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The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America. It borders on Argentina in the south and southwest, on Bolivia in the northwest, and on Brazil in the east and northeast. Landlocked.
The country is divided into two unequal parts by the Paraguay River. To the west of the river is the Gran Chaco region, a desert region that covers about 60% of the country's area. In the east, where the bulk of the population is concentrated, there are fertile lowlands and subtropical forests.
Paraguay Airport
Asuncion Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
Paraguay hotels 1 - 5 stars
Paraguay weather
The eastern part of Paraguay has a tropical humid climate, while the northwest has a tropical dry climate.
Average temperatures in January (local summer) range from +27-29°C in the southern regions to +22-34°C in the northwest, with very hot days when the thermometer rises to +35-43°C. In July (winter), the air in the south warms up to an average of +17-19°C, and in the north - up to +16-24°C, although irregular intrusions of Antarctic air masses (May-September) can lead to a drop in temperature to +6 °C, and warm winds from the Amazon, on the contrary, warm the air to +36°C.
Precipitation ranges from 700 mm in the west of Paraguay to 1500 in the center (near Asuncion) and up to 2000 mm in the mountainous eastern regions. The distribution of precipitation is also quite variable - usually the greatest amount of rain occurs in the summer months (November - March), and winter (June - August) is relatively dry. However, in the western regions of the country (Gran Chaco), the few precipitation falls relatively evenly, with a barely noticeable dry season (April - October), and in the south there is humid weather almost all year. In the mountainous regions of the east of the country, weather conditions strongly depend on the altitude of the place and are often quite severe.
Language of Paraguay
Official language: Spanish, Guarani
The indigenous language, Guarani, is widely used for interethnic communication. 37% of the population speaks only Guarani, 50% speaks Spanish and Guarani, 7% of the population speaks only Spanish and 6% speaks German, Japanese or Korean.
Currency of Paraguay
International name: PYG
Guarani is equal to 100 centimos. Banknotes in denominations of 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500 guarani are used, as well as coins in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 guarani.
MasterCard, American Express and Visa credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, with the exception of small hotels. Their use in catering establishments is limited. Traveler's checks in US dollars are accepted almost everywhere except small hotels.
Customs restrictions
Transit of foreign currency is allowed, but declaration is required.
You can import duty free: alcoholic beverages and perfumes for personal use, personal belongings and sports equipment, tobacco products for personal use. It is allowed to export food, gold and silver for personal use.
It is not allowed to import: drugs, small arms, pornography. It is not allowed to export gold, diamonds, tropical tree seedlings, or wild animal skins without documents.
Mains voltage
Tips
Restaurants accept a tip of 10% of the bill. In mid-level establishments, tips are usually not allocated, so it is easier to leave an amount within PYG1000 for the service staff. Doormen expect tips in the range of PYG3000, maids - from PYG7000 to PYG40000 per week, gas station attendants also expect a small compensation - in this case, PYG500 is enough. Tipping is not required in taxis, although it is recommended to round up the fare.
Purchases
Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays from 07:30 to 13:00. Department stores and shopping centers are usually open from 08:00 to 19:30 on weekdays, and on weekends from 08:00 to 17:00-18:00. In the period from 12:00 to 15:00-15:30, almost all establishments close for siesta, with the exception of large department stores and private cafes.
Value added tax (IVA, 10%) is added to the price of all goods and services, including bills in bars, restaurants and hotels. VAT refund when leaving the country is not possible.
Souvenirs
As souvenirs, you can buy "nanduti" laces made by Itagua women, original local sports T-shirts "aho poi", which come in many colors and styles, leather goods, wood crafts, silver "yerba mate" bowls and local handicraft jewelry made of silver and stone
Office hours
Banking hours: from 08.45 to 15.00 from Monday to Friday.
Photo and video shooting
It is not recommended to photograph government and military facilities. Although the law directly prohibiting this was officially repealed in 1993, police can use the fact of filming as a reason for extortion.
Safety
In the capital and other large cities, where there are many beggars and street thieves, there is a fairly significant risk of encountering fraud (this is especially common when exchanging currency) or theft. There are a lot of people loitering on the streets, especially young people, many of whom are not averse to offering very dubious services or goods. In rural Paraguay, stealing or cheating a guest is morally unthinkable.
Code of the country: +595
Geographic first level domain name:.py
Medicine
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers over nine months of age who intend to visit areas east and west of the capital. Increased precautions should be taken against typhus (risk of infection in some rural areas), hepatitis B, C and D, dengue (countrywide), filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease). There are many stray dogs on the streets of local communities, so they should be wary of as potential carriers of rabies.
Emergency numbers
Ambulance - 141.
Fire protection - 132.
Police - 130.
NATURE
Terrain.
The Paraguay River, flowing through a vast alluvial plain, divides the country into two parts: Paraguay proper, and Chaco. To the east of the Paraguay River there are fertile lowlands, irrigated by numerous rivers with marshy banks. In some places, ridges of hills composed of crystalline rocks rise above the flat bottoms of the valleys and are structurally connected with the Brazilian Plateau, located further to the east. One of these ridges reaches the Paraguay River north of Concepcion, another crosses the river near Asuncion. Most of Paraguay's population is concentrated in this hilly area. Further to the east, from the city of Encarnacion to the border with Brazil, a high ledge stretches, bordering the Paraná plateau on the west. Plateau-like surfaces with heights from 300 to 600 m above sea level. formed as a result of repeated outpourings of lava that occurred in the distant past; at the same time, the lava layers interbedded with horizons of red-colored sandstones. The Parana River, cutting through the plateau and flowing in a southerly direction, reaches the Paraguayan border at Guaira and forms a series of waterfalls here. The construction of the Itaipu Dam near the city of Ciudad del Este led to the formation of a huge reservoir, which spills upstream along the Brazilian border for more than 150 km.
To the west of the Paraguay River is the Chaco region, a vast plain less than 250 m above sea level. The Pilcomayo River and other rivers flow through it, which have strongly branching channels that often change their position. The topography of this area is characterized by dry riverbeds and salt marshes.
Climate and flora.
The entire territory of Paraguay is characterized by a subtropical climate, with average temperatures of 16–21° C in winter and 28–31° C in summer. The hottest region is the Chaco region, where a maximum of 43° C is recorded, while in the eastern part of the country temperatures rarely exceed 35° C. In winter, cold air masses sometimes invade from the south.
The Paraná plateau receives more than 1,500 mm of precipitation per year. Here, on fertile soils developed on basalts and other volcanic rocks, dense evergreen subtropical forests grow, which were actively exterminated in the 1980–1990s and currently occupy only approx. 5% of the original area. Poorer soils formed on sandstones are covered with semi-deciduous forests. To the west, precipitation decreases. Low hilly and flat areas adjacent to the Paraguay River receive approx. 1300 mm per year, falling mainly from October to May. Landscapes of savannas covered with cereals with isolated groups of palm trees are common here; Only along the river valleys are there dense evergreen forests. Further west, the amount of precipitation continues to decrease, from 110 mm on the west bank of the Paraguay River to 750 mm or less in the interior of the Chaco. These driest areas are almost entirely covered with thickets of xerophytic shrubs, only in places giving way to areas of palm savanna. The famous tree grows here, which is famous for its exceptionally hard wood and is used to obtain tanning extract. The far west of the country is occupied by impenetrable thorny thickets of deciduous trees and shrubs.
Animal world.
Pampas deer, caimans and armadillos are common in Paraguay. Less common is the capybara rodent, or capybara. The forests and swamps are home to many tropical birds, including various parrots, rheas and ibises. Blood-sucking bats are often found. Both people and livestock suffer greatly from a huge number of insects - locusts, mosquitoes and ticks. A noticeable element of the flat landscape are termite mounds, which look like truncated red cones.
POPULATION
According to the 1992 census, 4.2 million people lived in the country. As of 2004, the population was estimated at 6.19 million people. According to estimates for 2009, the number was 6 million 995 thousand 665 people. More than 88% of the population are mestizo - descendants of mixed marriages between Indians and whites. Pure-blooded Indians make up 2%, whites make up 9%, and less than 1% are of African, Korean or Japanese descent. Unlike all other Latin American countries, in Paraguay the indigenous language, Guarani, is widely used for interethnic communication. 37% speak only Guarani, half of the population speaks Spanish and Guarani, 7% of the population speaks only Spanish and 6% speaks German, Japanese or Korean.
Religion.
The official religion in Paraguay is Catholicism. About 90% of believers are Catholics, and 10% are Protestants (Mennonites). Some Catholic organizations, including seminaries, are partially subsidized by the government.
