Basic moments
The history of Paraguay and its statehood within its modern borders is closely connected with the dominance of the Catholic Church, especially the Jesuit order, which until 1768 owned the land and other wealth of the country. In fact, for a century and a half, a theocratic state of the Jesuits existed on the territory of present-day Paraguay. The republic gained independence from Spain in 1811.
Among the largest cities in the country, Asuncion (the capital) and Ciudad del Este are distinguished. As for the administrative division, Paraguay consists of 18 departments or districts, the largest of which is the Alto Paraguay district (more than 80 thousand km²).
Climate and weather
An interesting feature of the climate of Paraguay is that in this relatively small area there is a mixture of several types of climate. A dry tropical climate prevails in the northwestern part of the country, while a humid tropical climate prevails in the east. The highest temperatures are recorded here in January, when the thermometer reaches +29 ºС, and in the south up to +35 ºС. In winter, that is, in July, it is the coldest here: +19 ºС, in the north the temperature is up to +24 ºС. However, the air temperature can both drop to +6 ºС due to the Antarctic air masses, and rise to +36 ºС due to the warm winds of the Amazon.
The main amount of precipitation falls from November to March, and in winter (June - August) there is little precipitation. On average, in the east, in mountainous areas, about 2000 mm of precipitation falls annually, in the center of the country about 1500 mm, and least of all in the western part of Paraguay - 700 mm. In the southern part of the country, the weather is almost always humid.
Nature
The country is divided by the river from which it got its name - Paraguay. To the west of it is the desert region of the Gran Chaco, which occupies about 60% of the country's territory.
The fertile lands and subtropical forests that grow on them are located in the east of Paraguay. This part of the country is a flat area.
As for the animal world of Paraguay, rare species of cats can be found in the reserves, for example, puma, jaguar and ocelot. More than 600 species of birds, more than 200 species of mammals, amphibians and fish live here.
sights
Despite the fact that Paraguay has a rich history, its sights are still little studied, and their number is small. One of the unofficial names of the country sounds like "an empty corner of South America." Even neighboring countries are not well aware of the cultural heritage of Paraguay.
The main attraction of the country is its capital - the city of Asuncion. Here is the beautiful Place de la Constitución and the complex of buildings of the National Congress. In the city, you can visit the museum in the House of Independence, which is open until 18:30 on weekdays. Entrance to the museum is free.
Of course, in Asuncion, as in any other major Latin American cities, there are many churches built in different eras and built in different architectural styles. For example, one of the most beautiful churches in this city is the Cathedral of the Metropolitana de Asuncion. It was erected and reconstructed over the years: from 1687 to 1845.
The eastern part of Paraguay is also known for its attractions, there are most of them in the country. Here is the largest dam on the planet - the Itaipu Dam, built in 1977, as well as the Yakireta Dam on the Parana River.
Kitchen
The basis of Paraguayan cuisine is meat dishes and cereals, such as cassava and maize. In Paraguayan cuisine, there is a huge selection of national dishes that will appeal to any tourist and guest of the country. A thick soup with meat, noodles and rice is called sooyo sopy, and mbaipy so-o is also worth trying. This dish is a maize pudding with pieces of meat. As for desserts, “mbaipy he-e” (mbaipy he-e), a dish consisting of milk, molasses and corn, is especially popular among tourists. Paraguayans drink tea in large quantities every day, as well as mosto, a syrup made from sugar cane.
National cuisine can be enjoyed in many restaurants in Paraguay. Prices in such establishments are relatively low. The invoice amount does not exceed $20 on average.
South American restaurants are very common here, the foundations of which to a large extent influenced the formation of Paraguayan dishes.
In addition, in Paraguay you can find cafes and restaurants specializing in American, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Paraguayans are very fond of hot drinks: coffee, cocoa and especially tea. Therefore, here you can easily find a cozy coffee shop or coffee shop and enjoy aromatic drinks.
Residence
The best accommodation option for tourists is renting a hotel room. Basically, hotels in Paraguay have the status of two and three stars. Among the luxurious five-star hotels are only Crown Plaza in Asuncion and Sheraton in Ciudad del Este. Business tourists are accommodated in four-star hotels, where they have at their disposal conference rooms and other facilities and conditions for doing business. One such hotel is the Hotel Casino Acaray in Cidad del Este. It is designed for 50 rooms, each of which has a safe, mini-bar, cable TV and telephone.
Among other accommodation options for tourists are hostels and small hotels. It will cost several times cheaper than staying in a comfortable hotel. Also, you can easily rent an apartment, both for a short and long term.
Entertainment and recreation
The main holidays in the country are Christmas, New Year and Easter. It is the period from December to February that is considered the peak of the tourist season here, so you should take care of tickets and accommodation in advance.
In February, the Carnival of Paraguay takes place, which is celebrated on a grand scale throughout the country. In major cities, large processions are held with costumed performances and many other entertainments. All this is accompanied by incendiary national music and dances.
On August 15, the whole country celebrates the day of the patron saint of Paraguay - Dia de San Blas. It also hosts other interesting festivals, such as the San Juan and Cerro Cora Festival, which are very important for the locals.
Eastern Paraguay is also famous for the Cerro Coro National Park, where a dry tropical forest is protected. The attention of tourists is also attracted by the many caves that existed before the 15th century.
A wealth of wildlife can be enjoyed in the Upper Chaco region, where Indian tribes still live. This place is famous for its nature reserves and parks. One of these is the Chaco National Defense Historical Park.
As for the nightlife of Paraguay, it cannot be called stormy. Only in Asuncion and some other large cities you can visit nightclubs and cafes that are open until the last visitor.
shopping
Large shopping centers can be found only in big cities. But tourists buy souvenirs and traditional goods in any village. Among these products are, for example, "aho poi" - sports T-shirts of various colors and styles with images of the symbols of Paraguay, "nanduti" - traditional lace made by itagua women, "yerba mate" - popular silver bowls. Other handmade items also sell very well: stone and silver jewelry, wood crafts, leather goods and much more.
On weekdays, shops are usually open until 18 or 19, and on Sundays, many of them do not work at all.
Transport
The main modes of communication in Paraguay are roads and railways, as well as air travel.
The total length of roads in the country reaches 60,000 km, a significant part of them is unpaved. In general, the condition of all roads is far from the highest. This is partly the reason why the train service is much more popular among the population. It is very important for the country, as it connects it with neighboring Argentina and Brazil.
There are about 12 airports in Paraguay, thanks to which a huge number of passenger and cargo transportation is carried out. However, only two airports are the main ones: in Asuncion and in Ciudad del Este.
Public transport is represented by buses, which are not in the best condition in terms of comfort. Therefore, it is easier and more convenient for tourists to take a taxi. Although it is more expensive, but you can get to the right place more safely and quickly. By the way, it is better to negotiate the fare in a taxi with the driver before the trip, because cases of fraud and deceit by taxi drivers are not uncommon.
Connection
Telephone communication in many regions of the country is poorly developed. For example, when calling from a provincial town or village abroad, first the call goes to the single switching center of Asuncion, and then the specialists connect the subscriber to the desired phone number. In addition, telephone lines are very often overloaded, which creates additional problems.
