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Paraguay - Geography (Facts)

Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone Land use: arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005) Irrigated land: 670 sq km (2003) Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country