We explain everything about Paraguay and its physical and cultural characteristics. In addition, we explain its economy, religion and the history of this country.
Paraguay is a democratic, sovereign and multicultural state.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a national state whose official name is Republic of ParaguayIt is located in South America, and borders Argentina to the south, Bolivia to the north and Brazil to the east. Its capital is the city of Asunción. It is the fifth smallest and fourth least populated country in South America.
Paraguay is a democratic, sovereign and multicultural stateIt is a former colony of the Spanish Empire, like almost the rest of the continent, and was among the first Latin American countries to achieve its independence in the 19th century.
The nation is currently governed by a presidential republican system and is a founding member of Mercosur along with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. It is also a member of Unasur.
There is no consensus regarding the etymological origin of the name Paraguay. Some theories hold that it comes from the Guaraní language, and could mean “river that is born” or “river that comes from water.” Other theories believe that it could have its origin in the Guaraní word “payagua” which refers to the original inhabitants who lived in the region when the European conquerors arrived.
See also: Argentina
Characteristics of Paraguay
Some characteristics of this country are:
- Its population is 6,700,000 inhabitants. Most are concentrated in the eastern region, east of the Paraguay River.
- It has an area of 406,000 km2.
- Its capital is Asunción, which has 2,800,000 inhabitants.
- Like Bolivia, it is a landlocked country.
- The climate is predominantly temperate and the relief is flat. The eastern region is very rainy, while the western region is drier.
- Important rivers such as the Paraguay, the Paraná and the Pilcomayo run through its territory.
- It is a bilingual nation with two official languages, Guarani and Spanish.
- Its main economic activities are agriculture, energy generation, industry and commerce.
Area, population and capital of Paraguay
The city of Asuncion is the capital of Paraguay.
Paraguay has an area of 406,000 square kilometersmaking it one of the smallest countries in South America. It has a population of 6,700,000 inhabitants, and a population density of 16.5 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population is characterized by a marked concentration in the east of the countryThe eastern region is the one with the highest population density, in areas close to the capital (Asunción) and in the provinces bordering Brazil. The western region, on the other hand, has less than 5% of the population in almost 61% of the national territory.
The capital of Paraguay is the city of AsuncionIts metropolitan area has a population of 2,800,000 inhabitants, representing 41.7% of the country’s total.
A “trifinio” is a geographical point where three borders of different countries converge. The triple border between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil is one of the 157 trifinios that exist in the world. The closest cities to this trifinio are Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), Foz do Iguazú (Brazil) and Puerto Iguazú (Argentina).
Climate, relief and hydrography of Paraguay
Paraguay is divided into two large geographical regions separated by the Paraguay River:
- The eastern or Paraneña regionIt is located east of the Paraguay River and covers 40% of the country’s territory. It has a subtropical climate with no dry season, so it has warm summers and cool winters, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. It has a predominantly flat relief, crossed by important rivers such as the Paraguay, the Paraná and the Pilcomayo.
- The western region or Paraguayan ChacoIt is located west of the Paraguay River and covers 60% of the country’s territory. It has a warm arid climate, with very hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is much lower than in the eastern region, and there is a marked dry season in winter. The relief is flat, but its hydrography is much more scarce than in the eastern region, with rivers that are much less voluminous and extensive.
The characteristic biome of the eastern region is the Paraná rainforest, which has a great variety of tree and animal species. In the western region, the vegetation and fauna are adapted to the hot and arid conditions and include specimens such as the jaguar and the armadillo among the typical animals, as well as thorny trees and cacti.
Culture of Paraguay
Tereré or cold mate is the national drink of Paraguay.
Paraguay is a multicultural and bilingual nation, and has two languages officers: Spanish, inherited from the Spanish colony during the conquest and spoken by the rest of the South American countries except Brazil; and Guaraní, an indigenous language spoken and written by 87% of the inhabitants of Paraguay, which has a Guaraní Language Academy.
In Paraguayan music, the guitar and harp predominate, especially in folklore. The typical folkloric rhythms are the Paraguayan song (polka) and the guarania.
The gastronomy also presents an abundance of native elementssuch as Paraguayan soup (which is not liquid even though it is called soup) made with corn, cheese and onion, tereré or cold mate, which is the country’s national drink, and chipá (made from cassava starch and cheese).
