Department of Alto Paraná

Alto Paraná is one of the seventeen departments that, together with Asunción, make up the Republic of Paraguay. It is located in the east of the eastern region of the country, bordered to the north by Canindeyú, to the east by the Paraná River that separates it from Brazil and Argentina, to the south by Itapúa, and to the west by Caazapá and Caaguazú. With 830,943 inhabitants in 2020, it is the second most populous department —behind Central—; with 14,895 km², the seventh largest —behind Boquerón, Alto Paraguay, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro, Concepción and Itapúa—; and with 55 inhab/km², the third most densely populated, behind Central and Cordillera. Its capital and most populous district is Ciudad del Este, which is home to 37% of the departmental population, while its metropolitan area concentrates the 65% of the total.

Throughout its history, human settlements in this area were almost non-existent, due to the thick jungle that constituted the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest. It is probably one of the first territories of present-day Paraguay to be discovered and traveled by Europeans, following the expedition of Alejo García between 1524 or 1525. In 1542, the Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca arrived in this area, after a long journey from the Island of Santa Catarina, and in this expedition he discovered and described the Iguazú Falls. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, it was a transit area for bandeirantes and indigenous raids that harassed the easternmost Spanish towns and the Jesuit reductions located further south of the current territory of Paraguay. It was only at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th that the small permanent factories of companies that were dedicated to the lumber-yerbatera exploitation in the area were established. Finally, in 1945 the department of Alto Paraná was created.

Its economy, which contributes 15% to the country's GDP, is based mainly on agriculture and is the largest soybean producer in the country. On the other hand, the three hydroelectric power plants located on the main rivers of Alto Paraná make it one of the territories with the highest electro-hydraulic power generation worldwide. Also, both livestock and industry have a significant place in the economy of the department.

History

There were numerous foundations in this area of the country at the time of the Colony in the 17th century and during part of the 18th century, various population centers settled in the area, attracted by the promising forestry and yerbatera activities. These urban centers were being organized around military forts that fulfilled the function of defense against the aforementioned bandeirantes attacks. The first urban centers of the area date from that time, such as Curuguaty, Ygatimí, Caaguazú, Lima and Ajos.

After the War of the Triple Alliance, these lands were sold, generating large estates in which the main activities were logging and the cultivation of yerba mate.

At the end of the XIX century, it was a very active port known as Tacurú Pucú, which means high termite mound, through this port, rolls of wood were sent using the course of the Paraná River to the City of Encarnación in jangadas, and food and clothing for the people were brought from Encarnación who worked in the factories.

The department was created on July 10, 1945, separating from the old department of Encarnación (present-day Itapúa) and acquiring part of San Pedro (present-day Canindeyú). Its first capital was Hernandarias. A new territorial modification that occurred on December 7, 1973 created the department of Canindeyú with part of the northern territory of Alto Paraná, thus remaining with its current conformation and the capital was transferred from Hernandarias to Puerto Presidente Stroessner (current Ciudad del Este).

Geography

The department of Alto Paraná is located in the Eastern Region, between parallels 24° 30' and 26' 15' south latitude and meridians 54° 20' and 55° 20' west longitude.

Orography

Saltos del Monday, in President Franco.

Alto Paraná is made up of a combination of narrow valleys through which the tributaries of the Paraná River run and by high and undulating lands with elevations that reach 300 masl.

The areas near the banks of the Paraná River are characterized by the presence of forests that are very deteriorated by indiscriminate felling. In these spaces, reforestation programs have been established, with the cultivation of various species.

Hydrography

Jumps of the Ñacunday, in Ñacunday.

The Paraná River is the department's main water resource. Among the main tributaries of the Paraná are the Acaray, Monday, Itambey, Ñacunday, Limoy, Yñaró, Itabó Guazú, Ypetí, Ycuá Guazú, Yacuí and Pira Pytá rivers. Likewise, numerous streams have connections with the Paraná and its tributaries.

These watercourses are notable for the presence of large rocks that give rise to large waterfalls, including those formed in the Monday and Ñacunday rivers.

The powerful flow of the Paraná and Acaray rivers have been used for the construction of the Itaipu and Acaray hydroelectric plants.

Climate

Alto Paraná has a maximum temperature in summer of 38 °C. The minimum in winter reaches 0 °C. The annual average is 21 °C.

It has abundant rainfall throughout the year, being one of the rainiest departments in the country. Records reach 1725 mm per year. This is the highest figure recorded in the entire country. As a result, the area has a lot of environmental humidity during practically the whole year, a favorable aspect for agricultural tasks.

In winter, there are constant drizzles and mists.

Demographics

Itaipu hydroelectric plant.

The department of Alto Paraná is the second most populous in Paraguay, after Central. It is one of the departments that has experienced the greatest growth since its creation. And to this day, it maintains its high rate of population growth.

Government

The department's highest political authority is the governor, who is elected by direct vote in general elections and serves for a five-year term. The governor is assisted in turn by a departmental board, made up of 21 titular councilors and the same number of substitutes. The election and period of government is the same as that of the governor. The entity into which the department is subdivided is the municipality, whose government is governed by a municipal mayor and a municipal board, which are made up of twelve municipal councilors. Both positions are elected in the municipal elections by direct suffrage and govern for five years.

