The location of Paraguay is Central South America with an area of 406.752 square kilometers (252.1863 sq miles). It is bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.
Landlocked Paraguay is divided in half by the river of the same name. The hot, plain land west of the river, known as the Great Chaco is sparsely settled. In this region there are cattle raising ranches, and the ecosystem is virtually untouched.
Though the country was once a colony of Spain, Paraguay is bilingual: both Spanish and Guarani -the native language- are official languages. A big percentage of the population speaks both, but in cities Spanish is most frequently used.
Paraguay lies below the equator, with summer season during the months of October through May. The weather is generally hot, and humid. It usually rains all year around, but the rainiest season is July through September.
Life throughout the country preserves an old-fashion pace, and it is still possible to see Native Paraguayans selling feathered headdresses, bows and arrows in squares down town the Capital city.
Asunción, the capital city in the eastern region is the economic hub.
The majority of the country’s population lives in the more verdant eastern half.
Paraguay has a population of approximately 6 million, most settled in the eastern region and almost half of them in urban areas. Asunción and surrounding communities (known as Greater Asuncion) have a population of approximately one million. Those communities are: Fernando de la Mora, Lambare, Luque, Ñemby, San Antonio, San Lorenzo, Villa Elisa, and Ypane.
Other bigger cities are: Capiata, Ciudad del Este, Encarnacion, and Concepcion.
In present days, Paraguay is a member of the MERCOSUR (Common Market of the South), together with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Associated states are Bolivia, Chile Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.
