ime claims
of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia
have reserved the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in
the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Paraguay

Introduction

Paraguay

Background: In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70),
Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of
1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia.
The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown
in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent
years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held
since then.

Geography Paraguay

Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references: South America

Area: total: 406,750 sq km water: 9,450 sq km land: 397,300 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km,
Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,
and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46
m highest point: Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore,
manganese, limestone

Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% other: 94% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate
means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents;
loss of wetlands

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands signed, but not ra