PARAGUAY RIVER. A river of South America, the largest tributary of the Parana (q.v.). It rises on the plateau of Matto Grosso and flows in a general southward direction, at first wholly in Brazil. then on the boundary be tween Brazil and Bolivia. then through the cen tre of Paraguay, and finally, below Asuncion, on the boundary between Paraguay and Argen tina until it joins the Paranii near Corrientes (Slap: South America, D 5). Its total length is about 1500 miles. Its sources are a series of lakes called As Sete Lagoas, which are believed to be also the source of a headstream of the Tapajoz, which flows into the Amazon. After leaving the plateau in a series of rapids the river flows for the rest of its course with a tranquil current over an almost level bed through the great plains known as the Gran Chaco and the Pampas. The upper part of this plain. above the Bolivian frontier. forms the marshes called the Laguna de los Charayes (Xarayes). This tract is converted during the annual floods into a vast lake over 100 miles wide and several hundred miles long, leaving exposed only a few islands and the,rows of trees which line the banks of the permanent streams. Below the Charayes the
river is again confined to its banks by spurs of the plateau, and farther south its bed is so deeply cut into the plain that the latter generally escapes, inundation. Below Asuneion, however, the banks again become marshy. From the es carpment of the plateau to the confluence with the Parana. a distanee of 900 miles. the river is entirely free from obstructions, and is navi gable at all seasons for small vessels, which can also ascend the SSo Loureneo to Cuyaba in Brazil. Steamers drawing nine feet can at all seasons reach Corumba at the southern end of the Charayess and the river is the only commercial outlet for Matto Grosso and Paraguay. Two lines of steamers ply regularly between Asuneion and Buenos Ayres, each running one steamer weekly, and in 1598 nearly 500 ocean vessels entered the former port. The longest tributaries of the Paraguay are the Pileornayo aml the Berhejo. The river was discovered by Sebas tian tab. t. wh.. in 1526, ascended the Parana as far - tic confluence.