PARAGUAY, an inland republic of South America, bounded on the north-west by Bolivia, north and east by Brazil, south-east, south and west by Argentina. Pop. (1932 estimate) 802,697; the area of Paraguay proper is about 61,647 square miles. Sovereignty over the Chaco territory west of the Paraguay river and north of the Pilcomayo, comprising some ioo,000 sq.m., is disputed with Bolivia.
Features.-Paraguay proper, or the country between the Paraguay and the Parana is traversed from north to south by a broad irregular belt of highlands, which are known as the Cordillera Ambaya, Cordillera Urucury, etc., but partake rather of the character of plateaux, and form a continuation and outwork of the great interior plateau of Brazil. The elevation nowhere much exceeds 2,200 feet. On the western side these highlands terminate with a more or less sharply defined edge, the country sloping gradually up to their bases in gentle undula tions with open, ill-defined valleys; on the eastern side they send out broad spurs enclosing deep-cut valleys, and the whole country retains more of an upland character. The streams that flow westward to the Paraguay are consequently to some extent navigable, while those that run eastward to the Parana are inter rupted by rapids and falls, often of a formidable description. From the Asuncion plateau southwards, near the confluence of the Paraguay and Parana, there is a vast stretch of marshy country, draining partly into the Ypoa lagoon, and smaller tracts of the same character are found in other parts of the lowlands, espe cially in the valley of the Paraguay. Many parts of the country sloping to the Parana are nearly covered with dense forest, and have been left in possession of the scattered native tribes. The country sloping to the Paraguay, and comprising the greater part of the settled districts, is grassy and open, though the hills are usually covered with forest and clumps of trees are frequent in the lowlands. The soil is mostly dry, porous and sandy. (X.) Geology.—The Parana plateau of southern Brazil extends into eastern Paraguay, where it occupies about half the area of the country east of Paraguay river. It is a table-land formed of nearly
horizontal beds of Triassic sandstone capped by late Triassic basalt and dissected by the gorges of the Parana and its tributaries. West of the plateau is a lower foot-hill zone composed of almost horizontal Devonian and Permian beds, a southward continuation of the Palaeozoic beds exposed at the foot of the Matto Grosso plateau. The surface of the broad lowland, known west of Para guay river as the Chaco, so far as known, is formed of Tertiary and Quaternary beds, through which protrudes, in its northern part, a low range of ancient gneiss, the Sierra de Quince Puntas.
(G. McL. Wo.) Minerals.—The gold mines said to have been concealed by the Jesuits may have had no existence; and though iron was worked by F. S. Lopez at Ibicuy (7o m. S.E. of Asunci6n), and native copper, oxide of manganese, marble, lime and salt have been found, the real wealth of the country consists rather in the variety and value of its vegetable products.
Fauna.—December, January and February are generally the hottest months, and May, June, July and August the coldest. The mean temperature for the year seems to be about 74° F; for summer 81°, for winter 64°. The annual rainfall is about 62 in. at Asuncion fairly well distributed throughout the year. The most common winds are from the north or south. The south wind is dry, cool and invigorating, and banishes mosquitoes for a time; the north wind is hot, moist and relaxing.
The fauna of Paraguay proper is practically the same as that of Brazil. Caymans, water-hogs (capinchos), several kinds of deer (Cervus paludosus, the largest), ounces, opossums, armadillos, vampires, the American ostrich, the ibis, the jabiru, various species popularly called partridges, the pato real or royal duck, the Pala medea cornuta, parrots and parakeets, are among the more notable forms. Insect life is especially abundant ; the red stump-like ant-hills are a feature in every landscape.