Population distribution.
The country's low population density is a consequence of past wars, political instability and lack of immigration. In the first half of the 20th century. approximately 800 thousand inhabitants left the country. The birth rate and death rate in Paraguay are respectively 30 and 4 per 1000 inhabitants per year, the annual population growth in 1997 decreased to 2.6% compared to the period from 1985 to 1993 (3.1%). The country has approximately the same number of rural and urban residents.
Cities.
The capital of the country is the city of Asuncion, a port on the Paraguay River approximately 1,500 km from the La Plata estuary. Its population, according to the 1992 census, was 502 thousand people (with suburbs - 1030 thousand), and in 1997 it was estimated at 607 thousand people. The next most populous cities are Ciudad del Este (222.274 thousand according to 2002 estimates), located on the border with Brazil, and San Lorenzo (133.3 thousand), a satellite city of Asuncion. In the southeastern part of the country, the largest cities are mainly centers of agricultural areas. These are Coronel Oviedo (with 84,103 in 2002) and Villarrica (33.3 thousand). The main river ports, in addition to Asuncion, are Encarnacion (66.4 thousand), located on the right bank of the river. Parana opposite the Argentine port of Posadas, and Concepcion (42.6 thousand people) on the river. Paraguay is 290 km above Asuncion.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Central authorities.
According to the 1992 constitution, the country has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. Executive power belongs to the president, who is directly elected for a five-year term and cannot be re-elected for another, and to the government. The vice president is elected together with the president. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appoints the cabinet of ministers and heads of the civil administration; His responsibilities also include drawing up the annual state budget. Although the 1992 constitution expanded the powers of the legislative and judicial branches of government, the president retains significant power, supported by Paraguay's long tradition of presidential rule.
Legislative power belongs to the Congress, consisting of the Senate with 45 members and the Chamber of Deputies with 80 members. Legislators are elected to the same five-year terms as the president, based on proportional representation. Senators are elected from national party lists, and members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected from departments and the capital district. Each department can elect at least one deputy. Additional seats in the House are allocated according to the number of registered voters. Congress has the right to initiate legislation and override a presidential veto. The Senate must approve the appointment of all heads of the Supreme Court, the armed forces, the national police and the central bank. Any interference by the executive branch in the activities of local governments must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
Local government.
Administratively, the country is divided into 18 departments and the capital district of Asuncion. 13 departments are located east of the Paraguay River, 5 to the west of it, in the Chaco region. The departments are divided into 220 municipalities. The department is headed by the governor and the department council. Elections for the governor and council are held every five years, at the same time as the elections for the president and members of Congress. The municipality is governed by the mayor and the municipal council. They are elected for a term of five years by direct vote, and these elections must not coincide with the year of the presidential election. The first democratic municipal elections in Paraguay took place in 1991. The first governors were elected in 1993.
Political parties.
The National Republican Association, better known as the Colorado Party, was founded in 1887. Since then, throughout history, with the exception of the period from 1904 to 1946, it has been the ruling party. The Colorado Party played the role of the main force on which the Stroessner regime relied, although some groups within the party were opponents of the dictatorship. In the 1993 presidential elections, she collected 41% of the votes, and in the 1996 municipal elections, 49% of all ballots (of those recognized as valid) were cast for her. This party has more than 900 thousand members.
The Liberal Party, also founded in 1887, was in power from 1904 to 1936. In 1942 it was banned, and after the civil war of 1947 it was persecuted. In 1961 the party was restored, but split into several factions that acted as rivals in elections regularly held by Stroessner. The core of the party formed the “Genuine Radical Liberal Party” (PLLP) in 1977, which refused to participate in national elections and was banned. The PLRP is the main opposition party in the country. In the 1993 elections she won 33% of the vote, and in 1996 - 34%. Its population is more than 600 thousand people.
After the victory of the independent movement in the 1991 municipal elections, the Movement for National Accord was created, which later took shape as a party (1992). In the 1993 presidential elections, the candidate from this party received 24% of the vote. However, her popularity later fell, and in the 1996 municipal elections only 12% voted for her. The party has more than 70 thousand members.
Other minor parties include the Social Democratic, Revolutionary Febrerist, Christian Democratic and Workers' Party (left-wing orientation). Almost 85% of Paraguay's electorate belongs to one political party or another.
Political dynamics.
In February 1989, a military coup ended the rule of General Alfredo Stroessner and significantly changed the direction of Paraguayan politics. The coup was led by General Andres Rodriguez, one of Stroessner's closest associates, who became his successor. Rodriguez was elected to the presidency in May of the same year, and the elections, although considered free, were organized in such a way as to give a clear advantage to the actual holder of the post, Rodriguez. The head of state's firm decision to lead the country towards democracy won him the support of wide sections of society, including most of the opposition parties. During the four years of his rule, the democratic demands put forward by opposition groups were gradually implemented, although under control from above. In August 1993, Rodriguez handed over his powers to Juan Carlos Vasmosi, who, after 39 years of military rule, became the first civilian to hold the presidency.
Vasmosi, an engineer and wealthy construction entrepreneur, won the presidential election in May 1993, defying all odds. His main opponent in the primary, Luis Maria Argaña, a candidate from Colorado, brought serious allegations of fraud against him. The senior officers came out in support of Vasmosi. The combined forces of the opposition won the majority of seats in the legislature and 5 of the 17 governorships, including the post of governor of the Central Department, located in close proximity to the capital.
In 1994–1995, repeated negotiations between Colorado and opposition party leaders led to a complete overhaul of the judiciary, including the Supreme Court and election commission systems. Municipal elections in November 1996 took place under the direction of new election commissions and in accordance with new voter registration lists; These innovations generated widespread confidence, which was reflected in the participation of 82% of registered voters in the elections.
Vasmosi's presidency encountered significant difficulties. In April 1996, General Lino Cesar Oviedo, who held a senior position in the army, provoked a serious crisis by disagreeing with the president's order for his resignation and threatening a military coup. However, strong international pressure, especially from the United States, Brazil and Argentina, coupled with the neutral stance taken by the Paraguayan military, helped manage the crisis.
In the 1990s, a number of corruption scandals erupted in Paraguay. In 1995, the central bank and several local banks were accused of fraud, which caused a temporary crisis in the country's financial system.
The period after the 1989 coup was marked by unrest among workers and peasants. Landless peasants resorted to unauthorized seizure of large, often empty farms, trying to force the government to carry out agrarian reforms. 80% of the land in Paraguay is owned by landowners who make up only 1% of the population. Peasants who arbitrarily seized land were usually expelled by the police, which in some places caused outbreaks of violence. After Stroessner's overthrow, new trade unions and federations appeared in the country. Both Rodrigues and Vasmosi, although they emphasized their willingness to dialogue with trade unions, took a rigidly conservative position in addressing these social problems.
Judicial system.
The judicial system in Paraguay includes the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, which controls the decisions of the trial courts. The judicial system is further divided into five departments dealing with criminal cases, civil and commercial law issues, labor disputes, administrative violations and juvenile cases.
Candidates for all positions in the judiciary are selected by a council of judges (magistrates). All Supreme Court judges must be confirmed by the President and the Senate. All other appointments are made by the Supreme Court.
Armed forces.
In 1997, the strength of the Paraguayan army was 16 thousand people; in addition, 3,600 people served in the river flotilla, which was part of the armed forces, and 1,200 in the air force. Paraguay's military spending is still high, accounting for 13.3% of the state budget.
Foreign policy.
Paraguay is a member of the United Nations, the Organization of American States and, along with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, has been a founding member of MERCOSUR since 1991. Since 1989, Paraguay has ratified several international agreements related to human rights and recognized the jurisdiction of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. In accordance with the principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, all ratified international agreements have superior legal status to laws passed by Congress. Paraguay has long had close ties with Argentina, but recently the role of Paraguay's main foreign partner has passed to Brazil; economic ties with this country were especially strengthened after the joint construction of the world's largest hydropower complex Itaipu on the Parana River, along which the border between these two states passes.
ECONOMY
Paraguay is one of the least developed countries in South America. Its economy is based on agriculture, and its economic development is slowed by a lack of skilled labor, an underdeveloped transport system and a lack of sources of financing. In the second half of the 20th century. The government developed various programs to stimulate development, including increasing public investment in the construction of roads, airports and electricity construction.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Gross domestic product amounted to $8.1 billion in 1996, and in per capita terms - $1,471. In the period from 1970 to 1975, annual growth was 6%, and in 1977–1979 it reached a maximum of 9% per year. From 1980 to 1989, the average rate of economic growth slowed to 2.4% per year and was inferior to the rate of population growth. From 1990 to 1996, the annual increase in production was 3.7%. According to 1995 data, 26% of GDP came from agriculture, the same amount from industry, the remaining 48% was obtained from the service sector, trade, transport, communications and utilities.