Cellular communication is also poorly distributed. A large number of people still do not use mobile phones. However, now operators are making more and more efforts to popularize mobile communications and improve its quality. Roaming services are provided by 4 major cellular companies: Nucleo, Hola Paraguay, AMX Paraguay Sociedad Anonima and Telefonica.
The Internet is gaining more and more popularity among the population. However, Internet cafes can only be found in big cities, and Wi-Fi points are available only in conference rooms and business centers of large hotels.
Safety
Despite their geographical position, the inhabitants of Paraguay are not characterized by a Hispanic temperament. These are very sedate and reasonable people, hospitable hosts and pleasant interlocutors. Foreigners can open their souls here, but it is better to keep wallets in safe places. Cases of pickpocketing and fraud here, unfortunately, are not uncommon. This is due to the rather low level of well-being of the Paraguayans. Each hotel has special safes where you can leave jewelry, money and documents. It is not recommended to take large sums of money with you - here you can easily live on $10 a day! You should not hope for the help of the police, as its employees are phlegmatic, and if they help in a difficult situation, they will demand remuneration. The level of corruption among the police is very high. If you still need emergency assistance, you can call it by calling: police - 130, fire department - 132, ambulance - 141.
Business
Business development in Paraguay is mixed. Some industries are in decline, while others are in full bloom. Business here is very attractive for entrepreneurs from abroad. For example, the woodworking and meat processing industries are popular. The export of such products is the least risky. A promising industry is the processing of fruits, especially exotic ones, which are in abundance in Paraguay.
A distinctive feature of doing business is the absence of taxes on certain types of production. Under the Makila Law, entrepreneurs are exempted from paying taxes and duties on the import of raw materials, equipment, parts and components necessary for production.
The property
Real estate in Paraguay is constantly rising in price, so it is considered a profitable investment among the population. When buying a home, a foreign citizen will practically not encounter problems. The only difficulty for him will be finding a real estate office in which he would be completely sure. Specialists, in turn, will help with the preparation of all necessary documents. In this case, both parties will be confident in the legality of the transaction. There are three types of real estate: economy class ($15,000–70,000), middle class ($70,000–150,000) and deluxe apartments (from $200,000).
After buying a home, the owner acquires the right to obtain a residence permit, and later citizenship of Paraguay. However, all this can be obtained without buying real estate. To do this, it will be enough to make a deposit of funds in the state treasury in the amount of 100,000 €.
After 4-6 months, you can get a residence permit, after some time - a passport of a citizen of Paraguay. Thanks to the good foreign policy relations of this country with Spain, a Paraguayan citizen, having all the necessary documents, may soon receive Spanish citizenship.
While in Paraguay, you should remember that there is a ban on smoking in public places. There are heavy fines for breaking this rule. But the Paraguayans themselves are very fond of smoking, they smoke a lot and often. Perhaps this is partly why both guests and owners ignore the smoking ban in almost all private establishments.
Another important point for tourists concerns photography of government and military facilities. In fact, this can be done. But do not be surprised if a police officer approaches you and asks you to pay a fine. Remember that this is illegal! In 1993, a resolution was adopted, according to which the ban on photographing such objects was lifted. The police in Paraguay are very corrupt and have a bad reputation, so it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the basic laws of the country so that no one can mislead you.
Visa Information
There are three types of visas for Russian citizens: business visa, tourist visa and transit visa. To apply for any visa, the following documents are required: a passport, the validity of which expires no earlier than 6 months from the end of the trip, two photographs 3x4 cm in size, two questionnaires filled out in English, Spanish or Portuguese, confirmation of the reservation from the hotel, proof of funds for the entire period of stay in the country, round-trip air ticket and its copy. Schoolchildren and students must provide a certificate from the educational institution and a statement from the parents who finance the trip. Children under 14 are not allowed to enter Paraguay unless accompanied by at least one parent.
The consular fee for a single-entry tourist visa is $45, and a multiple-entry visa is $65. The term for issuing a visa is 7-10 days.
The address of the consular department of the Embassy of Paraguay in Moscow: 119049, Moscow, st. Koroviy Val, 7, building 1, office 142.
culture
The culture of Paraguay is a fusion of Spanish culture with the culture of the indigenous population - the Guarani Indians. The Guarani language is widely spoken throughout the country, and most of the rural population learns Spanish only at school. Many poems and songs have been written in the Guarani language, and many prose writers also use it. Paraguayans are proud of their Amerindian origin, and the country has special institutions engaged in ethnographic and linguistic research, including the Guarani Language and Culture Academy and the Association of Indians of Paraguay.
A unique piece of handicrafts is the exquisite nyanduti lace (meaning "spider web" in Guarani), handmade in the form of openwork products with a circular pattern in cotton, silk or linen. The manufacturing process is very time consuming and takes up to several weeks.
Folk musical instruments of the Guarani Indians, which they used even before the Spanish conquest, are flutes, pipes, rattles, rattles (mbaraka), whistles and drums; The Spaniards introduced stringed instruments. Many folk melodies are performed by small groups of folk musicians; the composition of such an ensemble, as a rule, includes two Spanish guitars, a small national guitar and a local version of the harp.
Asuncion has a symphony orchestra, a military band and a conservatory. The most famous Paraguayan composers are José Asunción Flores (1904–1972), who created the popular genre of lyric songs Guaranía with slow waltz rhythm accompaniment, and Herminio Jiménez.
Among the leading writers of Paraguay are the 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 Native American motifs. Among modern artists, Carlos Colombino, a sculptor who uses an innovative technique that combines wood carving and painting, Olga Blinder, an artist known for her work in an expressionist manner, and an art propagandist, stand out; and Ricardo Migliorissi, famous for his surrealist paintings.
In 1992, one in ten Paraguayans over the age of 15 was illiterate. Although there is theoretically a compulsory six-year education in the country, there are often no schools in remote rural areas. In 1995, 860.8 thousand students studied 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%.
The most popular sport in Paraguay is football. Basketball matches, car races and tennis competitions are also of great interest to the public. Other sports such as horse racing, swimming and golf have smaller followings. Volleyball is popular in all walks of life.
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 Kaakupe.
Story
Before the advent of Europeans, several Indian tribes lived on the territory of eastern Paraguay, who had a common language and were known under the common name Guarani. Although the Guarani did not reach such a high level of development as the Incas or Maya, they cultivated the land and lived in large wooden houses surrounded by a palisade, 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 freed itself 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 paulists (Portuguese settlers - residents of São Paulo in Brazil), who penetrated during their raids all further south into Paraguay. The Catholic priests themselves suffered greatly from the predatory attacks of the colonists heading from Peru, and they managed to convince the Indians to leave their homes and settle in the newly cleared lands in the southeast of Paraguay. Majestic churches were built on these new territories and large agricultural holdings - "reductions" - were created. These colonies, made up of at least 100,000 Christianized Indians, were under the control of the missionaries. However, over time, the colonial authorities began to suspect 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.
