Paraguay

= __Paraguay__ = Paraguay, the heart of South America, the center of the continent, and home of some of the best soybeans.Paraguay also has the largest wetland of fresh water in the world, the Pantanal. With a whopping population density of 16.4 people per square kilometer, an area of 406,752 square kilometers, and a population of about 6.7 million, Paraguay isn't that big. It is full of Roman Catholics and Protestants who speak Spanish and Guarani love to support their favorite soccer team by wearing sportswear.toc



These are the coins introduced to Paraguay in 2006.





This is the national anthem for Paraguay, it consists of their own type of traditional music and was written after their independence was gained. media type="youtube" key="R1PiEdHSqqs" height="28" width="124"

= __Culture__ = Paraguays culture mainly consists of European style because Spain ruled Paraguay

Soccer in Paraguay is major, all the people in Paraguay are always there to support their soccer team. On their (Paraguay's people) free time soccer is considered first. How the way the game is played in Paraguay, it is loved by it's people.
 * __Sports__**

- The main language in Paraguay is Spanish, its widely spoken for paraguay, mainly spoken for business, and government. In their everyday life, Paraguays people speak Gurani, a language very related to spanish. This language, Gurani, is spoken 39% between people, although spanish is important in these peoples life, the people of Paraguay are required to learn spanish and gurani. ingredients in the cultural kitchens of Paraguay are cassava, and corn. __Cassava__ __Corn__
 * __Langagues__**
 * __Food-__** Kitchens are the fundamental of culture in Paraguay, seeing as they connect one cook to their ancestors. The most indeginence

Processing cassava gives us farina (a type of flour), typyraty and almidon. These are very distinct dishes that Paraguayans use in the dishes. Corn takes various shapes in Paraguay, from sweet kernels to dishes such as chipa guasu. Then over to non-sweet dishes in such foods as the Paraguay soup. The modern day basics in Paraguay kitchens are yams, beans, squash, peanuts and coconuts. These foods are grown and are most native in Paraguay. Paraguay is not only big on finding new ways to have delicious and scrumptious foods, but they are also major on desserts. Many of these desserts are very healthy. The religions of Paraguay consists of Roman Catholics, and other. Roman Catholics dominate 90% of Paraguay because of Spain. Spain because they conquered Paraguay and brought all their stuff (religion, culture, etc.) with them and religion was one of them. __**Clothing**__ The clothing in Paraguay is influenced by Europe and mostly Spain. Fanciness is not important it's the neatness that counts in Paraguay. The children dress just like the men and women exept the children are supposed to look the neatest and are supposed to be in the tradition more than anyone else. Basically the children are the main people, the traditions want their kids to get into all their history and backround.
 * __Religion__**

This is the type of clothing Spain wears. The children in this photo are wearing there traditional clothes for a holiday.

Depending on where the houses are located it determines the style, material, etc. This house was made on the edge of the urban areas in Paraguay mainly being Asuncion.
 * __Homes__**

This house was made from poor material but is actually good enough because they need shelter. They have many natural sources arond them for food because of the rural area.

Music in Paraguay was also influenced from Europe such as the famous Polka which Paraguay adapted from the Europeans. In the middle of the 19th century music became for celebrations or just to express your feelings. Jose Asuncion Flores created a slow type of music that described his feelings on the time, place, or what he was doing. Asuncion was like the Bethoven of his time and place (1925 and Paraguay). Asuncion had such a big effect on his time Paraguay capitol became Asuncion. You can see Paraguay is very into music
 * __Music__**

media type="youtube" key="ta_8wHT37Co" height="9" width="124"This is one of Asuncions famous music.

As you can see he is in a happy mood

This is Asuncions Paraguayan harp.

= __Economy__ = = = = =
 * Resources Trade: Sugar; Cement; Textiles; Beverages; Wood Products; Steel; and Eletric Power.
 * Population: Approximately 6.7 million people.
 * Population Below Poverty Line: 19.4%
 * Exporting Countries: Brazil 21%; Uruguay 17%; Chile 12%; Argentina 11%; and Russia 4%.
 * Importing Countries: China 30%; Brazil23%; Argentina 16%; United States of America 5%.
 * Debt: $3.22 Billion (nothing compared to the U.S.A.'s).
 * Tricks: Paraguay often imports products and supplies from other countries. It then exports to other countries to make a profit.
 * Economic Growth: The economy grew rapidly in 2003- 2008.
 * Corporations: A lot of Companies in Paraguay are big on soy. Basically, the economy feeds off of agricultural products.
 * Economic Type: Mixed
 * Economic Drive: The economy drives off of agriculture.
 * Work: Unemployment and underemployment is very common.
 * Age: Luckily, Paraguay has a very young population.
 * Goverment: The government welcomes foreign investment.
 * Tourism: Tourism is not as high as Paraguay would like it to be.
 * U.S.: The U.S. uses lots of materials from Paraguay's tropical forests.
 * Terrorists: Along with the U.S., Paraguay is fighting againat terrorism.
 * Drugs: Paraguay has lots of boundaries that are ungaurded so drugs cartels are able to sneak drugs across the border.
 * Links: []]]. These two sites are where I got my information.



