Paraguay
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Republic of Paraguay
Country name - conventional short form : Paraguay
Country name - local long form : Republica del Paraguay
Country name - local short form : Paraguay
Government type : constitutional republic
Capital - name : Asuncion
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Population : 6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Paraguayan(s)
Nationality - adjective : Paraguayan
Languages : Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Currency (code) : guarani (PYG)
Currency code : PYG
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : intermediate
Paraguay is located Central South America, northeast of Argentina. The climate is subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west. The terrain is grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then.
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