Paraguay

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay, pron. IPA , Guarani: Tetã Paraguái), is a landlocked country in South America. It lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, bordering Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. The name of the country means "water that goes to the water," derived from the Guaraní words pará ("ocean"), gua ("to/from"), and y ("water"). The expression in Guaraní often refers solely to Asunción, but in Spanish refers to the entire country.

History

Europeans first arrived in the area in the early 16th century and the settlement of Asunción was founded on August 15, 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar. The city eventually became the centre of a Spanish colonial province, as well as a primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the 18th century. Paraguay declared its independence by overthrowing the local Spanish authorities on May 14, 1811.
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865–1870), Paraguay lost 140,000 square kilometres (54,000 sq mi) of territory (e.g. the Misiones region) and suffered a huge loss of its male population. Tradition holds that up to two thirds or more of the adult male population was killed, but some argue that upon analysis from historic records and census reports, this figure is greatly exaggerated.

Paraguay gained a large part of its current territory at the expense of Bolivia, in the aftermath of the Chaco War, the culmination of a long series of border disputes between the two countries.They tried to settle their claims diplomatically along the second half of the 19th century. Successive negotiations failed to produce a definitive agreement, and Paraguay established its jurisdiction by encouraging the settlement of the largely unpopulated Chaco area. By 1935, Bolivia had regrouped and was able to stop the advance of the Paraguayan army. Exhausted by a long war, and having expanded its territory considerably, Paraguay accepted the mediation of the League of Nations.

Politics

Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Administrative divisions

Paraguay is divided into 17 departments, each with its own administrative capital, and one capitol district. The capitals of the departments are provided in parentheses.{#Alto Paraguay (Fuerte Olimpo)#Alto Paraná (Ciudad del Este)#Amambay (Pedro Juan Caballero)#Asunción Capitol District (Asunción)#Boquerón (Filadelfia)#Caaguazú (Coronel Oviedo)#Caazapá (Caazapá)#Canindeyú (Salto del Guairá)#Central (Areguá)

10. Concepción (Concepción)
11. Cordillera (Caacupé)
12. Guairá (Villarrica)
13. Itapúa (Encarnación)
14. Misiones (San Juan Bautista)
15. Ñeembucú (Pilar)
16. Paraguarí (Paraguarí)
17. Presidente Hayes (Pozo Colorado)
18. San Pedro (San Pedro)