PARAGUAY: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
=Highlands.= The physical features of the country are simple, the
Paraguay River dividing it into sections: the Gran Chaco, to some
extent unexplored in detail, and the Oriental. The latter, Paraguay
proper, is traversed from north to south by a broad irregular belt of
highlands, nowhere much above 2200 feet. The angle of the ridges is
sharper on the west, the country undulating in gradual slopes from
the foot. On the east, spurs run out enclosing deep valleys, and the
country has more of an upland character. The streams flowing west to
the Paraguay are smoother and to some extent navigable, while those
flowing east and southeast to the Alto Paraná are interrupted by rapids
and falls.
=Plains.= In the southwest section between the Paraguay and the
Paraná there is considerable marshy country, part draining into the
Ypoa lagoon; other marshy lowlands occur along the Paraguay River.
All these could be drained at moderate expense, thus providing much
rich and accessible land. The western section, containing most of
the inhabitants, has an average altitude of about 600 feet. In the
more settled parts of the west and south are extensive grassy and
open lands, and hills covered with forests, while clumps of trees are
frequent in the lowlands. The soil of the western part is rather dry
and sandy except near the rivers and marshes. It is extremely rich,
of a reddish color due to impregnated iron. Above is a thick layer of
humus, formed by centuries of decaying vegetation. In places the soil
is clayey, or has a substratum of clay beneath. This is true of most
of the forest region, and of the swampy section. Of Paraguay proper the
western part is 25 per cent forest, the middle 66, the eastern 95 per
cent.
The Gran Chaco, though called a plain, and flat near the rivers, is
somewhat hilly. Rarely, a freshet on the Paraguay or the Pilcomayo
transforms the neighboring country into great lakes, these sometimes
extending 20 or 30 miles back from the river. Along the river banks
is usually a narrow strip of forest, from which the soil and trees
occasionally crumble into the stream, especially along the Pilcomayo,
thus impeding navigation on that river. Farther back are open plains
dotted with groups of palms, and some stretches of forest. The average
altitude is 426 feet. Little is known of the country north of 22°.
=Rivers.= The country is greatly favored with rivers. The Paraguay,
1800 miles long, rises in Matto Grosso, Brazil, near the source of the
Tapajós, a branch of the Amazon. From the east the Paraguay receives
several important streams. Below the Apá, the northern boundary, two
tributaries, the Aquidabán and the Ipané, are nearly 200 miles long.
More important is the navigable Jejui (all these north of Asunción);
still more the Tebicuary, entering the Paraguay far south of Asunción
by two mouths, one over one-half, the other over one-third of a mile
in width. The Alto Paraná is different, a more rocky and a shallower
stream than the Paraguay. From that country it has many affluents, the
Monday over 100 miles long with great cataracts in the lower part but
navigable above. The Paraná River, 2000 miles long to the mouth of the
Uruguay, rises in Goyaz, 665 miles above the Sete Quedas. It is 100
miles more to the Iguassú, then 492 to Corrientes, and 676 beyond to
the beginning of the La Plata.
The rivers of the Chaco are more sluggish. Even the Pilcomayo is
untraced in its middle course where vast swamps impede passage by
land or water. The river is navigable in its lower reaches for a
considerable distance, and the upper part is well known. The River
Confuso is a smaller stream of similar character. Paraguay has few
lakes save those swampy in character, but one, Lake Ipacaraí, east of
Asunción, is a popular beauty spot, with pleasure and health resorts.
Lake Ypoa is larger and both are navigable by boats of slight draft.
CLIMATE
The climate of the country is called ideal, that of course depending on
one’s taste. In general it is subtropical with two seasons, the summer
temperature averaging 81°, the winter 71° or less. The rainfall is
fairly distributed, the most in the hot months, December to February.
Sudden changes of weather occur; from hot, humid north winds, or
cooling south winds from the Argentine plains. In places the winter
temperature may fall to 33°-42°, even with frost, but not near the
Paraná River where there are fogs. In summer the maximum temperature at
Asunción occasionally reaches 100° or more, and there are 60 inches of
rain; more farther east, but less in the Chaco.