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Country Guide > South America > Paraguay | |
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General Information Area 406,752 sq km (157,048 sq miles). Population 5,206,101 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 12.8 per sq km. Capital Asunción. Population: 513,399 (2000). Geography Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, lying some 1440km (900 miles) up the River Paraná from the Atlantic. The River Paraguay, a tributary of the Paraná, divides the country into two sharply contrasting regions. The Oriental zone, which covers 159,800 sq km (61,700 sq miles), consists of undulating country intersected by chains of hills rising to about 600m (2000ft), merging into the Mato Grosso Plateau in the north; the Paraná crosses the area in the east and south. East and southeast of Asunción lie the oldest centres of settlement inhabited by the greater part of the population. This area is bordered to the west by rolling pastures, and to the south by thick primeval forests. The Occidental zone, or Paraguayan Chaco, covers 246,827 sq km (95,300 sq miles). It is a flat alluvial plain, composed mainly of grey clay, which is marked by large areas of permanent swamp in the southern and eastern regions. Apart from a few small settlements, it is sparsely populated. Government Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1811. Head of State and Government: President Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos since 2003. Language The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní; Guaraní is spoken by most of the rural population. Most Paraguayans are bilingual, but prefer to speak Guaraní outside Asunción. Religion Mostly Roman Catholic. Time GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from October to March). Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 595. Outgoing international code: 002. Moderate internal network apart from the main cities. Mobile Telephone GSM 1900 network coverage is limited to main urban areas. The local network providers are Hutchison Telecommunications Paraguay SA (website: www.porthable.com.py), Nucleo SA (website: www.personal.com.py), Telefonica Celular Del Paraguay (website: www.telecel.com.py) and VOX (website: www.vox.com.py). Fax Some hotels provide facilities. Internet ISPs include Planet (website: www.pla.net.py). Internet cafes are available in main urban areas. Telegram Many hotels have facilities. Services are also available at COPACO (Compañía Paraguaya de Comunicaciones). Post Airmail to Europe takes five days. Press The main newspapers are ABC Color, La Nación, Noticias and Ultima Hora. American newspapers are available. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |