Paraguay

I

Introduction

Paraguay, officially Republic of Paraguay, inland republic in South America, bordered on the north-west and north by Bolivia, on the east by Brazil, and on the south and south-west by Argentina. The total area is 406,752 sq km (157,048 sq mi). Asunción is the country’s capital.

II

Land and Resources

The Paraguay River divides the country into sharply contrasting regions: in the west, the Gran Chaco, or Paraguay Occidental; in the east, Paraguay proper, or Paraguay Oriental. The Gran Chaco is part of an alluvial plain that extends from Paraguay into Bolivia on the west, Argentina on the south, and Brazil on the east. Grassy plains, swamps, and scrub forests cover the area.

Paraguay proper consists mainly of the southern extension of the Paraná plateau. This elevation, from 305 to 610 m (1,000 to 2,000 ft) high, forms a watershed that gives rise to numerous tributaries of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers. On its western edge the plateau falls off sharply to a region of fertile grassy foothills towards the Paraguay River; in the east it descends gradually towards the Alto Paraná River. The main rivers are the Alto Paraná, the Paraguay, and the Pilcomayo. Lake Ypoá is the only large inland body of water. Among Paraguay’s many spectacular waterfalls is Guairá Falls.

A

Climate

The climate of Paraguay is subtropical. At Asunción, mean temperatures range from about 17.8° C (64° F) in July to about 30° C (81° F) in January. In the Chaco and other points to the north temperatures often reach 37.8° C (100° F). Annual rainfall averages about 1,120 mm (44 in) in the Asunción area, about 815 mm (32 in) in the Gran Chaco, and about 1,525 mm (60 in) in the eastern forest regions. The Chaco has heavy rainfall in the summer and almost no rain in the winter.

B

Natural Resources

The primary resources of Paraguay are its fertile soil and its forests. It has few mineral resources; limestone, copper, clay, and oil are the most important. Paraguay’s rivers, well suited for hydroelectric projects, are another important resource.