Middle America, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones
of the World
Area:
total area:
78,200 sq km
land area:
75,990 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total 555 km, Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline:
2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January),
short dry season (January to May)
Terrain:
interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains;
coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Natural resources:
copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
54%
other:
23%
Irrigated land:
320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources;
deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Note:
strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links
North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
@Panama, People
Population:
2.63 million (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.94% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
24.61 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.88 years
male:
72.28 years
female:
77.62 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.85 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Panamanian(s)
adjective:
Panamanian
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 70%, West Indian 14%,
white 10%, Indian 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages:
Spanish (official), English 14%
note:
many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
88%
male:
88%
female:
88%
Labor force:
921,000 (1992 est.)
by occupation:
government and community services 31.8%, agriculture, hunting, and
fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%, manufacturing
and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and communications
6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%
note:
shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
@Panama, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Panama
conventional short form:
Panama
local long form:
Republica de Panama
local short form:
Panama
Digraph:
PM
Type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
Panama
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory*
(comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera,
Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
Independence:
3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28
November 1821)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution:
11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the
Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Guillermo ENDARA (since 20 December 1989, elected 7 May
1989); First Vice President Guillermo FORD Boyd (since 24 December
1992); Second Vice President (vacant); election last held on 7 May
1989, annulled but later upheld; results - anti-NORIEGA coalition
believed to have won about 75% of the total votes cast
note:
a presidential election was held 8 May 1994 (next election to held on
9 May 1999) with inauguration of the successful candidates to take
place on 1 September 1994; results - President Ernesto PEREZ
BALLADARES Gonzales, First Vice President Tomas Altamirano DUQUE, and
Second Vice President Felipe VIRZI were elected; percent of vote for
president - BALLADARES 33%, DE GRUBER 29%, BLADES 17%
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional):
elections held on 27 January 1991; results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (67 total)
progovernment parties:
PDC 28, MOLIRENA 15, PA 8, PLA 4
opposition parties:
PRD 10, PALA 1, PL 1; note - the PDC went into opposition after
President Guillermo ENDARA ousted the PDC from the coalition
government in April 1991; an election of members of the National
Assembly was held on 8 May 1994 (next election to be held on 9 May
1999) and they will take their seats on 1 September 1994; results -
percent of vote and seats won by party NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), 5 superior
courts, 3 courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
government alliance:
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista Party
(PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER
other parties:
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul OSSA; Democratic Revolutionary
Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Agrarian Labor Party (PALA), Nestor
Tomas GUERRA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Doctrinaire
Panamenista Party (PPD), Jose Salvador MUNOZ; Papa Egoro Movement,
Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National
Integration Movement (MINA), Arrigo GUARDIA; National Unity Mission
Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES; Solidarity Party (CPS), Samuel LEWIS
GALINDO
note:
following the elections of 8 May 1994 the following realignment of
political parties took place
governing coalition:
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo GONZALEZ; Liberal
Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party (PALA), Carlos
Lopez GUEVARA; Solidarity Party (PS),Samuel LEWIS GALINDO
other parties:
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Alfredo RAMIREZ;
Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCOLONA; Arnulfista Party
(PA), Mireya Moscoso DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Raul
OSSA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta; Papa Egoro Movement,
Ruben BLADES; Civic Renewal Party (PRC), Tomas HERRERA; National Unity
Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel PAREDES
Other political or pressure groups:
National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO); National Council of
Private Enterprise (CONEP); Panamanian Association of Business
Executives (APEDE); National Civic Crusade; Chamber of Commerce;
Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP); Workers Confederation of the
Republic of Panama (CTRP)
Member of:
AG (associate), CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jaime FORD Boyd (to be replaced by Ambassador Ricardo
Alberto ARIAS on 1 September 1994)
chancery:
2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-1407
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San
Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa,
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address:
American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945; APO AA 34002
telephone:
(507) 27-1777
FAX:
(507) 27-1964
Flag:
divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white
(hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain
red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a
red five-pointed star in the center
@Panama, Economy
Overview:
GDP expanded by roughly 5.9% in 1993, following growth of 8% in 1992;
banking and financial services led the way in 1993. The economy thus
continues to recover from the crisis that preceded the ouster of
Manuel NORIEGA, even though the government's structural adjustment
program has been hampered by a lack of popular support and a passive
administration. Public investment has been limited as the
administration has kept the fiscal deficit below 2% of GDP.