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 continued 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 López, the country became embroiled in war.
Francisco Solano López, educated in France and trying to imitate Napoleon, began to form and train 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, whom López considered his ally. However, Uruguay, like Argentina, soon became embroiled in the "Triple Alliance" or Paraguayan War (1864-1870). The war ended with the death of López 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.
From 1870 to 1932, 33 governments changed 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 who replaced the military began to come to the leadership of the country. 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).
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 way out, Bolivia turned its attention to the Chaco region, a hilly semi-desert located between the territory of Bolivia and the inhabited part of Paraguay and supposedly possessed oil reserves. Both Paraguay and Bolivia had separate settlements within the Chaco, but there was no clear boundary that both countries would 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 the rights of Paraguay to most of the disputed territory. In 1938, a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires, according to which Bolivia nevertheless gained access to the Paraguay River.
The victory of Paraguay in this war contributed to the strengthening of the role of the military in domestic politics. In February 1936, the hero of the Chaco war, Colonel Rafael Franco, put an end to the timid attempts of the Liberal Party to carry out 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 came to power for a short time. In 1939, General Jose Felix Estigarribia, commander of the Paraguayan armed forces in the Chaco War, was elected president, but the very next year he himself carried out a coup and changed the constitution. He soon died in a plane crash. His successor, General Ichinio 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 opponents, the liberals. The subsequent purge of the armed forces removed all non-Colorado officers from the army. However, within the party there was a struggle between individual factions, which, in particular, was reflected in the change of six presidents between 1948 and 1954.
In May 1954, Commander-in-Chief of Paraguay's 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 an uncontested election. Through skillful maneuvering, Stroessner managed to win the support of the army and the Colorado Party, thus creating a solid 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 expected 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 the appearance of legality, 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 expelled from the country in the late 1940s and into the 1950s. Between 1963 and 1967, three opposition parties (including two liberal factions) achieved official status and the right to participate in the next elections. In 1979, all the main opposition parties, including dissident members of the Colorado itself, formed an anti-Stroessner coalition, called the National Accord; this coalition refused to take part in any elections.
Fatal for the Stroessner regime was a split in the Colorado party in August 1987, as well as growing discontent among junior officers who resented Stroessner's personal interference in the process of conferring military ranks. In February 1989, Stroessner was overthrown in a military coup.
The military coup in Paraguay and the subsequent democratic reforms were led by one of Stroessner's closest associates, General Andres Rodriguez. The coup marked the beginning of an era of political freedom. In May 1989, free, albeit unequal elections were held in which the opposition parties chose not to participate, given the new president's huge popularity and democratic promises, and Rodriguez was elected president of the Colorado party. Rodriguez promised to hand over his power to a new civilian president in 1993, and has made his tenure a sort of transitional period. During this time, the first multi-candidate municipal elections were held in Paraguay, as well as elections for a constitutional assembly (1991).
Basic democratic norms were enshrined in the 1992 constitution and the 1990 election regulations, but their implementation in practice was hindered by deep-seated 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 of the civil servants, including judges, police officers, administrators of various ranks and teachers, retained the position they held before the coup.
This legacy of an era of authoritarian rule came to the fore during the 1993 elections, which saw civil engineer Juan Carlos Vasmosi take the presidency. Although these elections were the freest in the history of Paraguay, the situation initially turned out to be more favorable for Wasmosy, who enjoyed open support from Rodriguez and the military. There is strong evidence that the results of the primary elections that put Wasmosi in the fold for the presidency were rigged. Opposition parties, on the other hand, faced all sorts of obstacles, often with violations 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 election, Oviedo announced that the army intends to continue to "participate in the leadership of the country" along with the Colorado party. Nevertheless, the two opposition parties, united, secured a majority of seats in Congress, which greatly improved their ability to defend their positions in the process of democratic reforms.
After 1993, reforms were carried out in Paraguay, which give hope for the successful completion of the process of democratization. As a result of a series of negotiations in 1994-1996, the Colorado Party and the opposition parties came to an agreement on a fundamental revision of the judicial structures and the system of organization and conduct of elections. 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 civil administration.
The 1998 elections brought victory to Raul Cubas Grau, who ran for the NRA-Colorado coalition and received 55% of the vote. The same coalition also won the Congressional elections, 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 arose in the country. General outrage was caused by the President's order to release from prison General Oviedo, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to forcefully overthrow President Vasmosi in 1996. Trade unions have declared a general strike, and the Senate has begun preparations for impeachment proceedings. Cubas chose to resign, and in March 1999, supreme power passed, in accordance with the constitution, to Senate President Luis Gonzalez Macchi (since Vice President Argaña had recently fallen victim to a political assassination). Former President Cubas flew to Brazil, where the former Paraguayan dictator Stroessner has been living since 1989.
Economy
Paraguay is one of the least developed countries in South America. Its economy is based on agriculture, and its economic development is hampered by a lack of skilled labor, an underdeveloped transportation system, and a lack of sources of finance. In the second half of the 20th century the government developed various programs to stimulate development, including increasing public investment in roads, airports and electricity construction.
Paraguay's main exports are cotton and soybeans. Vegetable oils and timber are also of great importance. Oil and oil products, various production equipment, iron and steel, foodstuffs 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, there is trade with the countries of Western Europe, the United States and Japan.
The monetary unit of Paraguay is the Guarani, divided into 100 centimos. The inflation rate in the period 1991–1995 averaged 16.6% per annum.
Paraguay's banking system includes the Central Bank, seven development banks and nine commercial banks, as well as numerous savings and lending institutions. The National Bank for Public Works is the main credit institution for industry and agriculture. There are about 50 branches and representative offices throughout the country. A number of foreign banks also operate in Paraguay - Brazil, Spain, the USA and other states. In 1993, the stock exchange opened in Asuncion.
Government economic policy in the 1990s focused primarily on reducing inflation by limiting spending and tightening tax policies. The budget of the central government has been running a surplus for a number of years; in addition, new taxes were introduced to increase revenue. Such a 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 hindering economic development; the latter include underdeveloped infrastructure, low levels of education and pronounced economic disparity. Aid from other countries and foreign investment is scarce - in the mid-1990s, they amounted to about $ 200 million a year. The largest foreign investors are Brazilian firms.
Politics
According to the 1992 constitution, the country has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. The executive power belongs to the president, who is elected by direct elections for a five-year term and cannot be re-elected for the next one, and to the government. Together with the President, the Vice President is elected. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appoints the cabinet of ministers and heads of the civil administration; his duties also include drawing up the annual state budget. Although the 1992 constitution expanded the powers of the legislative and judicial branches, the president retains considerable power, aided by Paraguay's long tradition of presidential rule.
