|
|
|
       
| |
|
|
Paraguay:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other pages in this profile of Paraguay:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
| |
Background |
Definition In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then. |
| |
Location |
Definition Central South America, northeast of Argentina |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 23 00 S, 58 00 W |
Map references |
Definition South America |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly smaller than California |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km |
Coastline |
Definition 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims |
Definition none (landlocked) |
Climate |
Definition subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west |
Terrain |
Definition 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 |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m |
Natural resources |
Definition hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 670 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 336 cu km (2000) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%) per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) |
Environment - current issues |
Definition deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
Definition landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country |
|
Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |