Introduction to Geography of Paraguay
Paraguay, (Spanish: ), or Republic of Paraguay, a country in central South America. It is bounded by Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. Its area is 157,048 square miles (406,752 km 2 ). Paraguay is about 650 miles (1,050 km) long, from northwest to southeast; average width is 300 miles (480 km).
Facts in brief about Paraguay
Physical Geography
Paraguay is an inland country in the center of South America.The country is divided into two distinct regions by the Paraguay River. West of the river is the Chaco Boreal, the northern part of the Gran Chaco, the other parts of which are in Bolivia and Argentina. The Chaco Boreal is a low, flat, infertile plain. It becomes progressively drier and bleaker toward the west, with scrub forests giving way to meager grasslands. Marshes occur in the east, especially along the major rivers.
East of the Paraguay River is a plateau-and-plains region crossed by a sharp escarpment running north-south and reaching a maximum elevation of almost 2,300 feet (700 m). East of the escarpment is the Paraná Plateau; west of it is a plains region that has long been the economic heartland of Paraguay. Subtropical forests grow in parts of the east.
The major rivers are the Paraná, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Paraguay and Pilcomayo. Rivers in the Chaco Boreal are sluggish and are not navigable.
The climate of Paraguay is subtropical. Temperatures average 80° F. to 90° F. (27° to 32° C.) in the summer, with extremes in excess of 100° F. (38° C.). Winter temperatures average 60° F. (16° C.), but there are frequent periods of freezing weather. Although there is no distinct rainy season, rainfall is heaviest in the warm months. Precipitation is greatest in the eastern plateau, where it averages more than 80 inches (2,030 mm) annually. The amount decreases toward the west to less than 30 inches (760 mm). Most of the Chaco has winter droughts and summer floods.
Economy
Paraguay is mainly a developing economy. Most of the country's workers are employed in agriculture and the service industries.
Services industries make up about 55 per cent of Paraguay's economy and 45 per cent of the country's work force. Many Paraguayans work for government agencies, restaurants, hotels, stores, health care facilities, banks, schools, communication, and transportation.
Agriculture and forestry employ another 45 per cent of the workforce, accounts for about 30 per cent of the gross domestic product, and provides more than 90 per cent of the country's exports. Large estates and ranches owned by relatively few Paraguayans account for roughly three-fourths of the agricultural land. The rest of the farming area provides a bare subsistence for the vast majority of the farmers, many of whom are squatters on the land. Except on the larger holdings, modern farm machinery and techniques are little used.
Most of the farm acreage is grazing land, used to raise beef cattle and other livestock. Only about 6 per cent of Paraguay's total area is cultivated land. Among the chief crops are cassava, sugarcane, corn, soybeans, bananas, cotton, wheat, rice, and beans. Cotton and soybeans are major exports.
In the mid-1970's more than half of Paraguay was forested. Since then, the forests have been rapidly depleted, mainly through commercial harvesting and clearing for agriculture. In the early 1990's only a third of the country remained forested. Government efforts to control the lumber industry have been largely unsuccessful, and deforestation continues to be a problem.
For many years manufacturing has been mainly in small plants producing processed foods, beverages, and common household and consumer goods. The development of more complex types of manufacturing is just beginning, aided by heavy investment and financial assistance from abroad. Foreign investment in Paraguay has been strongly encouraged by the government.
Of particular importance is the development of hydroelectric power, primarily in partnership with Brazil and Argentina. Itaipu Dam, a Brazilian-Paraguayan project on the Paraná River, has the largest generating capacity of any hydroelectric installation in the world.
Transportation is poorly developed in Paraguay. All-weather roads, which include a branch of the Pan American Highway and the Trans-Chaco Highway, connect the major cities. Few other roads are paved; most are dirt and gravel. Railway transportation is poorly developed; the only major trunk line is a railway between Asunción, the capital, and Encarnación. Much traffic moves on the Paraguay and Paraná rivers. Major ports include Asunción on the Paraguay River and Encarnación and Ciudad del Este on the Paraná. Air service, domestic and international, is largely through the air terminal at Asunción.
Paraguay's basic currency unit is the guaraní.
The People
Most of the people are mestizos (mixed Spanish and Indian), with Indians accounting for less than 3 per cent of the population. Other ethnic groups include Germans and Japanese.
The vast majority of the people of Paraguay live between the Paraguay River and the escarpment. The Chaco Boreal is largely uninhabited.
Spanish is the official language of Paraguay, but most of the people also speak Guaraní, an Indian language. Roman Catholicism is the official religion, and most Paraguayans are Roman Catholics. Mennonites are the largest Protestant group.
Education is free and attendance at primary schools is compulsory from age 7 to 14. However, schools are not available in all areas. Secondary schools offer academic and commercial instruction and teacher training. The government also provides vocational education and an adult literacy program. About 10 per cent of the population is illiterate. Institutions of higher education include the National University (founded 1890) and the Catholic University (1960), both in Asunción.
Paraguayan cultural life is centered in Asunción. Here are the National Museum and Archives, National History and Ethnography Museum, and National Museum of Fine Arts and Antiquities.
Government
Under the constitution of 1992, Paraguay is a republic. The president, who is the head of state, is elected to a five-year term and is eligible for reelection. The president is aided by a cabinet called the Council of Ministers, which he appoints. Paraguay's national legislature is called the National Congress, and is composed of the 80-member Chamber of Deputies and the 45-member Senate. Deputies and senators are elected for five years.
The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of Justice. Its five judges are appointed by the president.