Legislative power is vested in the Congress, which consists of the 45-member Senate and the 80-member Chamber of Deputies. Legislators are elected to the same five-year term as the president, based on proportional representation. Senators are elected from national party lists, while members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected from departments and the metropolitan area. Each department may elect at least one deputy. Additional seats in the chamber are distributed according to the number of registered voters. Congress has the power to initiate legislation and override a presidential veto. The Senate must approve the appointment of all heads of the Supreme Court, the military, the national police, and the central bank. Any intervention of the executive power in the activities of local self-government bodies must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
The judicial system in Paraguay includes the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, which oversees the decisions of the courts of first instance. Further, the judicial system is divided into five departments dealing with criminal cases, civil and commercial law issues, analysis of labor conflicts, administrative violations and juvenile cases.
Candidates for all positions in the judiciary are selected by a council of judges (magistrates). All Justices of the Supreme Court must be approved by the President and the Senate. All other appointments are made by the Supreme Court.
Paraguay is a small exotic country in the heart of South America. This country is not very popular among tourists. It has no access to the sea, but it has untold natural wealth, extraordinary colonial architecture and a rich historical past. If you want to spend your vacation outside the box, then welcome to Paraguay!
Capital of Paraguay?
The country's capital, Asuncion, is the largest city in Paraguay. It was erected on the banks of the picturesque river Rio Paraguay. In the city you can see beautiful skyscrapers and very dilapidated colonial buildings. There are many entertainments to be found in the city. These are bars with incendiary Latin American music, and theaters, and museums, and restaurants, as well as various attractions and much more.
What is the official language in the country?
In this Latin American country, the official languages are Spanish and the language of the indigenous population of the country - Guarani. Half of the country's population is equally fluent in both state languages. A minority of the population (about 30%) speak mainly Guaraní. And a very small part of the population can carry on a conversation in German and Portuguese.
What is the currency in the country?
The official currency of the Republic of Paraguay is the Paraguayan Guarani.
What is the time zone (time difference) in the country?
Minsk is 7 hours ahead of Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay.
What is the climate in the country?
In the eastern and western parts of the country, climatic conditions differ significantly. The western part of the country has a dry tropical climate, while the eastern part is influenced by a humid tropical climate. January is the hottest month of the year. The average monthly temperature this month in the southern regions reaches +27 ... +29 degrees, and in the northern regions up to +34 degrees. And the coldest month is June. But even at this time, you won’t get too cold, because the average temperature ranges from +17 to +19 in the south and from +16 to +24 in the north. In winter, which lasts from May to September, the air temperature is very different and unstable. Antarctic winds can reduce the air temperature to +6. And warm winds from the Amazon warm the air up to + 36 °C. In summer, the country receives much more precipitation than in winter.
Monthly average water and air temperatures in Paraguay
What is the best time of the year to visit the country?
The best time to visit Paraguay is between December and March.
What is the economic situation in the country?
Paraguay cannot boast of a developed economy. It is one of the most underdeveloped countries in South America. The main branch of the Paraguayan economy is agriculture. The lack of qualified specialists, a not very well developed transport system and many other factors slow down the growth rate of economic development.
What is the political situation in the country?
The political situation in the country is not the best. Lately there have been protests. The protests are mainly farmers because of the policy in the field of agriculture.
What is the religious affiliation of the population?
Almost the entire population of the country are Christians. Almost 90% of the population are Catholics, a little more than 6% are Protestants. There are also other Christians. Atheists make up about 1% of the population.
What customs rules and regulations do you need to know when visiting a country?
Tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, gifts, souvenirs and perfumery products can be transported across the state border of the country only for personal use and in small quantities.
It is forbidden to export items of special artistic, archaeological or historical value from the country. Firearms cannot be taken out of the country without special permission.
You can import and export currency in unlimited quantities. You can also export leather, wool, jewelry and souvenirs, but in small quantities. To export fur products, you need an export stamp receipt.
It is also not allowed to bring uncanned food into the country.
Do I need to apply for a visa to visit the country?
Before traveling, you need to apply for a visa to Paraguay. To do this, you need to contact the Consulate of Paraguay in Moscow
What do you need to have to apply for a visa to the country?
To apply for a visa, you need to collect the following documents: a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip, 2 photographs sized 3 x 4, a certificate from the employer about wages in English, a statement of the bank account (the account must have not less than 500 dollars), a copy of the plane tickets and a copy of the yellow fever vaccination certificate.
What are the main attractions in the country?
Paraguay is informally referred to as "the empty corner of South America". The natural and cultural attractions of this country are little known even in neighboring countries.
However, there are places worth visiting there. These places include the Chaco National Defense Historical Park. There you can see a 500-meter wooden fortification from the Cerro Leon war era.
The most interesting natural reserves with unusually picturesque nature are the reserves of Tifunke, Enkiso, Cerro-Cora. It is also interesting to visit the biological reserves of Itabo, Limoy, Tafi-Yupi. In the forest reserves of Mbarakayu and Nakundei, you can observe endangered species of animals.
What holidays and festivals are held in the country?
The brightest and most colorful event of the country, the Paraguayan Carnival, is held annually in February. This event is accompanied by costumed street processions and colorful performances accompanied by incendiary Latin American music.
In addition to Christmas, Easter and New Year, the inhabitants of the country celebrate the Dia de San Blas in honor of the patron saint of Paraguay, the Cerro Cora festival, held on the first day of spring, the San Juan festival and Asuncion's Foundation Day.
What should you visit first?
De la Constitución Square is the main attraction not only of Asuncion, but of the whole country. In addition, in the capital you can see the complex of buildings of the National Congress of the country.
Also in Asuncion on weekends you can absolutely free to go to the museum, which is located in the House of Independence. True, after 18.30, the entrance will have to be paid.
In addition, the city has a large number of churches that represent different eras and, accordingly, different architectural styles. The most beautiful church in the city is the Catedral Metropolitana de Asuncion.
In the eastern part of the country, you can see the world's largest dam, built in 1977.
In the country you can find the following attractions:
Main attractions: National Pantheon of Heroes; Botanical and Zoological Gardens of Asuncion; Lopez Palace; Cultural Center of the Republic; Cultural Center Manzana de la Riviera; Municipal Theater named after Ignacio Pane; and many others.
Where are the main areas of tourism in the country?
Asuncion is the most visited city in the state. Tourists also actively visit the city of Luque. It is famous for its musical instruments, which are made here with high quality by local craftsmen. You can buy them, but it will be difficult to smuggle them across the border.
The center of ecological tourism in Paraguay is the city of San Lorenzo.
The resort town of San Bernardio is popular with water sports enthusiasts.
The town of Itagua is known for the production of the finest wicker and knitted products.
The city of Kaakupi is a center of religious and pilgrimage tourism.
The city of Trinidad is the center of educational tourism. It is also known as the largest missionary center in the history of the country.
What is the national cuisine?
The national cuisine of this country is very diverse. Different dishes are popular in different areas. In the Chaco region, legumes and grains and meat are staples. In the southeastern regions of Paraguay, they eat mainly vegetables, as well as dairy and meat products. But there are also products that are used everywhere. These are corn, cassava, maize. Meat cooked on an open fire is loved by all Paraguayans. The famous mate tea is a favorite drink of all the inhabitants of the country. there is a whole ritual of its preparation. Sugarcane juice called "motto" is a very tasty drink that is worth a try.
From alcoholic drinks, you can try the local moonshine called "Chacha". Its main ingredients are copper sugar cane juice. In addition, excellent beer, rum and liqueurs are made in Paraguay.
How much is it customary to leave a tip in the visited country?
It is customary to leave 10% of the total cost of services as a tip for the staff serving you.
Where can you exchange money?
Despite the fact that the official currency of the country is Guarani, in local shops and restaurants you can pay with Argentine pesos and Brazilian reals.
Money can be exchanged not only in any bank in the country, but also in hotels, exchange offices and even travel agencies. There are a lot of street “changers” in the country. But it is better not to contact them, because they often deceive.
Bank cards and traveler's checks of all international systems are accepted for payment only in large cities. Before you leave the country, do not forget to change the guarani for dollars or another currency, because you cannot do this in another country.
Until what time are shops, bars, cafes, restaurants open?
Local banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:45 to 15:00.
Museums on weekdays are open from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 15.30-16.00 to 18.00, and on Saturdays from 8.00 to 12.00-13.00. Some museums have individual opening hours.
Shops are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00, and on Saturdays from 07.30 to 13.00. Department stores and shopping centers are usually open to customers from 8.00 to 19.30 on weekdays, and on weekends from 8.00 to 17.00-18.00. In the period from 12.00 to 15.00-15.30, almost all establishments are closed.
What are the popular resorts in the country?
Ciudad del Este is an excellent resort town located near the Iguazu Falls.
Trinidad is a famous historical site of the country. It was built in the 18th century on the picturesque hills overlooking the Gulf of Parana.
Piribebui
What is the crime situation in the country?
Paraguay has a very low crime rate in relation to tourists. However, it doesn't hurt to be careful here. Keep an eye on your belongings when you are in crowded places. Try not to show expensive things and jewelry. Hang cameras and bags over your shoulder.
Be especially careful when visiting the eastern regions of the country. also try not to walk alone and do not go far from civilization.
Paraguay(Spanish Paraguay), the official name is the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish Republica del Paraguay) is 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 through the water surface, and only 700 km. - dry. Paraguay also includes 2 large islands located on the Parana River - Talivera and Yasireta. One of the two South American states (still Bolivia) that do not have direct access to the ocean. The river system (Spanish Río Parana) - Paraguay (Spanish Río Paraguay; the 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 translation from the Guarani language means "great river" or "source of the sea" in honor of the Parana River, which crosses the territory of the country. Due to its location right in the center of the continent, the small state is often affectionately referred to as the "Heart of America" (Spanish: Corazón 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, who is elected by popular vote for a single 5-year term. According to the Constitution of the country, 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), who replaced in April 2018 (Spanish Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara).
The official title of the head of state: Excellent Senior President of the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: 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), who 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 initiate legislation and override presidential vetoes.
State language: Spanish and Guarani. The inhabitants of Paraguay widely use Guarani, the language of the indigenous population, for communication, with 37% of the population speaking only Guarani, and 50% speaking Spanish and Guarani. 7% of local residents know 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.
Currency: National currency: Paraguayan guarani = 100 centimos (international name - PYG). Banknotes of the following denominations are in circulation: 50000, 10000, 5000, 1000 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 (mestizos). The remaining 5% are Spaniards, Germans, Brazilians, Guaranis, Italians, Slavs, Japanese, Koreans, Africans.
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 tribes of guayucare, hunter-gatherers. Unlike most neighboring countries, the conquest of these lands by the Spaniards took place virtually without the resistance of the indigenous people - 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.
After 3 years, the ships of the Italian navigator and traveler (Italian Sebastiano Caboto; c. 1476-1557) went up the Parana River to the mouth (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, who founded the city of Asuncion, came to the Parana Valley. In 1537, the state of Paraguay was officially formed, which prospered, the Spanish settlers intensively assimilated with the local population. After 150 years, a kind of 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 culinary.
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. Since that time, the hardest, 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 the 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, often and regularly replacing each other. As a result, until now the country has an unofficial title "Empty Corner of South America", and its rich natural and unique cultural attractions are little known even to neighboring countries.
Economy
Paraguay is an agrarian country, one of the largest soybean producers, ranking 6th in the world according to this indicator.
The contribution of agriculture to the country's GDP is 22%. 31% of the working population is employed in agriculture. On plantations, in addition to soybeans, cotton, sugar cane, wheat, corn, tobacco, tapioca, fruits and a variety of vegetables are grown.
The country's industry is rather poorly developed, the share of industry is 18% of GDP. The main attention is paid to the processing of agricultural products and goods obtained from forestry activities. Paraguay exports timber and lumber, raw hides, kebrach extract, and various meat products. The industry employs approx. 17% of the working population of the country.
Hydropower, textile industry, food industry (sugar, soybean oil, beverages) are developed here, 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 transport system of the state includes river routes (3.5 thousand km long), highways and highways, railways, domestic and international airlines.
Water communication is carried out along and Parana, 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 here, but mostly dirt roads that become almost 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 a clear rail link 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, Silvio Pettirossi Airport (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 paramount importance for its economic development. To this end, the country's government is systematically implementing programs to improve water transport and to build modern highways connecting Paraguay with neighboring states.
Largest cities
About 60% of the country's population lives in cities. The largest and most significant 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 most full-flowing river of the continent) divides the country into 2 unequal parts: Eastern Paraguay (or the Paranen region) and Western Paraguay (called the Chaco). The vast majority of the population of the state lives in the east, and only 2-3% - in the west.
To the east of the river are fertile lowlands, irrigated by numerous small rivers with marshy banks. In some places, low mountain ranges rise above the valley, structurally connected with the Brazilian Plateau, which stretches further to the east. Among the ridges stand out Cordillera de Amambay(Spanish Cordillera de Amambay) with the top of Punta Pora (Spanish Punta Pora; 700 m), Cordillera de Mbaracuyu(Spanish Cordillera de Mbaracuiy), Cordillera de Caagua(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). Mount Ibikui stands out in the central region (Spanish: Ibicui; 630 m).
In this hilly region, where the main part of the population of Paraguay is concentrated, there are 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 extends, from the west bounding the Parana lava plateau (Spanish: Meseta de Parana), 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 Parana River, flowing south and cutting through the plateau, reaches the border of the state at Guaira (Spanish: Guaíra), forming a series of waterfalls. The construction of the Itaipu Dam (Spanish: Presa de Itaipu) near the city of Ciudad del Este led to the formation of a giant reservoir that spills upstream 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 a height of less than 250 m above sea level, a desert edge, occupying almost 62% of the country's area. The Chaco region, sometimes referred to as "South America's last frontier", is a hot tropical region in the Parana River basin. It is crossed by (Spanish: Río Pilcomayo). The relief of this sparsely populated area is characterized by semi-desert landscapes, dry channels and salt marshes.
Gran Chaco
Natural Resources in Paraguay
Natural resources of local minerals are poorly studied, mineral deposits are almost not developed. The country has some reserves of iron, copper, and manganese ores, as well as mica, sulfur, granite, limestone, basalt, and other building materials.
The Chaco region has significant oil deposits.
Climate and flora
The weather conditions of Paraguay, oddly enough, are significantly different from the climate of neighboring countries, and, despite their small size, they are quite heterogeneous in different parts of the territory. In the eastern part of the state, the climate is humid tropical, in the northwest - dry tropical.
In summer, the average January temperatures vary from +27-29°C in the southern regions to +20-33°C in the north-west, while there are 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 - up to +16-25°C, although sometimes (May-September) intrusions of cold Antarctic winds lead to a temperature drop to +6°C , and warm air masses from the Amazon lead to air heating up to + 36 ° С.
The Chaco region is considered the hottest, with distinct seasons: wet (November-March) and dry (April-October). A temperature maximum of +43°С was registered here; in the eastern part of the country, the thermometer rarely rises above +35°С. On the fertile soils of the Parana plateau, moistened by heavy rainfall, dense evergreen humid subtropical forests grow, which, due to active extermination in 80-90 years. XX century, currently occupy only about 5% of the original area. As you move west, the amount of precipitation decreases, they fall on the hilly plains adjacent to the Paraguay River, mainly in the period October - May.
The savannah landscapes seen here are covered with grasses with isolated groups of palm trees. In the river valleys there are lush evergreen forests.
As we move further west, the amount of precipitation decreases more and more, the forests thin out more and more. These drier areas are almost entirely covered with xerophytic shrubs, only occasionally interspersed with small patches of palm savannah. Here, in tropical woodlands, valuable tree species grow (algarrobo, chanyar, 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 tannic 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 severe, strongly dependent on altitude.
Animal world
The fauna of the country is quite diverse and includes a large population of mammals, reptiles and birds, especially abundant in the sparsely populated areas of the Chaco. Due to active human activities in the eastern regions of Paraguay, they are rapidly losing their natural fauna, which is quickly being replaced by expanding farmland.
Paraguay is inhabited by pampas deer, jaguars, anteaters, wild boars, caimans, alligators and armadillos, kinkajou (tenacious-tailed bear), various types of monkeys (including tiny marmosets and black howler monkeys), and other animals. Sometimes there is a rare rodent capybara (or capybara). In the thickets of tropical forests, along the banks of rivers and swamps, a variety of birds live, including all kinds of parrots, storks, rhea, 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 Carnival of Paraguay, 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 rites are held these days.
In addition to the Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays, every year in early 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 Cora), in June - san juan festival(Spanish: San Juan) and August 15 is Asunción's Foundation Day.
Each province of Paraguay has its own "set" of holidays, usually associated with historical or religious events. So, in early February, a colorful Virgen de la Candelaria(Spanish: Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria), a religious festival dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria; in late March - early April in Pascua (Spanish Pascua) celebrate the holiday of Viemes Santo (Spanish Fiesta de Santo Viemes), and in early May in the town of Alasitas (Spanish Alasitas), near Puno, the Fair of Art Crafts is held, acting on background Festival 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
Before the arrival of Europeans, the eastern part of Paraguay was inhabited by the semi-nomadic tribes of the Guarani Indians, and in the northwestern regions lived several tribes of hunters and gatherers known as the Guayucare. Unlike many neighboring countries, the conquest of this land by the Spaniards took place with little or no resistance from the Indians. In 1524, Alejo Garcia became the first European to cross the territory of modern Paraguay with the help of Guarani guides. Three years later, the ships of Sebastian Cabot went up the Parana to the mouth of the Rio Paraguay, but the Italian navigator did not establish settlements here. Only seven years later, Pedro de Mendoza passed along the Parana Valley, whose expedition founded Asuncion. The colony prospered, becoming the core of the Spanish colonies in the southeastern part of South America, although the Spanish settlers quickly assimilated into the local population. A century and a half later, an original Spanish-Indian community was formed here, characterized by the dominance of Spanish political and religious traditions, combined with clear Indian features in culture, culinary and lifestyle.
Paraguay declared independence in 1811 and for several years, under the leadership of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, also known as El Dictator, the country pursued a clear isolationist policy. From that moment on, a difficult and sometimes tragic new history of this land began, replete with incessant wars with neighboring states - suffice it to recall the completely disastrous war of the Triple Alliance (La Guerra Grande, 1864-1870), when, during the battles with Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil at the same time Paraguay lost more than 150 thousand square meters. km of its territory and almost three-quarters of the population. To this were added dictatorial regimes regularly replacing each other (for example, General Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled the country from 1954 to 1989, was considered one of the most despotic rulers of the 20th century). As a result, by now Paraguay bears the unofficial title of "an empty corner of South America", and its natural and cultural attractions are poorly known even in neighboring countries.
Asuncion
The vibrant capital of Paraguay and the largest city in the country, Asuncion was founded as the fort of Nuestra Señora de La Asuncion on the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, August 15, 1537, when the conquistadors of Mendoza, on their way to the Andes, organized a small settlement opposite the confluence of the Rio -Paraguay of the Pilcomayo River. The fort became the center of the gigantic "Indie Region", and Asuncion itself became known as the "Mother of Cities". It was from here that expeditions were sent to explore the Parana basin, and it was the people from this city that made a significant contribution to the foundation and development of many cities in Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil.
Stretching over low hills above the eastern coast of the Rio Paraguay, the city is laid out in a clear Spanish pattern with straight avenues intersecting at right angles, many parks and spacious squares. The old part of Asuncion is architecturally quite diverse - old mansions with elegantly decorated facades stretch in rows along the avenida Mariscal Lopez (many of them now house various institutions and restaurants), and quarters of slightly more modest buildings of the colonial period with obligatory wrought iron balconies scatter to the west and east and fences and small gardens. Although the historic center of Asuncion currently occupies no more than ten blocks, bounded by the promenade in the north, Avenida Colon in the west, Calle Haedo and Luis Herrera in the south, and Estados Unidos in the east, you can find many colorful parks, squares, quiet streets and many historical monuments.
It is interesting to walk from De La Constitución Square and its complex of buildings of the National Congress, past the old Military School, the building of the Cabildo (municipality), the Metropolitan Cathedral (1687-1845) with an extensive museum, the building of the National Post Office and go to the buildings of the National police departments. Nearby are the Palacio de Lope Palace - the residence of the current President of the Republic, as well as the Manzana de La Rivera area, adjacent to the Gulf of Asuncion, where the river makes a large arc. Here, on the regularly washed away right bank, hydrotechnical work is constantly carried out to protect numerous buildings and structures of the 18th-19th centuries from destruction - the presidential palace itself, the Cultural Center of Paraguay (Casa de Cultura Paraguaya, 19th century) on Plaza Juan de Salazar and the Municipal library.
A little to the east is the House of Independence (Casa de la Independencia, 1772 - the oldest building in Asuncion), which contains an extensive collection of historical items of the colonial period (the museum is open from Monday to Friday, from 7.00 to 18.30, on Saturdays - from 8.00 to 12.00, Free admission). Nearby rises the complex "Grand Hotel del Paraguay" (XIX century - the oldest hotel in Asuncion), rebuilt from the mansion of Madame Eliza Lynch. Nowadays, here, in a mansion surrounded by verandas and a carefully arranged park, in addition to the hotel itself, there is a collection of furniture and paintings of the 19th century. And above it all rises the green wall of Carlos Antonio Lopez Park. The pastoral view of the surroundings is somewhat spoiled by the slums of La Chacarita lying a little to the south, almost at the walls of the Palacio Legislativo palace, but this, unfortunately, is the reality of many Latin American capitals.
The Government Palace, or Palacio de Gobierno, is located on the seafront Plaza el Paraguayo Independence. The graceful palace in the shape of a horseshoe, with verandas and wide staircases, was not only closed to the public for a long time, but even looking at it was forbidden (in Stroessner's time, the El Supremo rule allowed the palace guards to shoot on the spot anyone who gazed at Castle). Today, it is open to the public (guided tours run only on Thursdays and Fridays) and entry is free. Not far from it is the residence "Casa Viola", now a national museum.
Nothing symbolizes Paraguayan history more than the National Pantheon of Heroes in Plaza de Los Heroes, a stern memorial to the soldiers of Paraguay who fell in numerous wars. The construction of the complex began in 1864, and was completed only in 1936, after a real "pyrrhic victory" in the Chaco war. Two bronze Unknown Soldiers guard this quiet memorial, a place of pilgrimage for every Paraguayan who visits Asuncion. Every Saturday, at 10.00, a solemn changing of the guard is held here, and the memorial itself is open on weekdays, from 6.00 to 17.30, on weekends from 6.00 to 12.00. Nearby rises a small, elegant mansion known as Villa Rosalba (1919), which houses the MERCOSUR (South American Trade Organization) arbitration office. And even east of Plaza de Los Heroes, there is a small shady Plaza Uruguay, on one side of which there is an indoor book market, and on the other - a colonnade (1861) of an old railway station, after the closure of which a well-preserved steam locomotive is exhibited here .
As in any other Latin American city, in Asuncion you can find a huge number of churches. The most significant of them include the Cathedral of the Metropolitana de Asuncion (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Asuncion, 1687-1845), the Oratorio de La Virgen de Asuncion near the National Pantheon ( XIX century), Parroquia de La Ricoleta (1829), Oratory of San Jeronimo, Church of De La Encarnacion (1842-1851), Iglesia de Trinidad, or Iglesia Santisima Trinidad (XIX century), an unusual church in the form of a tent of the Vicar of Castrense (XX century), as well as the modest churches of Iglesia de La Merced (1953) and Iglesia de San Francisco de Asis (XIX v.). Local temples are quite modest on the outside and almost devoid of external decor, but their interior decoration is traditionally exquisite.
Asuncion has an unimaginable number of various museums. The most popular of these include the National Museum of Art (artistic works of the 19th century and the colonial period), the Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum (an extensive anthropological collection and a collection of local art crafts), the Museo del Barro Visual Arts Center (the main collection of modern art of the capital), an extensive religious collection of the Cathedral (Museo del Tesoro de La Catedral Metropolitana, open to the public on weekdays, from 7.30 to 18.30, on Saturdays from 8.00 to 12.00), the Museum of Paraguayan Crafts (a unique collection of traditional textiles and handicrafts), Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bella Art, paintings and sculptures by Paraguayan and South American authors, plus an extensive collection of historical documents, open from Thursday to Friday, from 7.00 to 18.30, on Saturdays from 8.00 to 12.00, admission is free), the Guido Bogiani Museum of Archeology and Ethnography, as well as a large number of art galleries - " Galerias del Arte, Arte Actual, Belmarco, De Arte Popular, La Marketera, Marsal, Multiarte, Pequena Galeria, Rafael Malatesta, Retratos ", Veronica Torres, "Yatai" and others.
Worthy of attention are the original collections of "Gallery-Technica" on Calle General Bruques, "Taller-Factory" on Mariscal Estigarriba, the Museum of the Club of Motorists and Tourists of Paraguay, the numismatic collection of the Central Bank of the country, the colorful Police Museum on Cerro Cora, the Cultural Center of the Republic, the museum the Otros Institute (a small museum of history and military affairs), the Museum of the Paraguayan Veterans Union (an extensive collection of photographs and objects from the era of the Chaco War, 1932-1935), the Museum of Natural History on the territory of the Jardin Botanico Botanical Garden, the Bernardino Museum belonging to the national Ministry of Defense Caballero, the Postal Museum, the private Jewish Museum on Calle Sacramento, and the Ramon Elias Museum of Guarani Mythology in the suburbs of Capiata.
There are many parks scattered throughout the city, the most striking of which is undoubtedly the Jardin Botanico Botanical Garden. On its territory there is an extensive collection of plants from all over the country (for this the botanical garden is often called Mini Paraguay), a small zoo and the old country house of the former president of the country, Francisco Solano López, which houses the Museum of Natural History with permanent exhibitions of wildlife, ethnology and history of Paraguay (open daily, from 7.00 to 17.00, entrance - PYG5000).
Around the capital
There are also many interesting places around Asuncion, connected by the Central Circuit tourist route. Extremely popular with guests from abroad Luka(Luque), where the best masters of stringed musical instruments work (one of the best souvenirs of the country, however, beautiful local harps - the pride of the Luque masters - are quite problematic to take out of the country), San Lorenzo with its campus and beautiful gothic church, the "orange capital of the country" - jaguarine- with its many Franciscan missions, located in the foothills of the Cordillera de los Altos, a historic village paraguare with its old colonial buildings, the resort town Chololo(87 km from the capital), the Lipa ecological ranch (35 km from Asuncion), as well as the resort town lost among the pine forests of the foothills, 82 km from the capital La Quinta- the center of equestrian and ecological tourism.
During La Guerra Grande (War of the Triple Alliance, 1864-1870) the village Piribebui, lying to the east of Asuncion, served as the capital of the country. Today it is a quiet and almost abandoned place, known only for its excellent Virgin la Miracle church (19th century), produced here by "kach" or "chacha" - a kind of local moonshine, as well as an interesting museum of the Chaco War. And lying nearby, on the shores of Lake Ipacara (47 km from the capital), the resort town San Bernardino very popular as a center for water sports.
Eastern Paraguay
The most interesting cultural and historical monuments of the country are concentrated in its eastern part, which was both the center of European colonization and the scene of numerous armed conflicts. Here you can visit the town Itagua- a famous center for the production of the finest wicker and knitted products, a resort lake Aregua and, lying just to the west, an important religious center of the country and a place of traditional annual pilgrimage - the city Kaakupi, one of the best nature reserves in the country - Ibique National Park(one of the few areas of Paraguay's primeval rainforest) and Fortin Toledo Nature Reserve, where you can see traces of the fortifications of the Chaco War period, and the rarest animal - Chaco peccary (Chacoan peccary, its natural habitat is the northwestern regions of the country, so the local population of this boar-like animal is considered the last in the region).
