About Paraguay

Surface: 406.752 km².

Population: 6.200.000 habitants (ONU, 2005).

Population Density: 15.24 habitants per km².

Capital: Asunción. Population: 539.000 habitants (2005).

Geography: Paraguay and Bolivia are the only South American countries that don’t have a way out to the sea. Paraguay limits to Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil and is located to a 1. 440 km. from the Atlantic following the course of the Paraná River, that marks the frontier with Argentina and Brazil. The Paraguay River, that is an affluent of the Paraná one, divides the country in two regions well differenced. In one hand you have the Oriental Paraguay that embraces 159.800 km². With meadow landscape, smooth hills, tropical and semitropical forests, and that end in the North with the Matto Grosso tableland. The Paraná River delimits this zone from the east and the south. The west of this region is a pasture ground zone and the south is covered by temperate forests. The west zone is the most populated one and there you can find the principal cities of the country. The other region called Occidental Paraguay is also known with the name Chaco; it’s located in the left of the Paraguay River and covers 246.827 km². This zone is divided, into two sub-zones well differenced: the High and Low Chaco. The High Chaco is characterized by its savannas, ponds and forests: and the Low Chaco, bordered by the Paraguay and Pilcomayo River, almost in the level of the sea. In general it’s an alluvial flatness composed mainly of grey clay and big swampy zones. The meteorological conditions make the agriculture difficult so its scarce population dedicate to livestock. Some zones of this region are practically depopulated with less that a habitant per km². Nevertheless, it is actually the most valuable zone for cattle ranches.

Political System: Democratic presidential Republic.  It becomes independent from Spain in 1811.                             

Chief of State and Government: President Oscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos (since 2003).

Language: The official languages are the Spanish and Guaraní. Most of the Paraguayans are bilingual, even though outside Asunción they’d rather speak in Guaraní.

Religion: Most of the population is Roman Catholic.

Horary Reference: GMT – 4 (GMT – 3 from October to February).

Electricity: 220 volts CA, 50Hz.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone: Direct International Connexion available. Country code: 595.

Mobile Telephones: There are actually 5 mobile phone operators.

Internet: There are cyber cafés in the main cities.

Mail: The air mail service to Europe usually takes about five days or so.

NEWS MEDIAS

Press: The main newspapers are:
ABC Color (www.abc.com.py)
La Nación (www.lanacion.com.py)
Última Hora (www.ultimahora.com.py).

TV Stations:
Canal 2 (2),
Telefuturo (4),
SNT - Sistema Nacional de Televisión (9),
El Trece (13), among others.

Radio: “Radio Nacional del Paraguay” is a stately network.
Other transmitters are: Radio Cardinal, Radio City, Radio Canal 100, and Radio Ñanduti y Radio Venus.

The Weather today: