TERRITORY
The Paraguayan territory belongs in its entirety to the large basin formed by the Paraguay and Paraná Rivers. The Paraguay River divides the country into two well-differentiated regions: The Occidental (also called Chaco) and the Oriental. The Occidental comprises 60% of the country's surface area (246.925 km2) while the remaining 40% belongs to the Oriental Region (159.827 km2).
The Gran Chaco, (except in the extreme Occidental) forms part of an alluvial plain that extends from Paraguay to Bolivia in the western direction, towards Argentina in the southern direction and Brazil in the eastern direction. Plains covered by pastures, marshes and brushwood occupy this zone.
The Oriental Region has a distinct quality of lands and drainage in its two parts. That of the Paraguay River has large difficulties for drainage and a poor terrain. It is dedicated, for the most part to farming and a mixed type of agriculture. There is relief on the side of the Paraná. The red grounds (lateriticos-natrosoles) are developed on top of volcanic rock. The land's fertility is much better, thereby converting it into the most important agricultural region of the country. Nevertheless, it is exposed to the degradation of its ecosystem.
The Oriental Region consists of 4 sub-regions. The first is Asunción and the metropolitan area that comprises the capital Asunción. The second is the North sub-region that consists of Concepción, San Pedro and Amambay. The central south is comprised of Cordillera, Guairá, Caazapá, Misiones, Paraguarí, Central and Ñeembucú. The eastern sub-region is comprised of Caaguazú, Itapúa, Alto Paraná and Canindeyú.
Source: www.enciclonet.com (© Micronet)
Encarta Enciclopedy 99 (© Microsoft)
Translations and editing by: JoAnn Arbore Mainardi
