ParaguParaguayay

By: Donald JohnsonBy: Donald Johnson

The name for The name for Paraguay, a Paraguay, a country the size country the size of California of California located in located in central South central South America, comes America, comes from the native from the native Indian Guarani Indian Guarani words for words for "palm," "crown" "palm," "crown" and "water."and "water."

Asuncion,Asuncion, Paraguay’s capitalParaguay’s capital

The Río Paraguay divides the terrain into eastern The Río Paraguay divides the terrain into eastern Paraneña and western Chaco regions. The land Paraneña and western Chaco regions. The land alternates between flooded and parched. alternates between flooded and parched. Paraguay is subtropical with a humid climate and Paraguay is subtropical with a humid climate and abundant rainfall throughout the year.abundant rainfall throughout the year.

ParaguayParaguay• Agriculture: Agriculture: Cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, Cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn,

wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, eggs, mild, and timbervegetables, beef, pork, eggs, mild, and timber

• Industries: Industries: Sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, Sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric powerwood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

• Climate: Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in eastern portions, semiarid in far westrainfall in eastern portions, semiarid in far west

• Landforms: Landforms: grassy plains and wooded hills east of grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forestand dry forest

• Resources: Resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestonemanganese, limestone

• Total land area:Total land area: 406,750 sq km. 7.47% of it arable. 406,750 sq km. 7.47% of it arable.http://www.photoatlas.com/photo/paraguay_river_sunset.jpg

Guarani boy Guarani boy with parrotwith parrot

Leftist former bishop Fernando Lugo defeated the ruling party candidate in Paraguay's presidential election in April 2008, ending 61 years of conservative rule. Lugo won with nearly 41 percent of the vote compared to almost 31 percent for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado Party.

Conservatives Conservatives unseatedunseated

World Cup soccer World Cup soccer stadiumstadium

South America's 'empty quarter', a South America's 'empty quarter', a landlocked country little known even to landlocked country little known even to its neighbors, it has taken steps to its neighbors, it has taken steps to overcome its political, economic and overcome its political, economic and geographic isolation and now welcomes geographic isolation and now welcomes visitors.visitors.

Social inequalitySocial inequalityYears of political uncertainty, corruption and a poor infrastructure have meant that about 60 percent of Paraguayans live in poverty. The vast inequality in land ownership has led to many tensions between the elite and poor in the country.

Lidia Rosa Vasquez, 42, lives with her children in the slum area "La Chacarita" in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Football (soccer )Football (soccer )

Paraguay’s Salvador Cabanas, second right, celebrates Paraguay’s Salvador Cabanas, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Colombia during a with teammates after scoring against Colombia during a Copa America Group C soccer game in Maracaibo, Copa America Group C soccer game in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Thursday, June 28, 2007. Venezuela, Thursday, June 28, 2007.

Paraguay’sParaguay’s economy depends heavily on economy depends heavily on agriculture, hydroelectricity generation, and trade agriculture, hydroelectricity generation, and trade with its neighboring countries. In 2004, the country’s with its neighboring countries. In 2004, the country’s real GDP was expected to grow 2.9%, depending on real GDP was expected to grow 2.9%, depending on continued regional economic stability in Brazil and continued regional economic stability in Brazil and Argentina and continued strong agricultural output.Argentina and continued strong agricultural output.

Pantheon of HeroesPantheon of Heroes GauchosGauchos

Gran ChacoGran Chaco

Paraguay shares this Paraguay shares this enormous region with enormous region with Argentina, Bolivia, and Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The Chaco Brazil. The Chaco contains both grassland contains both grassland and thorny forest. and thorny forest.

The ecosystems of the The ecosystems of the Gran ChacoGran Chaco are unique are unique and are slowly being destroyed by civilization with and are slowly being destroyed by civilization with the introduction of cattle, burning of vegetation and the introduction of cattle, burning of vegetation and

irresponsible agricultural irresponsible agricultural decisionsdecisions

Gran Chaco cattle

The The ItaipuItaipu hydroelectric power plant on the Parana hydroelectric power plant on the Parana River is a joint development project with Brazil and River is a joint development project with Brazil and Paraguay. With 18 units of 700 megawatts each, it is Paraguay. With 18 units of 700 megawatts each, it is the largest hydroelectric plant currently in operation the largest hydroelectric plant currently in operation in the worldin the world

Asuncion CathedralAsuncion Cathedral

Approximately 90% of Paraguayans declare Roman Approximately 90% of Paraguayans declare Roman Catholicism as their faith.Catholicism as their faith.

La Santisima La Santisima Trinidad de ParanáTrinidad de Paraná, , or the or the Holy Trinity of Holy Trinity of ParanáParaná is the name is the name of a former of a former JesuitJesuit missionmission in Paraguay. in Paraguay.

GuaraniGuaraniOne trace of the original Guaraní One trace of the original Guaraní culture that has endured is the culture that has endured is the GuaraníGuaraní language language, understood by , understood by 90% of the population and along 90% of the population and along with Spanish, an official language.with Spanish, an official language.

““Nature provides us of Nature provides us of everything we need” is the everything we need” is the saying of a “Karai” or old saying of a “Karai” or old man of this community.man of this community.

ParaguayParaguay

Links to ParaguayLinks to Paraguay• CIA.gov/the-world-factbook/ParaguayCIA.gov/the-world-factbook/Paraguay• Wikipedia.org/wiki/ParaguayWikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguay• BBC.co.uk/country_profiles/ParaguayBBC.co.uk/country_profiles/Paraguay• World World Atlas.comAtlas.com/Paraguay/Paraguay• Lonely Lonely Planet.com/worldguide/paraguayPlanet.com/worldguide/paraguay• Casahistoria.net/Paraguay.htmCasahistoria.net/Paraguay.htm• Trekearth.com/gallery/South_America/ParaguayTrekearth.com/gallery/South_America/Paraguay//• lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/Paraguaylcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/Paraguay• MapsofWorld.com/paraguay/sports/soccerMapsofWorld.com/paraguay/sports/soccer• Travel.state.govTravel.state.gov/Paraguay/Paraguay• Habitat.org/youthprograms/ParaguayHabitat.org/youthprograms/Paraguay