Location: Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil

Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 406,750 sq km
land area: 397,300 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries: total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined

Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west

Terrain: 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

Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 39%
forest and woodland: 35%
other: 5%

Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health hazards for many urban residents
natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban

Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

NOTE: The information regarding Paraguay on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Paraguay Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Paraguay Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.