century. Today almost all of Paraguay's people are mestizo, or a mixture of Spanish and Indian descent. Spanish and Guaraní are official languages, and many people speak both. About 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. The people of Paraguay are divided fairly evenly between urban and rural areas, though the urban population is growing. Both the main rural settlements and the major cities and towns are in the east. Asunción, the capital and largest city, lies on the east bank of the Paraguay River. Economy - Cattle graze on a small farm near the city of Coronel Oviedo in eastern Paraguay.
Paraguay's economy is based largely on agriculture. About a third of the people work in farming, and soybeans and cotton are leading exports. Many farmers, however, produce only enough food for their own families. Cassava, sugarcane, corn (maize), oranges, sweet potatoes, bananas, and tobacco are important crops. Cattle are the main livestock. Manufacturing in Paraguay is generally directed toward processing agricultural products. These include soybean oil, sugar, tinned meat, textiles, leather products, alcohol, and cigarettes. The mining industry in Paraguay is very small, but the rivers are a major natural resource because of the hydroelectric (water) power they produce. The Itaipú Dam on the Paraná River, built by Paraguay and Brazil, is one of the world's largest hydroelectric projects. The forests are valuable as a source of timber. HistoryIndian tribes speaking the Guaraní language lived in the region between the Paraguay and Paraná rivers long before the arrival of Europeans. They lived by farming, hunting, and fishing. European explorers first reached the area in the 1520s. The Spanish established a settlement at Asunción in 1537. The first Spanish colonists settled peacefully among the Guaraní and mixed with them. Their descendants still make up most of the country's population. From Spanish rule to independenceAsunción developed into the center of Spanish power in southeastern South America. In 1776, however, the Spanish created a new colonial territory called the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata with its capital at Buenos Aires in present-day Argentina. This made Asunción and all of Paraguay dependent on Buenos Aires. In 1810 Buenos Aires cast off Spanish rule and tried to bring the Spanish viceroyalty under its own rule. Paraguayans refused to accept rule from Buenos Aires and fought off attacks launched from the city. Then, in 1811, Paraguay declared its independence from Spain. Costly warsAfter gaining independence Paraguay was ruled by a series of dictators. One of them, Francisco Solano López, led the country into a disastrous war against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay in the 1860s. By the time the fighting ended in 1870, Paraguay had lost about half of its population. Paraguay's recovery from the war was difficult. One reason for this was a growing dispute over Paraguay's western border with Bolivia. Both countries claimed ownership of the same land in the Chaco region. The dispute led to another war, which lasted from 1932 to 1935. The peace treaty gave Paraguay most of the disputed territory. Steps toward democracyA series of short-lived governments led Paraguay until General Alfredo Stroessner seized power in 1954. Supported by the military and a powerful political party, Stroessner went on to be elected to the presidency seven times. He ruled as a dictator, allowing no opposition to his rule. In 1989, after 35 years in power, Stroessner was overthrown by the military. In the 1990s Paraguay moved toward establishing a democracy. All political parties were made legal, for example, and free presidential elections were held. The change to democracy was difficult, however. The military continued to interfere in politics, and politicians were accused of corruption. Population (2001 estimate), 5,636,000. |