Paraguay

Paraguay, with its capital Asuncion, encompasses a total area of 406,750 sq km and is slightly smaller than California. The climate is subtropical to temperate with the east receiving a substantial amount of rainfall, becoming semiarid in the far west. There are grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay and the Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay with mostly low, marshy plains near the river. Most other areas are dry forest and thorny scrub. Natural resources include: hydro power, timber, iron ore, manganese, and limestone.

The population of Paraguay was estimated to be 5,734,139 in July 2001. Spanish and Guarani are the official languages of the country. The main industries include: sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, and wood products. Agricultural products such as: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (yucca), fruits, vegetables, beef, pork, eggs, milk and timber are commonly cultivated. Deforestation is a major concern with in the country. An estimated 2 million hectares of forest lands were lost from 1958-85 destroying habitat and contributing to water pollution. The high concentrations of water pollution result from an inadequate means for waste disposal and present health risks for many urban residents.

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