The department of Alto Paraná is made up of 22 municipalities which, in turn, are divided into neighborhoods (urban areas) and companies (rural areas):

N.o	Municipalities of Alto Paraná	Population (2019)
1	Eastern City	301 815
2	Doctor Juan León Mallorquín	22 460
3	Doctor Raúl Peña	9 448
4	Domingo Martínez de Irala	5 734
5	Hernandarias	79 690
6	Iruña	6 253
7	Itakyry	38 577
8	Juan Emilio O'Leary	26 370
9	Los Cedrales	10 333
10	Mbaracayú	8876
11	Minga Guazú	89 129
12	Minga Porá	15 041
13	Naranjal	6 077
14	Ñacunday	9 524
15	President	101 720
16	San Alberto	12 060
17	San Cristobal	11 162
18	Santa Fe del Paraná	4 256
19	Santa Rita	33 744
20	Santa Rosa del Monday	7 491
21	Tavapy	8 498
22	Yguazú	11 329
	Alto Paraná	819 589

Economy

Formerly in the area, the main activity was logging. At present, the inhabitants are dedicated in part to the industrialization of various varieties of wood such as: cedar, yvyra pyta, lapacho, taperyva guasu, petereby, guatambu, incense, guaica and others. An important activity is the cultivation of eucalyptus as reforestation. The exploitation of the heart of palm is also important.

Approximately 440,000 ha are used for agriculture. Produced: soybean, corn, wheat, mint, cotton, sugar cane, mandarin, sweet orange, tomato, cassava, sweet potato, rice, rainfed, potato, carrot, strawberry, sunflower, pea and ka'a he'e.

It is highlighted that the department appears as one of the departments with the highest yield (KG/HA) in the cultivation of stevia in Paraguay.

In this department cattle and pigs are raised. The breeding of Indian breeds such as the zebu and nelore also stands out. The industry occupies a place of growing importance. There are oil factories, balanced food, sausages, sawmills, rice mills and herbalists, ceramics, heart of palm packaging and dairy products.

Education

The first school founded in 1965 named 354 by the 3 teachers Heriberta Vázquez de Escobar, Juliana del Puerto de Osorio and Fidelina Fleitas under the mandate of the government delegate, Oddone Sarubbi.

Alto Paraná has institutions that provide initial education, basic school education and secondary education. Indigenous groups in the area also receive education. There are also private universities such as the Catholic University, the American University and the National University of the East.

Culture

The Department of Alto Paraná is made up of citizens of diverse origins, which makes multiculturalism a constant. It has important cultural institutions, among which is the Centro de Escritores del Alto Paraná C.E.A.P. founded on July 30, 2006, and works in the Municipal Library of Ciudad del Este; and in the city of Hernandarias it has the Official Headquarters of the Society of Writers of Paraguay - Alto Paraná Branch.

In the departmental capital, there is also the School of Arts and Crafts, which in addition to providing professional training, also provides spaces for the cultural development of the region.

Infrastructure

Among the most important access roads to the department is the Guaraní International Airport in the Minga Guazú district, the second most important in the country, which offers daily flights to Asunción, São Paulo and connections. Likewise, the International Friendship Bridge in Ciudad del Este over the Paraná River that connects it with Foz de Iguazú (Brazil), and another under construction in Presidente Franco. The main land communication routes are:

National routes

• Route PY-02, which crosses from east to west and unites Ciudad del Este with Asunción (343 km) (in doubling).
• Route PY-06, linking Minga Guazú with Incarnation. (248 km).
• Route PY-07, which unites Captain Meza (Itapúa) with Pindotý Porá (Canindeyú), crossing all Alto Paraná (417 km) (in works).
• Route PY-10, linking Naranjal with Paraguarí (242 km).
• Route PY-21, which links Indian Port with Juan de Mena (309 km) (in works).

Departmental Routes

Media

It has various air and cable television channels, an automatic telephone exchange and numerous radio stations. In Modulated Amplitude: Radio Parque, Itapirú, Magnífica, América, Concierto, La voz de Hernandarias, Cedro Ty, Corpus del Este and Minga Guazú. In Modulated Frequency: Guarani, Progress, Integration, Eastern, Virtual, Education, Yguazú, Naranjal, Transparaná, Pioneer, Transcontinental, Santa Rita, Pentagram and El Portal de Itapúa. It also has several daily edition newspapers that circulate in Ciudad del Este and the metropolitan area (ADN, Tnpress and La Jornada), each one with its digital portal. Weeklies and magazines that are distributed nationwide are also published.

Sports

Soccer is the most popular sport, with one club in the Paraguayan First Division, Club Atlético 3 de Febrero, two in the Intermediate Division, Cerro Porteño PF and Paranaense FC, and one team in the Third Paraguayan Division of Club Deportivo Sol del Este. Rugby in Ciudad del Este shows rapid growth. Here are the most competitive futsal and skating clubs in the country, basketball is also a very popular sport, there are also handball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, golf and rowing. Alto Paraná counts in the National Indoor Soccer Championship with 2 great powers at the national level as the case of the Franco Indoor Soccer Team and the Paranaense Futsal Team, these being together with the Amambay Futsal Team the most winning teams, who have 9 titles (Paranaense) and 10 titles (President Franco) each at the national level. It also has other minor leagues such as Hernandarias, Mallorquín and Minga Guazú.

Tourism

This department offers a very rich, varied and attractive nature, represented mainly by the Acaray river, the Paraná river and its tributaries. In Ciudad del Este is the Park and Lake of the Republic, an artificial lake formed by the waters of the Amambay stream and which serves as the lungs of the city. This space was created with the collaboration of all the municipalities of the country. Other tourist attractions in the department are modern engineering works that are highly admired by visitors such as: the Friendship Bridge, which links Paraguay and Brazil, the Itaipu Binacional hydroelectric complex, and the Acaray hydroelectric dam. Among the main attractions are: