Paraguay
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay |
| Gevernment type | constitutional republic |
| Capital |
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Flag description | three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles) |
| Currency | guarani (PYG) |
| Internet country code | .py |
| Ports and terminals | Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion |
| Agriculture products | cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber |
| Industries | sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power |
| Geography |
| Location | Central South America, northeast of Argentina |
| Coordinates | 23 00 S, 58 00 W |
| Continent | South America |
| Area |
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km |
| Boundaries |
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Climate | subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west |
| Terrain | grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere |
| Natural resources | hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone |
| Natural hazards | local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) |
| People |
| Population | 6,506,464 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5% |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10% |
| Languages | Spanish (official), Guarani (official) |