Busy.
The economically active population in Paraguay is approximately one third of its total population. Of this number, according to 1993 data, 38% were employed in agriculture, 20% in industry and construction, 25% in trade and services, 4% worked in transport, communications and utilities. The number of unemployed was 9%.
Organization of production.
Many important areas of public service are provided by the state, including electricity, water supply, telecommunications, railway and water transport. The state owns the Central Bank and the National Development Bank. With regard to property rights and business activities, foreigners enjoy the same rights as Paraguayan citizens. The government encourages private investment, but reserves the right to intervene in the economy in cases where there is a threat to national welfare.
Agriculture.
In Paraguay, arable lands occupy 10% of the territory, permanent pastures - 39% and forest lands - 35%. In 1995, agriculture provided 26% of the country's GDP. The main sources of export earnings are income from the export of cotton and soybeans. Vegetable oils, meat products, hides and skins are also exported. In 1993, there were about 8 million heads of cattle in the country. Meat used to be the main export product, but supplies fell sharply in the 1970s and 1980s. Trade with Brazil only partially compensates for the loss of the European market. Paraguay is generally self-sufficient in foods such as rice, corn, wheat and soybeans.
Forestry and wood processing industry.
Forestry products are of great importance for the country, on the one hand, as raw materials for its own manufacturing industry, and on the other, as an export item. Timber was once Paraguay's main export and is still an important export item. The economic potential of the industry has decreased as a result of intensive deforestation in the eastern regions of the country; Most of the remaining forests are in the inaccessible Chaco region. In addition to the timber itself, forest products include Paraguayan tea, or mate (an evergreen shrub - a type of holly, from the leaves and young shoots of which a tonic drink is prepared), quebracho extract, vegetable wax, essential oils, tung nut, palm oil and coconut. Most of these products are exported.
Manufacturing industry.
The contribution of manufacturing to the Paraguayan economy declined from 16.1% of GDP in 1990 to 14.8% in 1995. The easy delivery of manufactured goods from abroad did not provide sufficient incentive to develop its own industry. The country is dominated by small industrial enterprises, which are mainly engaged in the processing of local agricultural products. The most important industries are food and beverages, cigarettes, soybean oil, cotton textiles and cement. Most of the enterprises are concentrated in the vicinity of Asuncion. In 1986 in Villa Aes, north of Asunción, a large steel mill was opened - it is jointly owned by the Paraguayan government and representatives of the Brazilian business community. Another steel mill, owned by a Brazilian company, came into operation in 1993.
Energy.
Wood and charcoal are still the most commonly used fuel in households, and although wood is an important export, much of Paraguay's wood production is burned. As for automobile fuel, Paraguay followed the example of Brazil by using alcohol for this purpose.
Paraguay has become a major producer and exporter of electricity generated from hydroelectric power plants built here. Until the 1960s, the shortage and high cost of electricity were a serious obstacle to the industrialization of the country. In 1968, a small hydroelectric power station was put into operation on the Akarai River. In 1974, when Paraguay was already producing enough electricity to supply it to neighboring countries, an agreement was signed with Brazil on the construction of the Itaipu hydroelectric complex on the Parana River. The complex, which cost $20 billion to build, became operational in 1984 and reached its full capacity of 12,600 MW in 1991. Under the terms of the agreement, half of the energy produced belongs to Paraguay, and most of it is exported to Brazil. In the mid-1990s, another hydroelectric power station began operating - Yasireta, also located on the Parana River below Itaipu and built jointly by Paraguay and Argentina. However, despite the large amount of electricity produced in Paraguay, only 51% of homes in the country were electrified in the mid-1990s.
Transport.
Paraguay's transport system includes river routes with a total length of 3.5 thousand km (the Paraguay and Paraná rivers), highways, highways and local roads, domestic and international airlines and a railway - one of the oldest in South America. According to 1995 data, the total length of roads in Paraguay was about 30 thousand km. However, 9% of them had a hard surface, and the rest were dirt roads, on which traffic was possible only in the dry season. A section of the Pan-American Highway runs through Paraguay, approx. 700 km. The Transchaco Highway connects Asuncion with Bolivian territory. The total length of railways in 1995 was only about 970 km, although most of them were unusable. Asuncion has a modern airport serving both international and domestic routes. Due to Paraguay's inland location, the development of faster and cheaper modes of transport is of great importance for the economic development of this country. To this end, the government is implementing a program to improve water transport and build improved highways connecting Paraguay with neighboring Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil.
International trade.
Paraguay's main exports are cotton and soybeans. Vegetable oils and timber are also of great importance. Oil and petroleum products, various production equipment, iron and steel, food products and vehicles are imported. Paraguay's main trading partners are Brazil and Argentina, members of the Latin American common market MERCOSUR. Algeria is also an important oil supplier. In addition, trade is carried out with Western European countries, the United States and Japan.
In 1997, the volume of officially registered exports amounted to 728 million dollars, and imports - 1.4 billion dollars. However, these figures do not reflect the true volume of transactions, since a significant part of foreign trade transactions in Paraguay accounts for smuggling. The value of illegally re-exported goods is estimated at $1.5 billion. Nevertheless, Paraguay's trade deficit poses serious problems. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, this deficit was largely covered by the influx of funds as part of the international hydropower project - the construction of the Itaipu complex. In the mid-1980s, after construction was completed, the flow of funds stopped, which immediately affected the country's balance of payments. By the end of 1986, Paraguay's external debt reached $1.9 billion (and this amount does not include the part of construction costs that falls on Paraguay, since Paraguay pays off this debt by supplying electricity to Brazil). By 1996, the amount of external debt was significantly reduced.
For a long time, Paraguay was the center of smuggling trade for all of South America. Low taxes and the lack of clear order and compliance with customs rules made it profitable to import goods for illegal resale in Argentina or Brazil. According to police investigations, the country is also a transit point for cocaine and other drugs and a center for laundering profits from their sale.
Monetary system, banks.
The currency of Paraguay is the guarani, which is divided into 100 centimos. Inflation rates during the period 1991–1995 averaged 16.6% per year.
Paraguay's banking system includes the Central Bank, seven development banks and nine commercial banks, as well as numerous savings and loan institutions. The National Bank for Public Works is the main institution providing loans for industrial and agricultural needs. There are about 50 of its branches and representative offices throughout the country. A number of foreign banks also operate in Paraguay - Brazil, Spain, the USA and other countries. In 1993, a stock exchange opened in Asunción.
Government economic policy in the 1990s was aimed primarily at reducing inflation by limiting costs and tightening tax policy. The central government budget has been running a surplus for a number of years; In addition, new taxes were introduced to increase revenue. This policy allowed Paraguay to reduce its external debt from $2.4 billion in 1989 to $1.3 billion in 1996. However, public investment was not enough to cope with a number of structural problems hampering economic development; the latter include underdeveloped infrastructure, low levels of education and severe economic inequality. Aid from other countries and foreign investment have been meager, amounting to about $200 million a year in the mid-1990s. The largest foreign investors are Brazilian firms.
SOCIETY
Social structure.
After the so-called The Paraguayan War of 1864–1870 against the Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, in which nearly all the country's men between the ages of 15 and 70 died, left many families headed by women and reduced the number of marriages. Paraguayan society does not have a strict division into classes, but the differentiation is quite clearly expressed and the transition from one social stratum to another is difficult, especially in small communities. The middle and upper layers in the country are small. You can increase your social status by receiving an education or achieving a high position in your profession, as well as through connections with foreign capital. High social position is traditionally determined by land ownership and wealth.
Industrial and trade organizations and trade unions.
The country has several chambers of commerce that promote the development of trade relations with Argentina, Brazil and Germany. There is also a local chamber of commerce, which brings together specialized trade organizations. Industrialists are organized into the Paraguayan Industrial Union. The trade union association, the Paraguayan Confederation of Workers, is controlled by the ruling Colorado party and has 189 branches, organized along territorial or sectoral lines. At the end of the 1980s, independent trade unions began to form, which created two opposition federations, the National Workers' Center and the United Trade Union Center of Workers.
Social Security.
