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Speaking about Paraguay might sound unfamiliar to many people; some might even ask themselves what region of the world we are talking about. But it takes knowing a little about Paraguay to like it, and it takes a closer glance to get caught by its charms, to simply fall in love with it.
Even though we speak of a landlocked country right in the middle of the South American cone, harassed by its history economically and politically, Paraguay offers a dazzling enchantment provided by its people, its geography, and its peculiar daily life. All this, complimented by immense gardens, forests, and wildlife of its natural reserves, its Jesuit and colonial legacies, its particular non-metropolis city life, and its vast, arid Chaco, added up to Paraguay’s art, music, food, and folklore.
This is why ekatoo.com intends to get you as close to Paraguay as possible, to let you feel this charm, to get you caught in this adventure of enjoying the Heart of South America.
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Full country name : |
Républica del Paraguay |
Area : |
406,752 sq km (aprox. 158,730 sq mi) |
Population : |
aprox. 5,884,000 |
Main cities : |
Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, Coronel Oviedo, Luque, San Lorenzo, Villarrica, Pilar, Pedro Juan Caballero, Filadelfia, Caaguazu, and Concepción. |
People : |
95% Mestizo |
Languaje : |
Spanish and Guaraní are official languages, 50% of the population speaks both languages, 7% speaks only Spanish and are concentrated mainly in the cities, and 37% speaks only Guaraní and are concentrated mainly in rural areas. The remaining 6% consists of other foreign or native languages spoken by colonies spread throughout the country. |
Religion : |
97% Roman Catholic, 3% Mennonite and other Protestants |
Government : |
Republic |
Capital City : |
Asunción |
Political divisions : |
17 departments (departamentos) and Asuncion, the capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro |
President : |
Nicanor Duarte Frutos |
Currency : |
Guaraní (1US$ = aprox. 6200 Gs.) |
Inflation : |
2.8% (2004) |
Major industries : |
Soybeans, cotton, timber, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, hides & skins, meatpacking, sugarcane, as well as an important income provided by its hydroelectric dams Itaipú and Yacyreta whose electricity is sold to Brazil and Argentina. |
Climate : |
Subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the southern and eastern portions, becoming semiarid in towards the northern and western regions. |
Land boundaries : |
total: 3,920 km |
Bordering countries : |
Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km |
Terrain : |
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere |
Natural Resourses : |
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone |
Time : |
GMT/UTC minus 3 hours |
Electricity : |
220V, 50 Hz |
Weights & measures : |
Metric |
Migratory requirements: |
a visa is required for US Citizens. Western Europeans only need a regular passport, and foreigners from neighboring countries, Chile, and Bolivia only need a national ID card. |
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