Geographical Overview of Paraguay

Paraguay

Geography: Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America. It is located in the Southern Cone region, and it is a relatively small country. It is bordered by Bolivia to the north and northwest, Brazil to the northeast and east, and Argentina to the southeast, south, and west. The Paraguay River runs through the country from north to south, separating it into two distinct regions: the Region Oriental (Eastern Region) and the Region Occidental (Western Region). The Western Region is also called Chaco Boreal. The climate of Paraguay’s East Region is mostly subtropical, as it is mainly south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It is strictly tropical in the Chaco Boreal, which is north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Temperatures in the East Region

range from 60-100 degrees Fahrenheit year round, 60 to 75 during the winter and 75 to 100 in summer months. Rainfall can vary anywhere from 65 inches in the southeast to 55 inches along the Paraguay River. The East Region has elevations that range from 165 feet above sea level to 2,500 feet above sea level. The highest peak in this area is Mount San Rafael, which is 2,789 feet. The East Region covers about 61,700 square miles, or 160,000 square kilometers, and is an extension of the Brazilian Plateau. The Chaco Boreal covers more than 95,000 square miles, or 246,000 square kilometers, which is about two-thirds of the country. This region runs into the northeastern part of the Gran Chaco, which then extends into Bolivia and Argentina. This area is flat and largely featureless, as well as tropical despite the lack of topography.

Culture: Paraguay is one of the most homogeneous countries in South America.

Most of the citizens are Mestizo (a mix between European and Indian ancestry) and they pride themselves on their Guarani descent. 300,000 Brazilians, most of whom were farmers, immigrated to the East Region in the 1970s due to the less expensive land in Paraguay. Immigrants have come from all over the world, and in places like Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. There are about 30,000 German speaking Mennonites in Paraguay, half of whom live in the Chaco. Indians make up 2 percent of Paraguay’s population, including the Ache, Chirpa, and Mbya in the East in addition to the Toba, Maskoy, and Lengua in the Chaco. Of course, there are other small Indian groups scattered throughout the country, although they face possible “extinction.” Many Indians receive support from missionary groups, as well as the Paraguayan Indian Institute. Nine-tenths of the population of Paraguay is Roman Catholic, with a minority of evangelical Protestants. The constitution, however, recognizes no official language which emphasizes their independence from the Roman Catholic Church. Social life in Paraguay revolves around the family, as godparents take over for the children if the parents are no longer able to provide for their children. Many of Paraguay’s values regard family, and family in itself is a large value to Paraguayan culture. Families eat meals together, which consist of traditional Guarani food

in addition to beef dishes or freshwater dishes. Most of Paraguay’s culture lies in Asuncion, where there are many cultural institutions regarding the history of Paraguayans and the Guarani people. The Normal School of Music, the Conservatory of Music, and the Asuncion Symphony Orchestra are only a few examples of musical institutions, thus proving how important music and arts are to the Paraguayan people and their culture.

Economics: Up until he mid 1970s, Paraguay’s public-sector investment was low by Latin American Standards. The main concerns were with improving the roads, telecommunications, and air transport. However, this all changed in 1973 when Italpu Binacional set out to build a huge hydroelectric dam. During the late 20th century, the public-sector’s employment grew increasingly quickly, now making up one-tenth of the labor force. However, for the rest of the century , the country was faced with a continuously growing fiscal deficit, high debt in commercial borrowing, and dwindling international reserves. From 1989 to 1993, General Andres Rodriguez came to power. He implemented multiple economic reforms that were designed to get the people of Paraguay acquainted with the idea of a market-based economy. His successor, Juan Carlos Wasmosy, was in power from 1993 until 1998. He began a program of privatization, which led to economic mismanagement in the early 2000s. This almost caused a default on external debt repayment obligations. But by the 21st century, the country was back on its feet with a rapid growth in the growth and export of soybeans and meat products. Since the 2000s, agriculture has become one of the most important economic activities in Paraguay. The industry employs more than one-third of the country’s entire work force. It accounts for one-fifth of the gross domestic product and a majority of exports. Important cash crops in Paraguay include corn, soybeans, wheat, rapeseed, sesame, sugarcane, rice, peanuts, and cassava. The country is self sufficient regarding food but still heavily relies on foreign imports from other countries regarding agricultural products. Paraguay’s most important resource is hydroelectric power, which supplies almost all of the country’s main energy. Paraguay is not very invested in manufacturing, being one of the least industrialized countries in South America.

Government: Paraguay’s government system is very similar to that of the United States’.

It is made up of three separate powers, the legislature, executive, and the judiciary bodies. The constitution written in 1967 was replaced recently by a new constitution composed in 1992. The new constitution states that Paraguay is a representative and pluralist democracy, and that the government carries out separate deeds in each body. The President is elected by majority vote for a five year term, as is the legislative body that is Congress. The judicial system is headed up by the Supreme Court, who is chosen by the Senate and the President. Paraguay’s local government is divided up into departments, as each department is divided into districts. Political parties in Paraguay are fairly new, as the Colorado Party (more formally known as the National Republican Association) had remained in power continuously until 2008. Prior to this time, General Alfredo Stroessner’s rule kept the parties under strict control and close watch. Paraguay’s military consists of an army, a navy, and an air force, all of which had to have membership to the Colorado Party until 1992 when the new constitution banned having any involvement in politics or political activities. Many of the diseases we don’t think about anymore still exist in the world to this day. Measles, tuberculosis, dysentery, and hepatitis are all prevalent in Paraguay, as a result of limited public health services. Education in Paraguay is

not as prominent as it is in other countries, as schooling is only required at ages seven until thirteen. The two oldest universities are located in Asuncion, and the number of private universities has increased, despite the also increasing dropout rate. There is an insufficient number of schools as teaching resources are inadequate throughout the whole country, especially in rural areas.

History: Paraguay’s history begins with the Guarani people who occupied the region between the Paraguay and Parana Rivers before the arrival of Europeans. They relied heavily on agriculture and planted corn, cassava, and sweet potatoes. They also ate fish and hunted the land. The first colonists arrived on the scene between 1536 and 1556. These settlements were established by Domingo Martinez de Irala. After the Spanish abandoned their search for gold, they settled among the Guarani people and were at peace with them. This was around the same time that the cultures and ancestry began to mix between the natives and the Europeans. In the early 17th century, the Jesuit missionaries came to Paraguay after the Spanish conquistadores. They served as a kind of savior to the native people against the Spanish. They brought much of their culture as well such as their religion, masonry, and music. Since this time, Paraguay has struggled to find its footing as they had rough patches with dictatorships and the struggle for independence against the Spanish all that time ago. The Paraguayans have had their ups and downs and they have struggled greatly especially regarding government and independence. This was exhibited during the early 1930s in the Chaco War against Bolivia over the land in the Chaco Boreal. The war started on June 15, 1932 when Bolivian forces stormed a Paraguayan fort. After three years, on June 12, 1935, a cease fire was attained. Three years after that, a peace treaty was signed, and Paraguay was awarded three-fourths of the Chaco. This area became the Paraguayan Chaco Boreal. Although Paraguay has seen its share of war and conflict, the country is starting to turn a corner, and has a brighter future than before.