In 1943, a social insurance system was created in the country, covering all workers and those under 60 years of age. The law provides for free medical care, payments during illness or for the period of recovery after an accident, payment of maternity expenses and old-age pensions for people over 60 years of age. This program is financed by contributions from employers, employees themselves and partly from the government. The length of a normal working week is 48 hours.
The reforms carried out have significantly improved the situation in the field of public education and health care, although there is still a shortage of medical personnel (1 doctor per 1,406 inhabitants). By 1995, life expectancy was 72 years for men and 75 years for women.
CULTURE
Cultural heritage.
The culture of Paraguay is a fusion of Spanish culture with the culture of the indigenous population - the Guarani Indians. The Guaraní language is widely spoken throughout the country, and most of the rural population only learn Spanish at school. Many poems and songs have been written in Guarani, and many prose writers also use it. Paraguayans are proud of their Amerindian heritage, and the country has special institutions dedicated to ethnographic and linguistic research, including the Academy of Guaraní Language and Culture and the Association of Indians of Paraguay.
Nyanduti lace.
A unique handicraft is the exquisite nyanduti lace (which means "web" in the Guarani language), handcrafted into openwork circular patterns in cotton, silk or linen. The manufacturing process is very labor-intensive and takes up to several weeks.
Music.
The folk musical instruments of the Guarani Indians, which they used even before the Spanish conquest, are flutes, trumpets, rattles, rattles (mbaraka), whistles and drums; The Spaniards introduced stringed instruments into use. Many folk tunes are performed by small groups of folk musicians; Such an ensemble usually consists of two Spanish guitars, a small national guitar and a local variety of harp.
Asunción has a symphony orchestra, a military orchestra and a conservatory. The most famous Paraguayan composers are José Asunción Flores (1904–1972), who created the popular genre of lyrical songs of guaranía with a slow waltz accompaniment, and Herminio Jiménez.
Literature and painting.
Leading writers in Paraguay include historians Juan O'Leary (1870–1960) and Cecilio Baez (1862–1924); Manuel Ortiz Guerrero (1897–1933), who wrote poetry in Guarani; the founder of national drama, Julio Correa (1908–1954); poets Erib Campos Cervera (1908–1953) and Elvio Romero (b. 1926), novelist Gabriel Casaxia (1907–1980), Augusto Roa Bastos (b. 1917), author of internationally acclaimed novels and short stories, and poet and critic Josefina Pla (b. 1909), who made significant contributions to the visual arts.
Among the most famous Paraguayan artists of the 20th century. include Pablo Alborno (1877–1958), who founded the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1910, and Julián de la Herreria (1888–1937), a ceramist who pioneered the use of Indian art motifs. Contemporary artists include Carlos Colombino, a sculptor who uses an innovative technique combining woodcarving and painting; Olga Blinder, an artist known for her expressionist work and art promoter; and Riccardo Migliorissi, famous for his surrealist paintings.
Education.
In 1992, one in ten Paraguayans over 15 years of age was illiterate. Although the country theoretically has a compulsory six-year schooling, remote rural areas often lack schools. In 1995, there were 860.8 thousand students in primary schools, and 255 thousand in secondary schools. In 1995, 18.9 thousand students studied at the National University of Asuncion, and 15 thousand at the Catholic University. In the early 1990s, the country Several private universities were opened. According to 1995 data, the adult literacy rate was close to 90%.
Sports and holidays.
The most popular sport in Paraguay is football. Basketball matches, car racing and tennis competitions also attract significant public interest. Other sports such as horse racing, swimming and golf have smaller numbers of adherents. Volleyball is popular in all levels of society.
The main religious holiday in the country is the Day of the Miracles of the Holy Virgin, which is solemnly celebrated on December 8 in the city of Kaakupa.
STORY
Colonial period.
Before the arrival of Europeans, several Indian tribes lived in the territory of eastern Paraguay, having a common language and known under the general name Guarani. Although the Guarani did not reach such a high level of development as the Incas or Mayans, they cultivated the land and lived in large wooden houses surrounded by palisades, which sharply distinguished them from the nomadic tribes that inhabited the Chaco or the Amazon. The colonial era in the history of Paraguay is divided into two main periods: the development of the urban settlement of Asuncion, founded in 1537, and the period of activity of Jesuit missionaries in the interior of the country. The city of Asuncion grew rapidly and surpassed Buenos Aires in importance until the latter was freed from Spanish dependence.
In 1609, Philip III of Spain, at the insistence of the Spanish governor of the colony, turned to the Jesuit Order with a request to send a group of priests to Christianize and educate the Indians, who were enslaved and killed by the Paulistas (Portuguese settlers - residents of Sao Paulo in Brazil), who penetrated all over the world during their raids. further south into Paraguayan territory. The Catholic priests themselves suffered greatly from the predatory attacks of the colonists heading from Peru, and they managed to persuade the Indians to leave their homes and settle in the newly cleared lands in the southeast of Paraguay. In these new territories, majestic churches were built and large agricultural farms - “reductions” - were created. These colonies, consisting of Indians converted to Christianity and numbering at least 100 thousand people, were under the control of missionaries. However, over time, the colonial authorities grew suspicious, which turned into confidence that the Jesuits were creating their own state, and in 1767 the Guarani were expelled from South America. The Indians soon returned to their usual way of life.
Independence.
When in 1810 Buenos Aires declared independence from Spain and attempted to conquer Asuncion, the inhabitants of this city supported the Spanish governor, repelling a military expedition from Buenos Aires. However, on May 14, 1811, the Paraguayans convinced the governor to resign and declared independence. In 1816, the National Congress and the ruling junta granted one of the members of this junta, namely José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, unlimited power. His authoritarian rule lasted until his death in 1840. He tried to isolate Paraguay from the outside world, encouraged the development of local industry, established friendly relations with the Indians and persecuted foreigners. Francia's successor, Carlos Antonio Lopez, ruled as a despot until his death in 1862. However, during the reign of his son, Francisco Solano Lopez, the country became embroiled in war.
War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay.
Francisco Solano Lopez, educated in France and trying to emulate Napoleon, began forming and training the largest army in South America; he soon found himself at war with Brazil due to the latter's interference in the affairs of Uruguay, which Lopez considered his ally. However, Uruguay, like Argentina, soon became embroiled in the War of the Triple Alliance, or Paraguayan War (1864–1870). The war ended with the death of Lopez and the almost complete devastation of Paraguay. Of the 1.3 million inhabitants of Paraguay, about 200 thousand survived, of which 20 thousand were men. The deserted lands did not attract immigrants.
Post-war period.
From 1870 to 1932 there were 33 governments in Paraguay. Gradually, the country's economy was partially restored. However, a significant part of the land ended up in the hands of Argentine owners. Educated people began to take over the leadership of the country, replacing the military. Among the country's most capable presidents of this period are General Bernardino Caballero, founder of the Colorado Party (1880–1886); Cecilio Báez, who founded the Liberal Party and championed democratic government (1905–1906); finally, Manuel Gondra (1910–1911, 1920–1921).
Chak War and its consequences.
After the 2nd Pacific War (1879–1883), during which Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia, the latter lost access to the Pacific Ocean. In search of an alternative solution, Bolivia turned its attention to the Chaco region, a hilly semi-desert located between Bolivian territory and the populated part of Paraguay and supposedly possessing oil reserves. Both Paraguay and Bolivia had separate settlements within the Chaco, but there was no clear border that both countries could agree on. Already in 1928, border conflicts began, and in 1932 war was declared. The military successes of the Paraguayan army, which forced the Bolivians to retreat to the foot of the Andes, forced Bolivia to recognize Paraguayan rights to most of the disputed territory. In 1938, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires, according to which Bolivia still gained access to the Paraguay River.
Paraguay's victory in this war contributed to the strengthening of the role of the military in domestic politics. In February 1936, the hero of the Chaca War, Colonel Rafael Franco, put an end to the timid attempts of the Liberal Party to make the transition to a democratic regime. The ideological basis of Franco's short reign was a mixture of nationalist and socialist ideas. In August 1937, a coup took place that overthrew Franco, and the liberals briefly came to power. In 1939, the commander of the armed forces of Paraguay in the Chaca War, General José Felix Estigarribia, was elected president, but the following year he himself carried out a coup and changed the constitution. He soon died in a plane crash. His successor, General Ihinio Morinigo, established a harsh authoritarian regime and increased the role of the state in the economy.
In 1947, a civil war broke out, during which Morinigo and his allies, who belonged to the Colorado Party, defeated their liberal opponents. The subsequent purge of the armed forces removed from the army all officers who did not belong to the Colorado Party. However, within the party there was a struggle between individual factions, which, in particular, was reflected in the succession of six presidents between 1948 and 1954.