= __Geography__ = Explore the luscious forests, towns, waterfalls, and rivers Paraguay has to offer with this video. media type="youtube" key="UTaS7NNH2qI" height="315" width="780" Gather some basic information about the area in Paraguay [|here]. []. Also... California-size Paraguay is surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina in south-central South America. Eastern Paraguay, between the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, is upland country with the thickest population settled on the grassy slope that inclines toward the Paraguay River. The greater part of the Chaco region to the west is covered with marshes, lagoons, dense forests, and jungles.

Climate []

Wildlife Paraguay abounds with animal wildlife. Marsh deer, monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, otters, wild boars, tapirs, jaguars, ocelots, bats, and the coypu all make Paraguay their home. A small number of Chacoan peccaries live in the Chaco. Some types of caimans, especially yacarés, parrots, and macaws live in Paraguay, although their population is dwindling because of illegal trading. Armadillos, snakes, and iguanas can be found in Paraguay as well. There are many amazing species of exotic birds, including parakeets, rheas, ibises, herons, toucans, eagles, falcons, and doves.

Citations

"WEATHER AND CLIMATE IN PARAGUAY". South Travels. 5/17/10 . "What animal life is in Paraguay?". Wiki Answers. 5/18/10 . "Paraguay". infoplease. 5/18/10 .

= __Government__ = Paraguay known as the Republic of Paraguay, is the republic type for their government (constitutional republic). According to the constitution Paraguay was a representative democracy, but this eventually changed because the parties started looking forward to a dictatorship. In this system the cheif of state is the president who is the president of all Paraguay. The president has a term or 5 years and is voted by the people. Their system is closely related to ours, because the U.S has legislation, judicial, and executive and so does Paraguay. There are 18 departments which are Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, and San Pedro.



Paraguays government is not the best because of its suffrage for 18 years in their first 60 years they gained independence from Spain. The rest of the time before 1992 their government remained steady. When 1992 came, Paraguays constitution was declared and their legal system followed laws from Argentina, France, and the Romans. They followed some of these laws because they thought that laws that they picked made sense.

Crime in Paraguay has been steadily rising throughout 2009, more kidnapping has been done than usual, and an increase in weapons has threatened Paraguay in many situations. The government of Paraguay has been working on this by increasing the amount of security by raising the taxes. Although this plan has not worked because the government was lacking this and are hitting drugs harder. The government will look forward to another plan to stopping these crimes because it is really affecting Paraguays society.

As you are about to see in this video the police have found drugs and they are currently hitting this topic hard because South America has been facing problems with drugs and Paraguay wants to do the most to decrease as much drugs as possible. Paraguay will keep looking forward to this until they have least amount of drugs are at hand because they don't want to face the problems other countries will have later on. Drugs are also affecting tourism and Paraguay wants to be as much of a paradise to their tourist. The penalties differ because first of all if you are from another country you won't get a penalty as big as the people from Paraguay. Second of all it depends on what type and the amount of the drug. Basically the penalty is from 10-30 years of jail.

media type="youtube" key="t8qOnt-RT9g" height="385" width="480"Drugs in Paraguay is very major, but it seems that Paraguays government is very strict when it comes to drugs. In this video you only saw one person getting caught, but everyday they catch alot of people on drugs.

To see the statistics for the Paraguayan government click [|here]

Special Thanks to...

"Paraguay." __WorldRover__. 1998. May 24, 2010 [].

__Paraguay-Government__. 2006 MapsofWorld.com. May 22,2010 [].

__Paraguay__. November 03, 2009 Travel.State.Gov. May 24, 2010 [].

"Paraguay-Taxation." __Encyclopedia of the Nations__. 2010. May 24, 2010 []

= __History__ =

Paraguay gained independence from Spain on May 14, 1811, and became a Republic in 1967. Asuncion was founded in 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar y Espinoza. Indians first ruled and found Paraguay. In the first 60 years of independence, Paraguay had three dictators. Francisco Lopez, the third of the three, declared war against Bolivia, Uruguay , Brazil , inand Argentina , from 1865 to 1870. Paraguay’s people then wrote a constitution to prevent any further dictatorships (1870) which did not work, until 1912, when relative economic and social stability arose. In 1932, the Chaco War gained Paraguay more land to the west of it. Alfred Stroessner became the dictator in 1954 (nine years after WWII), and ended his rule in 1989, with the US right behind him. He was overthrown by General Andres Rodriguez, who was voted as President in the first multicandidate election in a //really// long time. The Paraguayans then made yet another constitution, which came into effect in 1992. The current president of Paraguay is Fernando Lugo, elected on April 22, 2008, and was sworn in on August 15 of that year.

media type="youtube" key="jfWFr671nJo" height="385" width="480"This is a video on the Chaco War

Works Cited for History: "Paraguay Information." //World Travel Guide//. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010..

"Paraguay: History, Geography, Government, and Culture — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help. — Infoplease.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2010. < [|http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107879.html] >.

For some cool facts about this great country, go [|here]. Back to Top