GEOGRAPHY
Paraguay is a small, land-locked country in the heart of South America.  It is about the size of California and is surrounded by Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The country is divided almost in half by the Paraguayan River, while the Parana River creates both the Eastern and Southern borders.

More than 90% of the people live in the southeastern section of Paraguay.  Although there are a few small mountains in the southeast, it is mostly rolling hills and fields.  A great portion of this land is used for agriculture: raising cattle for meat, milk products and leather products, and growing tea, corn and soybeans.

The larger northwest section of Paraguay is known as the Chaco.   It is the largest land mass of the two regions but holds less than 10% of the country’s population.The greater part of the Chaco region is sub-tropical and is covered with marshes, lagoons, dense forests, and jungles.

There are almost 7 million people in the country of Paraguay.  Almost 3 million live in the capital city of Asuncion and its surrounding suburbs.

         
    PARAGUAY                   ASUNCION               FIELD OF SOYBEANS                CHACO


PEOPLE
Paraguayan ancestry can be traced to the intermarriage of the male Spanish settlers and female indigenous Guarani brides.More than 93% of Paraguayans are Mestizos, making Paraguay one of the most homogeneous countries in Latin America. 

The Guarani Indians were the country's first known inhabitants of Paraguay. The country is a unique mixture of traditional Spanish culture and Guarani, the native Indian culture. Both are official languages of the country.Additional people groups include those from Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Portugal, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. 



Although Catholicism is the nation's religion, you can find Mennonites, Jews, Mormons, Buddhists and of course spirit worship.

Paraguay has an extreme gap between a small upper class and its large lower class with the majority of the country's people living in extreme poverty.  Less than 10% of the country's population control over 75% of its people and land mass.  Schools and health resources are in great shortages in poor rural areas. 

          


HISTORY
From 1608 until their expulsion from the Spanish dominions in 1767, the Jesuits maintained an extensive establishment in the south and east of Paraguay. In 1811, Paraguay revolted against Spanish rule and became a nominal republic under two consuls.

Paraguay was governed by three dictators during the first 60 years of independence. The third, Francisco López, waged war against Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina in 1865–1870, a conflict in which 90% of the male population was killed. This was known as the War of the Triple Alliance. The Chaco War (1932–1935) with Bolivia won Paraguay more western territory. 

The Paraguayan Railroad was one of the first in South America and is still in function today.  The railroad line extended from Asuncion to Encarnacion to the river where cargo and people were placed on boats to cross the river into Posadas, Argentina.  Many railroad cars and much of the tracks were destroyed during the War of the Triple Alliance.  The devastation of the economy did not allow for the major repairs and continuation of the railroad.

Fernando Lugo, a former Roman Catholic Bishop, is currently the President of Paraguay.

          
        TRIPLE ALLIANCE WAR                  CHACO WAR          PARAGUAYAN STEAM ENGINE


LANDMARKS
Paraguay is famous for its Paraguayan River and the Itaipu Dam.  The Itaipu Dam is the largest hydroelectric power plant on the earth. The production of electrical power is Paraguay’s largest industry as well as its largest export.

Just south of the dam are the beautiful Iguazu Falls. Taller than Niagara Falls, and four times the width, the falls spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River.

The Jesuit Missions of Paraguay are considered some of the most impressive creations of the religious work of the Jesuits.  Many of these ruins are still well preserved and display their historical past and way of life.

         
            ITAIPU DAM                         IGUAZU FALLS                 JESUIT MISSION REMAINS