Stroessner mode.
In May 1954, the commander-in-chief of the Paraguayan armed forces, General Alfredo Stroessner, overthrew President Federico Chavez. In July of the same year, he was nominated by the Colorado Party as a candidate for the presidency of the country and was elected as a result of uncontested elections. Through skillful maneuvering, Stroessner managed to secure the support of the army and the Colorado Party, thus creating a reliable organizational basis for his 34-year rule. His regime achieved stability at the cost of repression. Moreover, the corruption of the administration attracted many of those who hoped to profit by receiving privileges and lucrative contracts. All government employees, teachers, army and police officers were required to be members of the Colorado Party.
Stroessner's authoritarian rule was carried out under the guise of democratic signs. Stroessner was re-elected to the presidency 8 times; to give it a semblance of legitimacy, he changed the constitution in 1967 and additionally in 1977. Opposition to the regime was weak and ineffective, as opponents of the ruling party were driven out of the country in the late 1940s and into the 1950s. Between 1963 and 1967, three opposition parties (including two factions of liberals) achieved official status and the right to participate in the next elections. In 1979, all the main opposition parties, including dissidents from members of Colorado itself, formed an anti-Stroessner coalition called “National Accord”; this coalition refused to take part in any elections.
Fatal for the Stroessner regime was the split in the Colorado Party in August 1987, as well as the growing discontent among junior officers who were outraged by Stroessner’s personal interference in the process of assigning military ranks. In February 1989, Stroessner was overthrown in a military coup.
The beginning of democratization.
The military coup in Paraguay and the democratic reforms that followed were led by one of Stroessner's closest associates, General Andres Rodriguez. The coup ushered in an era of political freedom. In May 1989, free but unequal elections were held, in which opposition parties chose not to participate given the new president's enormous popularity and democratic promises, and Rodriguez was elected president of the Colorado Party. Rodriguez promised to transfer his power to a new civilian president in 1993, and made his stay in power a kind of transition period. During this time, Paraguay held its first municipal elections with the participation of several candidates, as well as elections to the constitutional assembly (1991).
Basic democratic norms were enshrined in the 1992 constitution and the 1990 election regulations, but their implementation in practice was hampered by deeply rooted anti-democratic sentiments inherited from the Stressner regime and especially widespread among the military and the Colorado Party. Moreover, the government apparatus was strongly influenced by this party, since most civil servants, including judges, police officers, administrators of various ranks and teachers, retained the positions they held before the coup.
This legacy of the era of authoritarian rule was evident during the 1993 elections, which resulted in the presidency of civil engineer Juan Carlos Vasmosi. Although these elections were the freest in Paraguayan history, the situation initially turned out to be more favorable for Vasmosi, who enjoyed open support from Rodriguez and the military. There is significant evidence that the primary elections that put Wasmosi in the running for the presidency were rigged. Opposition parties, on the contrary, were faced with all sorts of obstacles, often in violation of the law, and one of the highest army officials, General Lino Cesar Oviedo, who spoke in support of the Colorado Party, played an active role in this. A few days before the elections, Oviedo said that the army intends to continue to “participate in the leadership of the country” together with the Colorado Party. Nevertheless, the two opposition parties, having united, secured a majority of seats in Congress, which significantly improved their ability to defend their positions in the process of democratic reforms.
After 1993, changes were carried out in Paraguay that allowed us to hope for the successful completion of the democratization process. As a result of a series of negotiations between 1994 and 1996, the Colorado Party and opposition parties agreed to fundamentally overhaul judicial structures and the electoral system. The municipal elections held in 1996 were by all accounts free and fair. The dismissal of General Oviedo from the army after his attempted military coup in April 1996 led to a number of structural changes in the leadership of the Paraguayan armed forces and increased control over the army by the civilian administration.
Paraguay at the end of the 20th century - beginning of the 21st century
The 1998 elections brought victory to Raul Cubas Grau, who ran from the NRA-Colorado Party coalition and received 55% of the vote. The same coalition also won the elections to Congress, winning 54% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 57% in the Senate.
However, already at the beginning of 1999, a new political crisis was brewing in the country. General indignation was caused by the president's order to release from prison General Oviedo, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to violently overthrow President Vasmosi in 1996. Trade unions declared a general strike, and the Senate began preparing impeachment proceedings. Cubas chose to resign, and in March 1999, supreme power passed, in accordance with the constitution, to the President of the Senate, Luis Gonzalez Macchi (since Vice President Argaña had recently fallen victim to a political assassination). Ex-President Cubas flew to Brazil, where former Paraguayan dictator Stroessner has lived since 1989.
In May 1999, Argentina, where he went after his release from a Paraguayan prison, refused an official request for the extradition of Oviedo, but by the end of the same year, the newly elected President of Argentina, Fernando de la Rua, announced his expulsion from the country. Oviedo subsequently fled to Brazil.
In 1999, the country experienced a severe summer drought in the Chaco Plain, accompanied by the spread of forest fires and the devastation of agricultural land. At the same time, after an almost forty-year break, diplomatic relations with Cuba were restored, which made it possible to intensify trade relations between the two countries. New elections for the vice president were held in August 2000. Félix Argagni, the son of the assassinated vice president, took part in them from the Colorado Party. However, he was defeated. As a result of the popular vote, the leader of the opposition Genuine Radical Liberal Party (PLLP), Julio Cesar Frank, became vice president. For the first time in 50 years, a Colorado Party candidate was defeated in an election.
Meanwhile, Paraguay was in an endless crisis. The unemployment rate reached 18%, the poverty rate - 40%. The economic decline in 2002 was 2.2%. The state treasury was empty. In April 2002, President McKee was formally accused of corruption, kidnapping and torturing opposition politicians, and misusing public funds. But the attempt to impeach him again failed: the Paraguayan Senate, after a 10-hour debate, voted against a vote of no confidence in the country's president. At the same time, 25 senators voted “for” impeachment, 18 voted “against”, with one abstaining. However, later, in June 2006, McKee was sentenced to six years in prison.
Presidential elections took place in April 2003. Nicanor Duarte Frutos, a representative of the Colorado Party, was elected President of Paraguay (37% of the vote). He took office in August 2003. The parliamentary elections held at the same time were also successful for the Colorado Party - 37 of 80 seats in the House of Deputies and 16 of 45 seats in the Senate.
In August 2004, more than 400 people died in a fire in a shopping center in Asuncion. Later that year, a spate of kidnappings led to the resignation of the interior minister. The most notorious was the kidnapping and murder of the 31-year-old daughter of ex-President Raul Cubas. In February 2005, due to the emergency situation, the second Minister of the Interior was replaced in a short period of time.
In the April 2008 presidential election, Colorado Party candidate Blanca Ovelar was defeated by opposition candidate Fernando Lugo, who received 41% of the vote. A former Catholic bishop, Luga relies on the support of broad sections of Paraguay's poorest residents, advocating land reform and assistance to landless peasants.
In June 2012, President Lugo was impeached by the country's parliament. Many leaders of Latin American countries regarded this act as a coup d'etat.
The reason for the impeachment was a clash between the police and the peasants of the province of Kanindeyu, who seized land. As a result, police officers and 11 local residents were killed.
Lugo made this decision to prevent further escalation of violence and to prevent bloodshed. Vice President Federico Franco became the new president. His term will last until the general elections in April 2013.
Literature:
Nitoburg E.L. Paraguay. Economic-geographical sketch. M., 1964
Alperovich M.S. Revolution and dictatorship in Paraguay (1810–1840
). M., 1975
Kharitonov V.A. . M., 1976
History of Latin American Literatures, vol. 2. M., 1988; vol. 3, M., 1994
Paraguay in the modern world. – Latin America, 1998, No. 7
(from Spanish - “Peace and Justice”)”
Paraguay Map
Paraguay(Spanish) Paraguay, guar. Paraguái), official name - Republic of Paraguay(Spanish) Republic of Paraguay , guar. Tetã Paraguái) is a landlocked state. In the south and southwest it borders, in the northwest - with, in the east and northeast - with. Translated from the Guarani language, “Paraguay” means “from the great river” - meaning the Parana River. Due to its central position in South America, Paraguay is sometimes called the "heartland of the Americas" (Spanish). Corazon de América ).
According to a 2015 estimate, Paraguay has a population of 7.0 million people. The capital of the state and the largest city is. The official languages are Spanish and Guarani, both widely used. The majority of the population is mestizo.