The Arts In Paraguay they flourished during the twentieth centuryespecially in the cinemathanks to numerous co-productions with Argentina and Brazil. In the literary field, Paraguay’s greatest references are Augusto Roa Bastos, Josefina Pla, Rubén Bareiro Saguier and Raúl Amaral, among others.
The predominant religion in Paraguay is Catholic.and the Catholic Church has a significant influence on the social life of the country. Protestant Christianity and various religions related to the indigenous peoples of the region are also practiced, although in a minority.
National symbols of Paraguay
The flag of Paraguay features two palm and olive branches in the middle stripe.
The national symbols of Paraguay are:
- The flag of ParaguayAdopted in 1842, it features three stripes of red, white and blue (from top to bottom) and a shield on the middle stripe: two palm and olive branches in the shape of a crown, around a yellow star. On the reverse, however, it has a different shield, showing a lion accompanied by a Phrygian cap and the inscription “Peace and Justice”.
- The national anthem of ParaguayIt was written by the Uruguayan Francisco Acuña de Figueroa. Its music was composed by an uncertain author, and later reconstructed by the Paraguayan Remberto Giménez in 1933. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1934. Although its official title is Himno Nacional Paraguayo, it also has a name in Guaraní: Tetã Paraguay Momorãhéi.
- Coat of arms of ParaguayIt was created in 1820. On the obverse there is the inscription “Republic of Paraguay”, a palm branch, an olive branch and a yellow five-pointed star in the center. It is represented on the national flag. On the reverse the shield has the inscription “Peace and Justice”, a yellow lion in profile and a pike with a red Phrygian cap.
Economic activities of Paraguay
Paraguay is a producer and exporter of agricultural products such as soybeans.
Among the most important economic activities in Paraguay are:
- Agriculture. It is one of the most important economic activities of the Paraguayan economy. Paraguay is one of the main producers and exporters of agricultural products such as soybeans, wheat, corn, beef, pork and dairy products.
- IndustryThe manufacturing industry plays an important role in the Paraguayan economy. Industries such as food and beverage, textiles, petrochemicals, electronics and the automotive industry stand out.
- Hydroelectric power generationParaguay is known for its large production of hydroelectric energy. The Itaipú Dam, shared with Brazil, is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world.
- TradeParaguay is an important regional trading centre, especially in border cities such as Ciudad del Este.
The official currency of Paraguay since the country’s independence is the guaraní.
History of Paraguay
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia was the first independent ruler of Paraguay.
There are indications of Neolithic settlements in the current Paraguayan territory since 3000 BC. At the time of the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the predominant groups in the region were the Ava (Guarani). His first encounter with Europeans was in 1524 with the Portuguese expeditionary Alejo García, who was collaborating with the Spanish.
In 1537, survivors of the first founding of Buenos Aires sought refuge in the region and founded a fort that later became the city of Asunción, Paraguay. Thus began the colonial era.
Access to the sea via the Paraguay River, which flows into the Paraná River towards the Río de la Plata, was very valuable for the transfer of resources from the Viceroyalty of Peru to Europe. This advantage was lost when the region was divided into two governorates, that of Paraguay and that of Buenos Aires, since the latter remained in control of the Río de la Plata.
From the beginning of the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries established “reductions” that regulated the life of the indigenous populations. In 1767 the Jesuits were expelled and in 1776 Paraguay became part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata.
In 1811, Paraguay’s independence was proclaimed as part of the South American revolutionary movement. The Paraguayan uprising was peaceful, through the convening of a Congress. Initially, an attempt was made to add Paraguay to the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, but the rivalry between the elites of Buenos Aires and Asunción did not allow it.
Paraguay was declared a republic in 1813 and began its independent government under José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, who ruled as dictator between 1814 and 1840.
At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Paraguay fought two wars against neighboring countries. In the war of the Triple Alliance against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay (1864-1870), Paraguay was defeated and suffered great human and territorial losses.In the Chaco War (1932-1935), Paraguay defeated Bolivia.
Since 1954, the country has been governed by a dictatorship headed by General Alfredo Stroessner, characterized by the violation of human rights and overthrown in 1989 by a military coup. Free elections were held in 1993 and since then, except for the period 2008-2013, Paraguay has been governed by the Colorado Party.
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