Unemployment and economic reform are the two major issues the new
government must face in 1994-95.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $11.6 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.9% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,500 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.5% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.8 billion
expenditures:
$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$545 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%
partners:
US 38%, EC, Central America and Caribbean
Imports:
$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer goods,
chemicals
partners:
US 35%, EC, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
External debt:
$6.1 billion (year-end 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 7% (1993 est.); accounts for about 9% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
1,584,000 kW
production:
4.36 trillion kWh
consumption per capita:
720 kWh (1992)
Industries:
manufacturing and construction activities, petroleum refining,
brewing, cement and other construction material, sugar milling
Agriculture:
accounts for 10% of GDP (1992 est.), 27% of labor force (1992); crops
- bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane; livestock; fishing; importer
of food grain, vegetables
Illicit drugs:
major cocaine transshipment point and drug money laundering center
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $516 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $582
million; Communist countries (1970-89), $4 million
Currency:
1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates:
balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Panama, Communications
Railroads:
238 km total; 78 km 1.524-meter gauge, 160 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
8,530 km
paved:
2,745 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone 3,270 km; improved, unimproved earth 2,515 km
Inland waterways:
800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Pipelines:
crude oil 130 km
Ports:
Cristobal, Balboa, Colon
Merchant marine:
3,405 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 56,011,824 GRT/89,516,566
DWT, barge carrier 1, bulk 717, cargo 1,110, chemical tanker 181,
combination bulk 31, combination ore/oil 24, container 215, liquefied
gas 127, livestock carrier 9, multifunction large-load carrier 5, oil
tanker 437, passenger 22, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 287,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 67, short-sea passenger 30, specialized tanker
10, vehicle carrier 129
note:
all but 30 are foreign owned and operated; the top 4 foreign owners
are Japan 34%, Greece 8%, Hong Kong 7%, and Taiwan 5%; other foreign
owners include China at least 144 ships, Vietnam 3, Croatia 6, Cuba 4,
Cyprus 4, and Russia 41
Airports:
total:
118
usable:
109
with permanent-surface runways:
38
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
15
Telecommunications:
domestic and international facilities well developed; connection into
Central American Microwave System; 220,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 91 AM, no FM, 23 TV; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite
ground stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
@Panama, Defense Forces
Branches:
Panamanian Public Forces (PPF) includes the National Police, Maritime
Service, National Air Service, Institutional Protective Service;
Judicial Technical Police operate under the control of Panama's
judicial branch
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 686,479; fit for military service 471,780
Defense expenditures:
expenditures for the Panamanian security forces amounted to $138.5
million, 1.0% of GDP (1993 est.)