The Guarani Indians lived in Paraguay before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, when Paraguay became part of the Spanish colonial empire. Paraguay gained independence in 1811.
Story
Until the 16th century, Paraguay was inhabited by the agricultural Guarani tribes and the Toba, Mocovi, and Mataco tribes of hunters and fishermen.
- 1537 - founded by the Spaniards.
- 1542-1640 - as part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru.
- 1609 - penetration of the Jesuits.
- 1617 - Paraguay territory gains autonomy within the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. Local power is exercised by the Jesuit Order. The Jesuits create self-defense units from the Indians against slave hunters. The Indians are attached to special settlements - reductions, headed by Jesuit priests. The latter's assistants were recruited from local Indians - they bore the title of corregidor (manager) and alcalde (elder).
- 1768 - representatives of the Jesuit order were expelled from Paraguay by the Spanish authorities on suspicion of rebellion.
- 1776 - Paraguay is incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Rio de La Plata.
- 1810-1811 - Paraguayan campaign. Invasion of the United Provinces of South America into Paraguay.
- 1811 - the declaration of independence of Rio de La Plata from Spain caused centrifugal tendencies within the self-proclaimed state, as a result of which Paraguay separated from both Spain and the successor Republic of Rio de La Plata. José Rodriguez de Francia became dictator for life of Paraguay.
- 1844-1862 - dictatorship of Carlos Antonio Lopez.
- 1848 - equal rights for Indians and Creoles.
- 1862-1870 - dictatorship of Francisco Solano Lopez.
- 1866-1870 - The Paraguayan War with Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, which became a national disaster for the country: Paraguay lost almost half of its territory, the population decreased by 60-70%, including the male population, according to some estimates, decreased by 9 times.
- 1887 - founding of the Colorado Party, expressing the interests of large landowners.
- 1922-1923 - civil war.
- 1924-1928 - reign of Jose Eligio Ayala.
- 1932-1935 - Chak War with. Paraguay won, but the conquered lands began to be developed by US corporations.
- 1936 - coup by veterans of the Chak War.
- 1940-1948 - dictatorship of General Morinigo.
- 1947 - civil war.
- 1954-1989 - dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner.
Political structure
Paraguay is a republic.
Executive branch
The head of state and government is the president, elected by the population for one five-year term. Executive power is concentrated in his hands. The president, according to the constitution, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appoints the cabinet of ministers and heads of local administration.
In 2008, Fernando Lugo, head of the Patriotic Alliance for Change, won the presidential election with 41% of the vote. On June 22, 2012, the Paraguayan Senate impeached Lugo for his use of military force to suppress uprisings of landless peasants. His place was taken by Vice President Federico Franco. In 2013, Horacio Cartes became president. In the 2018 elections, Mario Abdo Benitez was elected president of Paraguay (will take office on August 15).
Legislature
Parliament is a bicameral Congress, 45 senators and 80 deputies, elected by the population for a five-year term. Senators are elected from national party lists, and members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected from departments and the capital district.
The Senate approves the appointment of all heads of the Supreme Court, the armed forces, the police and the central bank of the country.
Parliament can come up with a legislative initiative and override a presidential veto.
According to the results of the April 2013 elections, 5 parties are represented in the Chamber of Deputies:
- National Republican Association (Colorado) ANR - 44 deputies (right)
- Authentic liberal-radical party PLRA - 27 (centrist)
- National Union of Ethical Citizens UNACE - 2 (right)
- Wide front - 1 (left)
- National Unity Party - 2 (center-left)
- Forward, country - 2 (center-left)
- Beloved Fatherland PPQ - 1 (center-right)
- Progressive Democratic Party - 0 (center-left)
Geographical data
The Republic of Paraguay is located in the central part and has no access to the sea. Paraguay is bordered in the northeast and east by , in the southeast, south and southwest by , and in the northwest and north by . The country is divided into two unequal parts by the Paraguay River. To the west of the river is the Gran Chaco region, a desert region that covers about 60% of the country's area. In the east, where the bulk of the population is concentrated, there are fertile lowland lands and subtropical forests. The total area of the country is 406,752 km².
Administrative division
Administrative divisions of Paraguay
|
Economy
1 Paraguayan real 1865
200 Paraguayan pesos 1920
Paraguay is an agricultural country, one of the world's largest soybean producers (6th place in the world).
GDP per capita in 2009 was $4.1 thousand (154th place in the world). Below the poverty level - 52% of the population (in 2006).
Agriculture (22% of GDP, 31% of workers) - cotton, sugar cane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; meat and dairy farming, pigs, poultry; logging.
Industry (18% of GDP, 17% of employees) - production of sugar, cement, textiles, drinks, timber; hydropower.
The service sector accounts for 60% of GDP, 52% of workers.
At the end of 2012, Paraguayan President Federico Franco announced that an oil field had been discovered in the Chaco semi-desert. This may indicate the end of the period of Paraguay's energy dependence on other countries.
In 2018, the Paraguayan gaming regulator issued a license to operate Amambay Hotel Casino, which will become the first legal gambling establishment in Latin America. Under the terms of the tender, the casino in the city of Pedro Juan Caballero will pay 20 percent of its income to the state budget.
International trade
The main export goods ($3.2 billion in 2009) are soybeans, cotton, meat, vegetable oil, electricity, timber, leather.
The main buyers of Paraguayan goods (in 2009) are Brazil 21%, Uruguay 17%, Chile 12%, Argentina 11%, Russia 4%.
The main imported goods ($6.5 billion in 2009) are cars, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical equipment, tractors, chemical products.
The main import suppliers (in 2009) are China 30%, Brazil 23%, Argentina 16%, USA 5%.
Foreign policy
Population
Population - 7.0 million (estimated as of July 2010).
Annual growth - 1.3% (fertility - 2.16 births per woman)
Average life expectancy - 73 years for men, 79 years for women
Immunodeficiency virus infection - 0.6% (2007 estimate)
Urban population - 60% (in 2008)
Literacy - 94% (2003 estimate).
Ethno-racial composition (estimate) - mestizos 95%, others 5%. Paraguay's official statistics do not take into account ethnicity or race.
The languages are Spanish and Guarani, both official. Unlike other Latin American countries, in Paraguay the indigenous language, Guarani, is widely used for interethnic communication. 37% speak predominantly Guaraní, 50% are equally proficient in Spanish and Guaraní, and 7% of the population speak predominantly Spanish. A small part of the population speaks Portuguese and German.
Religions - Catholics 89.6%, Protestants 6.2%, other Christians 1.1%, other and undecided 1.9%, atheists 1.1% (according to the 2002 census). Protestants are represented by believers of the Assemblies of God, Baptists, Lutherans, Mennonites.
Culture
One of the major cultural figures of Paraguay is Josefina Pla (1903-1999), poetess, author of novels and short stories, who also worked in the field of artistic ceramics.
Classical guitarist and composer Agustin Pio Barrios (Mangore) (1885-1944), the first major South American guitarist to achieve fame in Europe. Author of more than three hundred works for classical guitar.
Notes
- World Atlas: Maximum detailed information / Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 90. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
- Official proyeccion estimate
- Human Development Report 2014 (2014)..
- Paraguay, corazon de América (1961)
- Paraguay. TSB. 1969-1978
- Supreme F.
- Holocausto paraguayo en Guerra del ’70
- Paraguay's Senate sacks President Fernando Lugo
- Paraguay's President sent into early retirement
- Oil was found in Paraguay. rbc.ru.
- The first land-based casino in Latin America opened in Paraguay.
- World Bank database - The World Bank.
- http://www.dgeec.gov.py/sub_index/Pobreza/Proyeccion%20Densidad%20Tasa%202012.pdf
see also
- Transport in Paraguay
- National Navy of Paraguay
- Foreign relations of Paraguay Open Directory Project
Great Catalan · Great Russian · Brockhaus and Efron · Military Sytin · Small Brockhaus and Efron · Brockhaus · Swiss historical
BNF: 11865260j, 15238522f, 11941600k GND: 4044601-3 ISNI: 0000 0001 2308 8111 LCCN: n79066597 NDL: 00569041 VIAF: 139099883
Paraguay(Spanish: Paraguay), official name - Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: Republica del Paraguay) - a state located in the central part of the South American continent; borders with (south and southwest), with (northwest) and with (east and northeast). The total length of the borders is about 3.5 thousand km; Most of them (2800 km) pass along the water surface, and only 700 km. - by land. Paraguay also includes 2 large islands located on the Parana River - Talivera and Yacireta. One of two South American states (also Bolivia) that do not have direct access to the ocean. The river system (Spanish: Río Parana) - Paraguay (Spanish: Río Paraguay; right tributary of the Parana) connects the country with the capital of Argentina (Spanish: Buenos Aires) and provides access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The total area of the state is 406.8 thousand km², the population is 6.82 million people. The political, economic, cultural center of the country, the largest city and capital of Paraguay - (Spanish: Asunsion).
"Paraguay" in Guarani means "great river" or "source of the sea" in honor of the Paraná River, which crosses the country's territory. Due to its location right in the center of the continent, the small state is often affectionately called the “Heart of America” (Spanish: Corazon de America).
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general information
State device: Paraguay is a presidential republic. The head of state, government and executive power is the president, elected by popular vote for one 5-year term. According to the country's Constitution, the president himself appoints the cabinet of ministers, heads of local administration and is the commander-in-chief of the state's armed forces. The current President of Paraguay is (Spanish: Mario Abdo Benítez), replaced in April 2018 by (Spanish: Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara).
The official title of the head of state: Excelentisimo Señor Presidente de la Republica del Paraguay.
Legislative power in the state is exercised by a 2-chamber Congress: the Senate (45 senators) and the Chamber of Deputies (80 deputies), which are also elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. The appointments of all heads of the Armed Forces, the Supreme Court, the police and the Central Bank of the country are approved by the Senate. Parliament has the power to take legislative initiatives and override a presidential veto.
State language: Spanish and Guarani. Residents of Paraguay widely use Guarani, the language of the indigenous population, to communicate, with 37% of the population speaking only Guarani, and 50% speaking Spanish and Guarani. 7% of local residents speak only Spanish, 6% speak German, Portuguese, Korean or Japanese.
Religion: The official religion in the country is Catholicism. About 90% of the believing population are Catholics, 6.2% are Protestants (), atheists account for 1.3%, the remaining 2.5% are adherents of other religious denominations and undecided ones.
Currency: National currency: Paraguayan Guarani = 100 centimos (international name - PYG). The following denominations of banknotes are in circulation: 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500 guarani; and coins in denominations: 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 guarani.
Population
More than 95% of the country's population are Paraguayans - a special ethnic group, descendants of mixed marriages of white colonists with the indigenous population (mestizo). The remaining 5% are made up of Spaniards, Germans, Brazilians, Guarani, Italians, Slavs, Japanese, Koreans, and people of African descent.
Excursion into history
Before Europeans entered the continent, the eastern part of Paraguay was inhabited by semi-nomadic tribes, and the northwestern regions were inhabited by several Guayucare tribes, hunter-gatherers. Unlike most neighboring countries, the conquest of these lands by the Spaniards took place virtually without resistance from the indigenous inhabitants - the Indians. In 1524, Alejo Garcia (Spanish: Aleixo Garcia), a conquistador and traveler in the service of the Spanish crown, became the first European to cross the territory of what is now Paraguay, accompanied by Guarani guides.
3 years later, the ships of the Italian navigator and traveler Sebastian Caboto(Italian: Sebastiano Caboto; ca. 1476-1557) climbed the Parana River to the mouth of the Rio Paraguay (Spanish: Río Paraguay), but the explorer did not establish settlements here. Only 7 years later, an expedition led by (Spanish: Pedro González de Mendoza; 05/03/1428 - 01/11/1495), the head of the Spanish church, came to the Parana Valley, who founded the city of Asuncion here. In 1537, the state of Paraguay was officially formed, which flourished; Spanish settlers intensively assimilated with the local population. Within 150 years, a unique Spanish-Indian community was formed here, which was characterized by the dominance of Spanish political and religious traditions, combined with obvious Indian features in lifestyle, culture, traditions and cooking.
An endless series of wars with neighboring states and devastation...
The independence of Paraguay was proclaimed in 1811, and within a few years, under the leadership Jose Rodriguez de Francia, known as El Dictator (Spanish El Dictador), the country pursued a clear isolationist policy. From that time on, the most difficult, sometimes tragic new history of the country began - an endless series of wars with neighboring states and devastation. Only during the catastrophic (Spanish: La grande guerra, 1864-1870), in battles with Brazil, Argentina and at the same time Paraguay lost more than 150 thousand km² of its territories and almost ¾ of the population. The situation was complicated by dictatorial, sometimes despotic regimes that frequently and regularly replaced each other. As a result, to this day the country has an unofficial title "An Empty Corner of South America", and its rich natural and unique cultural attractions are little known even to neighboring countries.
Economy
Paraguay is an agricultural country, one of the largest soybean producers, ranking 6th in the world by this indicator.
The contribution of agriculture to the country's GDP is 22%. Agriculture employs 31% of the working population. In addition to soybeans, cotton, sugar cane, wheat, corn, tobacco, tapioca, fruits and a variety of vegetables are grown on the plantations.
The country's industry is rather poorly developed, the share of industry is 18% of GDP. The main focus is on the processing of agricultural products and goods obtained from forestry activities. Paraguay exports timber and sawn timber, raw hides, cabbage extract, and various meat products. Industry employs approx. 17% of the country's working population.
Hydroelectric power, the textile industry, the food industry (production of sugar, soybean oil, beverages) are developed here, and there are 2 steel mills.
Most of the enterprises are small; they are engaged in the processing of agricultural products, the production of cement, cotton fabrics, and cigarettes. Almost all enterprises are concentrated near the capital - Asuncion.
Transport
The state's transport system includes river routes (3.5 thousand km long), highways and highways, railways, domestic and international airlines.
Water communication is carried out along the Paraná River, through which the bulk of cargo transportation is carried out. The main port of the country is the city of Villeta (Spanish: Villeta), which is located on the Paraguay River near Asuncion.
The total length of highways comp. about 60 thousand km. There are excellent paved highways, but these are mostly dirt roads that become virtually impassable during the rainy season.
The Paraguayan Railway, with a total length of 971 km, is considered the oldest in South America. The country has clear railway connections with neighboring Brazil and Argentina.
Domestic and international flights are served by 12 airports, of which the largest are the following: located in the capital, 12 km from the city center, Asuncion SilvioPettirossi International Airport and Guarani International Airport AGT, located not far from Ciudad del Este.
Due to the inland location of the state, the availability of high-speed and cheap modes of transport is of utmost importance for its economic development. To this end, the country's government is systematically implementing programs to improve water transport and build modern highways connecting Paraguay with neighboring countries.
Largest cities
About 60% of the country's population lives in cities. The largest and most important cities in Paraguay:
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| (Spanish: Asuncion) | 1.4 million |
| (Spanish: San Lorenzo) | OK. 500 thousand |
| (Spanish: Ciudad del Este) | OK. 400 thousand |
| Luque (Spanish: Luque) | 362.9 thousand |
| Fernando de la Mora (Spanish: Fernando de la Mora) | 312.7 thousand |
| (Spanish: Lambare) | 300 thousand |
| Pedro Juan Caballero (Spanish: Pedro Juan Caballero) | 293 thousand |
| Capiata (Spanish: Cariata) | 233 thousand |
| (Spanish: Encarnacion) | 147 thousand |
| Salto del Guaira (Spanish: Salto del Guairа) | 111 thousand |
| (Spanish: Trinidad) | OK. 3 thousand |
Terrain
The Paraguay River (the third longest and deepest river on the continent) divides the country into 2 unequal parts: Eastern Paraguay (or the Paranena region) and Western Paraguay (called Chaco). The vast majority of the state's population lives in the east, and only 2-3% live in the west.
To the east of the river lie fertile lowlands, watered by numerous small rivers with marshy banks. In some places, low mountain ranges rise above the valley, structurally connected to the Brazilian Plateau, which extends further to the east. Among the ridges stand out Cordillera de Amambay(Spanish: Cordillera de Amambay) with the peak of Punta Pora (Spanish: Punta Pora; 700 m), Cordillera de Mbaracuyu(Spanish Cordillera de Mbaracuiy), Cordillera de Caaguasy(Spanish: Cordillera de Caaguazu), in the south - Cordillera de San Rafael(Spanish: Cordillera de San Rafael) with Mount San Rafael (Spanish: Monte de San Rafael; 850 m). In the central region, Mount Ibicui (Spanish: Ibicui; 630 m) stands out.
This hilly region, where the bulk of Paraguay's population is concentrated, contains fertile lowland valleys and subtropical forests.
