ARAGUA, one of the smaller States of Venezuela lying principally within the parallel ranges of the Venezuelan Cor dillera and comprising fertile and healthful valleys. It is bounded on the east by the Federal District and State of Miranda, on the south by Guarico and on the west by Zamora and Carabobo. Pop. (1926) 105,839. Aragua has a short coast-line on the Caribbean, west of the Federal district, and a port at Ocumare is growing. Cattle, swine and goats are raised, and the State produces coffee, sugar, cacao, beans, cereals and cheese. The climate of the higher valleys is sub-tropical, the mean annual temperature ranging from 74° to 8o°. The new capital, Maracay (population io,000), is situated in the fertile Aragua valley I,5oo ft. above sea level and 77m. S.W. of Caracas, with which it is connected by a fine highway. There is also a new highway to Ocumare, to Victoria, to Valencia, etc. Other important towns are Barbacoas (population 15,00o) on the left bank of the Guarico in a fertile region; Victoria (population 8,000) ; Ciudad de Cura. The most important features of recent progress are the new highways traversing the State, providing outlets for agricultural and other production. (W. A. R.) ARAGUAYA, ARAGUAY or ARAGUIA, a river of Brazil and principal affluent of the Tocantins, rising in the Serra do Cayapo, where it is known as the Rio Grande, and flowing in a north by east direction to a junction with the Tocantins at Sao Joao do Araguaya, or Sao Joao das Duas Barras. Its upper course forms the boundary line between Goyaz and Matto Grosso. The river divides into two branches at about 13° 20' S. lat., and unites again at 10° 30', forming the large island of Santa Anna or Bana nal. The eastern branch, called the Furo, is the one used by boats, as the main channel is obstructed by rapids. Its principal affluent is the Rio das Mortes, which rises in the Serra de Sao Jeronymo, near Cuyaba, Matto Grosso, and is utilized by boatmen going to Para. Of other affluents, the Bonito, Garcas, Cristallino and Tapirape on the west and the Pitombas, Claro, Vermelho, Tucupa and Chavante on the east nothing definite is known as the country is still largely unexplored. The Araguaya has a course of 1,080m., considerable stretches of which are navigable for small river steamers, but as the river below Santa Anna island is interrupted by reefs and rapids in two places—one having a fall of 85ft. in 18m., and the other a fall of 5oft. in 12m.-it affords no practi cable outlet for the products of the State. It was explored in part by Henri Coudreau in 1897.
See Coudreau, Voyage au (1897).