@Papua New Guinea, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, just north of Australia, between Indonesia and the
Solomon Islands
Map references:
Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
461,690 sq km
land area:
451,710 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total 820 km, Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:
5,152 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon
(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Natural resources:
gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil potential
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
71%
other:
28%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; pollution from mining projects
natural hazards:
some active volcanoes; frequent earthquakes
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed, but
not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Note:
shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest
swamps along southwest coast
@Papua New Guinea, People
Population:
4,196,806 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.31% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
33.5 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
10.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
63.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
56.43 years
male:
55.6 years
female:
57.31 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.65 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective:
Papua New Guinean
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London
Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant sects 10%, indigenous
beliefs 34%
Languages:
English spoken by 1-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in
Papua region
note:
715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
52%
male:
65%
female:
38%
Labor force:
NA
@Papua New Guinea, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form:
Papua New Guinea
Digraph:
PP
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces; Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain,
East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National
Capital, New Ireland, Northern, North Solomons, Sandaun, Southern
Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:
16 September 1975 (from UN trusteeship under Australian
administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:
16 September 1975
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Wiwa KOROWI (since NA November 1991)
head of government:
Prime Minister Paias WINGTI (since 17 July 1992); Deputy Prime
Minister Sir Julius CHAN (since July 1992)
cabinet:
National Executive Council; appointed by the governor on
recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Parliament:
(sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly) elections last held
13-26 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent by party
NA; seats - (109 total) Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10,
independents 30, others 18 (association with political parties is
fluid)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu Party), Jack GENIA; People's
Democratic Movement (PDM), Paias WINGTI; People's Action Party (PAP),
Akoka DOI; People's Progress Party (PPP), Sir Julius CHAN; United
Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA; National
Party (NP), Paul PORA; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS
Member of:
ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Kepas WATANGIA
chancery:
3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 745-3680
FAX:
(202) 745-3679
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard TEARE
embassy:
Armit Street, Port Moresby
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby, or APO AE 96553
telephone:
[675] 211-455 or 594, 654
FAX:
[675] 213-423
Flag:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is
red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern
Cross constellation centered
@Papua New Guinea, Economy
Overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mining of numerous deposits,
including copper and gold, accounts for about 60% of export earnings.
Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank
auspices have helped sustain the economy. Robust growth in 1991-92 was
led by the mining sector; the opening of a large new gold mine helped
the advance. The economy remained strong in 1993, primarily because of
continued growth in the mining and oil sectors.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.2% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (1992-93)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues:
$1.33 billion
expenditures:
$1.49 billion, including capital expenditures of $225 million (1993
est.)
Exports:
$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, lobster
partners:
Australia, Japan, South Korea, UK, US
Imports:
$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals
partners:
Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand, UK
External debt:
$2.2 billion (April 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 21% (1992); accounts for 31% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
400,000 kW
production:
1.6 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
400 kWh (1992)
Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production, mining of gold, silver, and copper, construction, tourism
Agriculture:
Accounts for 28% of GDP; livelihood for 85% of population; fertile
soils and favorable climate permits cultivating a wide variety of
crops; cash crops - coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels; other
products - tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry,
pork; net importer of food for urban centers
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $40.6 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.5
billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $17 million
Currency:
1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates:
kina (K) per US$1 - 1.0281 (January 1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367
(1992), 1.0504 (1991), 1.0467 (1990), 1.1685 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Papua New Guinea, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
total:
19,200 km
paved:
640 km
unpaved:
gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 10,960 km; unimproved earth
7,600 km
Inland waterways:
10,940 km
Ports:
Anewa Bay, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,337 GRT/25,669 DWT, bulk 2,
cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1
Airports:
total:
504
usable:
462
with permanent-surface runways:
18
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
39
Telecommunications:
services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide
radiobroadcast, radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio,
aeronautical radio, and international radiocommunication services;
submarine cables extend to Australia and Guam; more than 70,000
telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 31 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV (1987); 1
Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Papua New Guinea, Defense Forces
Branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,080,316; fit for military service 601,369
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 1.8% of GDP (1993 est.)
@Paracel Islands, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Asia, 400 km east of Vietnam in the South China Sea,
about one-third of the way between Vietnam and the Philippines
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total area:
NA sq km
land area:
NA sq km
comparative area:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
518 km
Maritime claims:
NA
International disputes:
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
NA
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Environment:
current issues:
NA
natural hazards:
subject to typhoons
international agreements:
NA
@Paracel Islands, People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered Chinese
garrisons
@Paracel Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Paracel Islands
Digraph:
PF
@Paracel Islands, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
@Paracel Islands, Communications
Ports:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
currently under expansion
Airports:
1 on Woody Island
@Paracel Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
occupied by China
@Paraguay, Geography
Location:
Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
406,750 sq km
land area:
397,300 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del
Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined
Climate:
varies from temperate in east to semiarid in 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
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
20%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
39%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
5%
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
present health hazards for many urban residents
natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained
plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban
Note:
landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
@Paraguay, People