CORRIENTES lies above Entre Rios, and remarkable as is the river perimiter of the latter, that of the former is not less so ; having the Parana on the north and west, and the Uruguay east. At the north-east angle of the province the two rivers approach to within thirty miles of each other, and then recede, the Parana westward, and the Uruguay south-west. Spreading thus between those rivers, the province of Corrientes fills the space from the Parana above its junction with the Paraguay, or from S. lat. 20', to the northern boundary of Entre Rios, S. lat. 30°, forming nearly a square of two hundred miles each way ; area about forty thousand square miles. This province, but little known, was one of the most early Spanish settlements on the basin of the Plate. The city of Corrientes is situated on the east, or left bank of the Parana, immediately below the mouth of the Paraguay, S. lat. 27° 26', and almost exactly due north from Buenos Ayres; difference of lat. 7° 10', or
five hundred English statute miles.
With much resemblance to Entre Rios, the surface of Corrientes is more diversified. In the interior are many lakes, and in particular one called Ypicu, or Ybera, boasted of for the beauty of its shores. The inhabitants of Corrientes, similar to those of all other countries where the climate is mild, the soil fertile, and the popu lation thin, are disinclined to labour. The situation of the capital is admirable for commerce, and the dense forests would be as favourable for steam-vessels, but hitherto, pastoral pursuits have been preferred. Agri culture has not been altogether neglected; sugar, cotton, and indigo have been exported, but in moderate quanti ties. Coffee has likewise been cultivated with good suc cess—but nature has done too much in Corrientes.
The river Uruguay separates on their eastern sides both the preceding provinces from Banda Oriental.