Country Paraguay Check Location Map
South America

Description

Paraguay is South America's `empty quarter', a country little known even to its neighbours. For much of its history it has distanced itself from the Latin American mainstream, and for a substantial period of this century was South America's most notorious and durable police state. PJ O'Rourke summed it up bluntly when he wrote `Paraguay is nowhere and famous for nothing', and then, on a short visit to cover elections, promptly fell in love with the place. You might do the same since Paraguay has taken steps to overcome its political, economic and geographic isolation and now welcomes visitors. The country has a relaxed riverside capital, impressive Jesuit missions, several national parks and the vast, arid Chaco - one of South America's great wilderness areas. Environment Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The country is divided into two unequal portions by the Rνo Paraguay, the third largest river in the western hemisphere. To the west of the river is the Chaco, a largely infertile and sparsely populated tract of land that makes up nearly 60% of the country's area. To the east, where almost all the population is concentrated, is a well-watered, elevated plateau of grasslands, with patches of subtropical forest stretching all the way to the Rνo Paranα on the Brazilian and Argentinian borders. Wildlife is diverse and includes a number of parrot and parakeet, wood stork, hyacinth macaw and the once-thought-to-be-extinct Chacoan peccary, plus large reptiles such as caiman, anaconda and the boa constrictor. However, due to the dense human population of rural eastern Paraguay, mammals such as the giant anteater, maned wolf, Brazilian tapir and jaguar are fast disappearing. The climate in eastern Paraguay is humid, with rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year. Temperatures are almost universally hot in summer (January to March), averaging 35 degrees Celsius, but can drop as low as five degrees Celsius in winter (July to September). Frosts at this time are not uncommon, but there is little or no snowfall. Temperatures are higher in the Chaco and the rainfall is more erratic. Facts for the Traveller Visas:Most foreigners require visas for a stay of up to three months, except those from neighbouring countries (who only need national ID cards), most Western European countries and the USA. Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders also need a spotlessly clean police record, a bank statement and a US$10 fee. Health risks: Cholera, cutaneous leishmaniasis, hepatitis, hookworm, malaria, tuberculosis and typhoid Time: GMT/UTC minus three hours Electricity: 220V, 60 Hz Weights & Measures: Metric Tourism: 300,000 visitors per year Money & Costs Currency: Guaranν Relative costs: Cheap meal: US$2-5 Restaurant meal: US$ 12-15