Paraguay - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Paraguay is a country in South America. It is a landlocked country, bordered by Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia.

Paraguay has an area of 157,048 square miles (406,752 square kilometers).

The fertile plains of the Pampas extend from Argentina into Paraguay.

Eastern and southern Paraguay have forested hills and are relatively well developed.

These regions are separated from western Paraguay by the Paraguay River. Western Paraguay consists of marshes and flat alluvial plains and is sparsely populated.

The Paraguay-Paraná River System links Paraguay with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Paraguay has a subtropical climate.

6,349,000 people live in Paraguay.

Most of them live in the southeast, near the capital, Asunción.

Indigenous peoples live in the scrublands of the Gran Chaco, which is thorn-infested and suffers from poor drainage and very hot temperatures. This region is very sparsely populated.

91% of the population of Paraguay is mixed white and Native American. 2% is Native American.

The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní. German is also spoken.

90% of the people are Roman Catholic and 6% are Protestant.

Paraguay has one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world at Itaipú.

Almost all of all of Paraguay's electricity is produced by hydroelectric plants.

The country exports surplus power to Argentina and Brazil.

Agriculture and related industries form the bases of the economy.

Cattle are raised on the Pampas.

Important exports are soybeans, edible oil products and cotton.

Paraguay has a presidential system of government.

The official currency is the guaraní, which equals 100 céntimos.