Also, many tourists are attracted by the largest dam on the planet - Itaipu Dam(1977, water surface area - 1350 sq. km) and colossal Yakireta Dam on the Parana River - its length is about 69.6 km. Extending for 180 km, the Itaipu reservoir provides a unique ecosystem that allows tourists to watch thousands of birds, go fishing or water sports (due to the nature of the Paraná current outside the reservoir, most of these activities are very problematic). A little up the river lies the town Ciudad del Este(326 km east of Asuncion), which is a good starting point for visiting the majestic Iguazu and Mandi waterfalls, which lie only 15-19 km from the city.
Also of interest is the nearby Cerro Coro National Park, guarding a vast area of dry tropical forest and savannas of the hilly right bank of the Parana. In these places, in addition to an interesting natural community, you can find several caves with traces of pre-Columbian cultures, many petroglyphs and the place of death of Francisco Solano López, a cult place for the Paraguayans.
Trinidad
To the southeast of the capital lies one of the country's most famous historical sites - the city of Trinidad. It was built in 1706-1760. on the hills overlooking the great bay of Parana, and is known as the largest missionary center on Paraguayan soil. At the beginning of the Conquest, thousands of Jesuit monks settled this region, founding about fifty monasteries and colleges on the picturesque hills. Not all of them survived the wars and uprisings that swept through this land, but in the central part of Trinidad you can find many historical churches, as well as the famous Jesuit missions of La Santisima-Trinidad de Parana and Jesus de Tavarange (XVII-XVIII centuries ., open in summer, from 7.00 to 19.00, in winter - from 7.00 to 17.30), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Interesting structures of this kind can also be found in San Ignacio Guasu and Santa Maria.
Chaco
The vast arid expanse of the Chaco Plains (Gran Chaco) is one of the largest centers of wildlife in South America. Sparsely populated and virtually undeveloped, Chaco occupies about 62% of Paraguay's area. Only one highway runs through this vast territory, ending in the capital of the so-called Lower Chaco - the town of Philadelphia, founded by German Mennonites in the late 1920s. The dense forests and marshy areas of the Lower Chaco, which is noticeably wetter than the rest of the plains, are interspersed with numerous farms and pastures that are still managed by the descendants of those same German settlers (Paraguay is one of the three countries in South America where Germans fled in large numbers from Hitler's Germany). There are few attractions here, but you should pay attention to the towns Loma Plata(the oldest and most traditional German settlement in the region) and Neue Halbstadt, famous for its traditional "Indian market".
The Upper Chaco, which occupies the very northwest of the country, is considered the realm of Indian tribes and wildlife. Numerous Indian tribes inhabiting this land are engaged in hunting and gathering, since nature here is almost untouched by human influence. The same reason, as well as the unique ecosystems of the Upper Chaco, allowed the Paraguayan government to withdraw up to 16% of all land in the region from circulation and create many reserves here.
Right next to the Bolivian border is the Chaco National Defense Historical Park, which includes a unique wooden fortification from the era of that war - Cerro Leon (total height is about 500 m). Nearby nature reserves Typhoon(Defensortes del Tinfunque), Enkiso, Cerro Cora, biological reserves Itabo, Limoy, Tafi-Yupi and forest reserves Mbarakaya and Nakundei, within which more than 600 species of birds, about 200 species of mammals and numerous species of reptiles and amphibians live. And dense thickets of thorny bushes provide shelter for numerous endangered feline species, primarily jaguars, cougars and ocelots.
Paraguay is a constitutional republic. The constitution of June 21, 1992 is currently in force. According to the Constitution of 1992, the country has three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. The executive power belongs to the president, who is elected by direct elections for a five-year term and cannot be re-elected for the next one, and to the government. Together with the President, the Vice President is elected. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, appoints the cabinet of ministers and heads of the civil administration; his duties 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 considerable power, aided by Paraguay's long tradition of presidential rule. Since 2008, Fernando Lugo, head of the Patriotic Alliance for Change, has been president with 41% of the popular vote.
Legislative power is vested in the Congress, which consists of the 45-member Senate and the 80-member Chamber of Deputies. Legislators are elected to the same five-year term as the president, based on proportional representation. Senators are elected from national party lists, while members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected from departments and the metropolitan area. Each department may elect at least one deputy. Additional seats in the chamber are distributed according to the number of registered voters. Congress has the power to initiate legislation and override a presidential veto. The Senate must approve the appointment of all heads of the Supreme Court, the military, the national police, and the national bank. Any intervention of the executive power in the activities of local self-government bodies must be approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
The current President of the Senate is Miguel Abdon Sagier. The party composition of the Senate is as follows: Genuine Liberal Radical Party - 17 seats, National Republican Association (Colorado Party) - 11 seats, National Union of Good Citizens - 9 seats, Beloved Homeland Movement - 4 seats and Solidary Country Party - 3 places.
The current chairman of the Chamber of Deputies is 44-year-old electronics engineer Victor Bogado. According to the results of the April 2008 elections, 5 parties are represented in the Chamber of Deputies:
* National Republican Association (Colorado Party) - 30 deputies (right);
* Genuine Liberal Radical Party - 27 (center-left);
* National Union of Decent Citizens - 15 (right);
* Movement "Beloved Motherland" - 3 (center-right);
* Party "Solidarity Country" - 2 (left);
* others - 3.
The National Republican Association, better known as the political party "Colorado", was founded in 1887. Since then, throughout history, with the exception of the period from 1904 to 1946, it has been the ruling political party. The political party "Colorado" played the role of the main force on which the Stroessner regime relied, although some groups within the political party were opposed to the dictatorship. This political party has over 900,000 members.
The liberal political party, also founded in 1887, was in power from 1904 to 1936. In 1942 it was banned, and after the class struggle in 1947 it was persecuted. In 1961, the political party was restored, but split into several factions, which acted as rivals in the elections regularly held by Stroessner. The core of the political party formed in 1977 the "True Radical Liberal Political Party" (PLRP), which refused to participate in national elections and was banned. The PLRP is the main opposition political party in the country. Its number is more than 600 thousand people.
After the victory of the independent movement in the municipal elections of 1991, the National Union of Decent Citizens was created, which later took shape as a political party (1992). The political party has over 70,000 members.
From other minor political parties, the movement "Beloved Motherland" and the party "Solidarity Country" stand out. Almost 85% of Paraguay's electorate belongs to one party or another.
The judiciary of Paraguay is represented by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal supervises the decisions of the courts of first instance. The judiciary is further divided into five departments. The departments deal with criminal cases, civil and commercial law issues, analysis of labor conflicts, administrative violations and juvenile cases. Candidates for all positions in the judiciary are selected by a council of judges (magistrates). All Justices of the Supreme Court are approved by the President and the Senate. All other appointments are made by the Supreme Court.
Administratively, the country is divided into 18 departments and the Asuncion metropolitan area. Thirteen departments are located east of the Paraguay River, five - 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, on the same dates as elections for the president and members of Congress. The municipality is governed by the mayor and the municipal council. They are elected for a five-year term by direct suffrage, and these elections do not have to coincide with the presidential election year. The first democratic municipal elections in Paraguay were held in 1991. The first governors were elected in 1993.