Country Information on Paraguay

Terrain The country is divided into two large areas by the Río Paraguay. To the west of the river is the flat deposit of the Gran Chaco, a vast plain which extends from Paraguay into Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. Grasslands, swamps, and sparse bushes characterize this region. The eastern area largely consists of plains with a rainforest-like vegetation and is drained by the tributaries of the rivers Paraguay and Paraná. Climate Paraguay has a subtropical climate. In Asunción mean temperatures range between 17°C in July and 27°C in January. In the Gran Chaco temperatures may well exceed 45°C on hot days, whereas minimum temperatures are around -2°C. However, there is hardly any snow. The principal rainy season lasts from December to March. Fauna/Flora The Paraguayan flora and fauna is basically that of the surrounding continent. In the country's east, which has a high precipitation rate, dense, evergreen rainforest grows. This forest contains a variety of tropical tree, grass, and fern species. In the Gran Chaco the vegetation is poor in species by comparison. Quite common is the red quebracho tree, which is especially rich in tannin used for tanning leather. Paraguayan wildlife includes armadillos, capybaras (large rodents) tapirs, jaguars, anteaters, wild pigs, fallow deer, caimans, and various snake species. Among the birds indigenous to Paraguay there are various duck species, toucans, storks, herons, partridges, parakeets and other parrots. Many bird species have conspicuously colourful feathers. History/Politics The natives of Paraguay were Indians of various tribes, which bore the names of Guarani, Guaycurú, and Payaguá. In 1525, as it is assumed, the Portuguese explorer Alejo García was the first European to arrive in the country. However, colonization started as late as 1537. The Jesuits settled in 1609 and established a system of missions to proselytise among the indigineous population. The system was characterized by communal farming and activities in arts and crafts. Political issues led to the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish Crown in the 18th century. Colonial Paraguay and the area of present-day Argentina were administered jointly until 1620, then they were incorporated into Peru (which was ruled by a viceroy) as separate parts of the country. As there were no resources of precious metals, these territories were predominantly used for husbandry. Argentina declared its independence from Spain in 1811, and so did Paraguay. The 19th century was characterized by dictatorship government virtually concentrating all power in the hands of Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. The area along the border with Bolivia, which had never been established officially, became the scene of numerous clashes from 1929 to 1932. In 1932 the Chaco War broke out, fuelled by rivalling North American oil companies interested in the assumed existence of oil resources in the region. More than 50,000 Paraguayans and Bolivians lost their lives in the war. An armistice agreement was signed in 1935. In 1938 an arbitration commission ruled that Paraguay should receive three quarters of the disputed territory. The following years were marked by 22 successive presidencies until General Alfredo Stroessner took power in 1954. President Alfredo Stroessner established a military dictatorship and was re-elected every five years after 1958. In the 1968 elections the opposition was allowed to nominate candidates of their own for the first time in 30 years. Owing to the economic growth Stroessner enjoyed growing popularity since the mid-sixties. Many Paraguayans, however, had fled the country on the grounds of persecution for political reasons by his regime. After having been re-elected to his eighth period of office in 1988, Stroessner was overthrown in February 1989 by a military coup as a result of widespread government corruption. The leader of the rebels, General Andrés Rodríguez, won the presidential elections as candidate of the Partido Colorado. Although he started privatizing state-owned enterprises, the economic development remained moderate and he lost the support of part of the population. The candidate nominated by the same party, Juan Carlos Wasmosy, won the 1993 presidential elections. In June 1996 the discontent of a large segment of the population reached its peak in a nationwide general strike. In May 1998, the Colorado Party reconfirmed its staying power with the election of President Raúl Cubas, who won 53.9% of the votes. When Vice President Luis Argaña (also of the Colorado Party) was assassinated in 1999, Cubas was forced to resign from office. Luis Gonzalez Macchi was subsequently sworn in as his successor. Economy Agriculture is the most important branch of Paraguayan economy, despite considerable growth of the industrial sector since the 1970s. Industrial production is largely restricted to agricultural and forest-economic commodities. Prevailing branches are the processing of timber and meat, the extraction of vegetable oil, and the production of sweets and fruit juices. Moreover, there are textile and glass factories and a cement works. Culture From times immemorial the Guaraní have been using simple wind and percussion instruments, especially flutes made of wood, whistles, rattles, and bells. The guitar and the harp, which were brought to Paraguay by the early Spanish settlers, are the basic instruments of contemporary Paraguayan music. Among the oldest kinds of folk music is the polka. The Guarania, a song created in the early 20th century, with a catchy tune, is the first piece of music that differs from Spanish colonial tradition. Many Paraguayan works of art are rooted in religious tradition. Consequently, the fine arts figure principally in churches. Early examples of Indian art and the Spanish baroque style are the sculptures of saints on gables and pulpits or splendidly carved high altars. Best-known contemporary painters include Pablo Alborno and Juan Samudio. The best-known product of Paraguayan craftsmanship is ñanduti, a very delicate kind of lace.