Further to the east - from the city (Spanish: Encarnacion) to the border with Brazil - a high ledge with a height of 300-600 m above sea level stretches, limiting the Parana lava plateau (Spanish: Meseta de Parana) to the west, formed as a result of numerous outpourings of lava that took place in the distant past. Layers of lava alternate with horizons of reddish sandstones. The Paraná River, flowing south and cutting through the plateau, reaches the state border at Guaira (Spanish: Guaíra), forming a series of waterfalls. The construction of the Itaipu Dam (Spanish: Рresa de Itaipu) near the city of Ciudad del Este led to the formation of a giant reservoir that spills upstream along the river along the border with Brazil for almost 160 km.
To the west of the river extends (Spanish: Gran Chaco; “Great Chaco”), a natural area in the central part of the continent, mainly in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, a vast plain with an altitude of less than 250 m above sea level, a desert region occupying almost 62% of the country's area. The Chaco region is sometimes called "the last frontier of South America", a hot tropical region in the Paraná River basin. It crosses (Spanish: Río Pilcomayo). The topography of this sparsely populated area is characterized by semi-desert landscapes, dry riverbeds and salt marshes.
Gran Chaco
Natural Resources in Paraguay
The natural resources of local minerals have been poorly studied, and mineral deposits are almost never developed. The country has some reserves of iron, copper and manganese ores, as well as mica, sulfur, granite, limestone, basalt and other building materials.
There are significant oil deposits in the Chaco region.
Climate and flora
The weather conditions of Paraguay, oddly enough, differ significantly from the climate of adjacent countries, and, despite its small size, are quite heterogeneous in different parts of the territory. In the eastern part of the state the climate is humid tropical, in the north-west it is dry tropical.
In summer, average January temperatures range from +27-29°C in the southern regions to +20-33°C in the northwest, with very hot days when the air temperature rises to +40-43°C. In winter (June-August) in the south the air warms up to +17-20°C, and in the north - to +16-25°C, although sometimes (May-September) intrusions of cold Antarctic winds lead to a drop in temperature to +6°C , and warm air masses from the Amazon lead to air warming up to +36°C.
The Chaco region is considered the hottest, with distinct seasons: wet (November-March) and dry (April-October). The maximum temperature recorded here is +43°C; in the eastern part of the country the thermometer rarely rises above +35°C. On the fertile soils of the Paraná plateau, moistened by abundant rainfall, dense evergreen moist subtropical forests grow, which, due to active extermination in the 80–90s. twentieth century, currently occupy only about 5% of the original area. As you move to the west, the amount of precipitation decreases; it falls on the hilly plains adjacent to the Paraguay River, mainly during the period October - May.
The savanna landscapes observed here are covered with grasses with isolated groups of palms. In the river valleys there are lush evergreen forests.
As you move further to the west, the amount of precipitation decreases more and more, and the forests become increasingly thin. These drier areas are almost entirely covered with thickets of xerophytic shrubs, only occasionally interspersed with small areas of palm savanna. Here, in tropical woodlands, valuable tree species grow (algarrobo, chañar, etc.), including the famous quebracho tree (Spanish Quebracho; from Spanish “quiebra-hacha” - “to break an ax”), which is famous for its extremely hard wood , and tanning extract is obtained from its bark. The extreme western territories of the country are occupied by impenetrable thickets of deciduous trees, rare groves of dry forests and thorny bushes.
In mountainous areas the climate is quite harsh and depends greatly on altitude.
Animal world
The country's fauna is quite diverse and includes large populations of mammals, reptiles and birds, especially abundant in the sparsely populated areas of the Chaco. Due to intense human activity in the eastern regions of Paraguay, they are rapidly losing their natural fauna, which is quickly replaced by expanding farmland.
The territory of Paraguay is home to pampas deer, jaguars, anteaters, wild boars, caimans, alligators and armadillos, kinkajou (grain-tailed bear), various species of monkeys (including tiny marmosets and black howler monkeys) and other animals. The rare rodent capybara (or capybara) is occasionally seen. In the thickets of tropical forests, along the banks of rivers and swamps, a variety of birds live, including all kinds of parrots, storks, rheas, toucans, wild ducks, pelicans, gulls, partridges, pink flamingos and ibises. Blood-sucking bats are found in abundance, people and livestock suffer incredibly from a huge number of insects - mosquitoes, ticks and locusts. A familiar element of the flat landscape are truncated brick-red cones scattered everywhere - huge termite mounds.
Festivals and holidays
The main public holiday is the Paraguayan Carnival, which takes place in February. In Asuncion, in all cities and towns of the country, many street processions, colorful shows, various costumed cultural performances and festive religious ceremonies are held these days.
In addition to the Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays, every year at the beginning of February since 1539 the whole country celebrates the day of the patron saint of Paraguay “Dia de San Blas”, March 1 - Cerro Cora Festival(Spanish: Cerro Corа), in June - San Juan Festival(Spanish: San Juan) and August 15 marks the Founding Day of Asuncion.
Each province of Paraguay has its own “set” of holiday dates, usually associated with historical or religious events. So, in early February there is a colorful Virgen de la Candelaria(Spanish: Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria), a religious festival dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria; at the end of March - beginning of April in Pascua (Spanish: Pascua) the Viemes-Santo festival (Spanish: Fiesta de Santo Viemes) is celebrated, and in early May in the town of Alasitas (Spanish: Alasitas), near Puno, an Arts and Crafts Fair takes place. background Festival of Dia de Santa Cruz(Spanish: Dia de Santa Cruz). And at the end of September, religious celebrations are widely celebrated here. La Virgen de la Merced(Spanish la Virgen de la Merced).
Curious facts
PARAGUAY
(Republic of Paraguay)
Geographical position. Paraguay is a country in South America, bordered in the northwest and north by Bolivia, in the east by Brazil, and in the south and southwest by Argentina.
Square. The territory of Paraguay occupies 406,752 square meters. km.
Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Paraguay is Asuncion. Largest cities: Asuncion (945 thousand people), Ciudad del Este (134 thousand people), En Carnacion (58 thousand people), Coronel Oviedo (38 thousand people), Caaguatsu (38 thousand people) Concepcion (35 thousand people). Administrative division of the country: 18 departments and the capital district.
Political system
Paraguay Republic. The head of state and government is the president. The highest legislative body is the bicameral parliament (Senate and Chamber of Deputies).
Relief. The surface of the country is flat.
Geological structure and minerals. The country's subsoil contains reserves of iron ore, manganese, and limestone.
Climate. The climate of Paraguay is subtropical. The average July temperature in Asunción is about +17°C, in January it is about +27°C.
Inland waters. The main rivers are Paraguay and Parana.
Soils and vegetation. In the east of the country, located in a more humid zone, deciduous evergreen forests and shrubs (including mate-Paraguayan tea) predominate; in the west there is tropical open forest with valuable tree species (quebracho, guaiacán, chañar, etc.). Forests occupy about half of the country's territory. There are many swamps along the Paraguay River.
Animal world. Among the representatives of the fauna of Paraguay are the armadillo, tapir, jaguar, anteater, wild boar, deer, alligator, capibara (capybara). Birds include toucan, ibis, heron, parrot, American ostrich, and partridge.
Population and language
The country's population is about 5.291 thousand people, the average population density is about 13 people per 1 sq. km. Ethnic groups: mestizos - 95%, Spaniards, Guarani, Japanese, Italians, Portuguese. Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani.
Religion
Catholics-90% (state religion), Protestants (mostly Mennonites).
Brief historical sketch
Before the arrival of Europeans in 1527, the country was inhabited by Guarani Indians. In 1535, Paraguay was declared a Spanish colony. At first, Paraguay was part of the state of Peru, and then became an independent governor-general. In 1811 Paraguay achieved independence. In the wars of 1865-1870. the country lost most of its territory to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Since 1954, Paraguay was ruled by dictator General Alfredo Stroessner; in 1989, as a result of a coup, General Andree Rodriguez came to power. The current president of the country, Juan Carlos Vasmosi, is the first non-military president in the entire history of the country.
Brief Economic Sketch
Paraguay is primarily an agricultural country. The main branch of agriculture is pasture meat farming: cattle, pigs, sheep. Main commercial crops: cotton, tobacco, tung nut, mate tea, coffee, soybean. Harvesting tropical wood (including kebracho). Main industries: food (including meat and cold processing), woodworking, textile, leather and footwear, production of quebracho extract, cement. Export of cotton, soybeans, tung oil, meat and meat products, coffee, kebracho extract. Main foreign trade partners: Brazil, Argentina, Germany.
The currency is guarani.
Brief sketch of culture
Art and architecture. Asuncion. Museum of Fine Arts; Ethnographical museum; Museum of Military History.
