Paraguay River

The Paraguay River (Ysyry Paraguái in Guarani, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese, Río Paraguay in Spanish) is an important river in south-central South America. It flows through Brazil and Paraguay, and helps create parts of the borders between Paraguay-Argentina, Brazil-Bolivia, and Brazil-Paraguay.

The river travels a long distance of about 2,621 kilometres (1,629 miles). It starts in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso and ends where it meets the Paraná River near the cities of Corrientes and Resistencia.

The Paraguay River is very important for the people and animals that live near it. It gives them water to drink and use for farming. It also helps people travel. Many towns and cities need the river for their daily life.

Course

The Paraguay River starts south of Diamantino in Brazil. It flows southwesterly through Cáceres and the Pantanal wetlands, near Corumbá. It runs close to the border between Brazil and Bolivia.

From Puerto Bahia Negra in Paraguay, the river forms the border between Paraguay and Brazil. It then flows south until it meets the Apa River. The river curves to the south-southeast, then continues southwest. It divides Paraguay into two parts: the western Gran Chaco region and the eastern forested areas where most people live. After passing through the center of Paraguay and the capital city, Asunción, the river forms the border with Argentina. Finally, it joins the Paraná River.

Uses

The Paraguay River is a big river in South America. It is the second largest river in the Rio de la Plata Basin, after the Paraná River. Its drainage basin covers a large area. It includes parts of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and most of Paraguay.

Unlike some other big rivers, the Paraguay River has not been dammed for power. This makes it very good for travel over long distances. It is important for shipping and trade. It helps connect landlocked countries like Paraguay and Bolivia to the Atlantic Ocean. The river supports cities such as Asunción and Concepción in Paraguay, and Formosa in Argentina.

The river also gives people fish to eat and water for crops. Many families depend on the river for their living. Sometimes the river floods, and people have to leave their homes until the water goes down. The river is also a nice place for tourists to visit.

History

The original people who lived near the upper Paraguay River were the Guarani peoples.

In the 16th century, an explorer named Sebastian Cabot was the first European to find the Paraguay River. Since then, the river has been very important. It helps connect Paraguay to the rest of the world. Today, it is still used for moving goods on barges.

Wetland controversy

The Paraguay River flows through the Pantanal wetlands, the world's largest tropical wetland. This area covers parts of southern Brazil, northern Paraguay, and Bolivia. The river gives the Pantanal its water.

In 1997, some countries wanted to change the river to help move goods like soybeans. They thought about building dams and changing the river's path. But this could hurt the Pantanal and its animals. People talked about these possible harms, which helped slow down the plans. Today, people still talk about how these changes might affect nature and work.

Water characteristics

The Paraguay River has many different kinds of places where the water looks and acts in special ways. Near a place called Bonito, the water is very clear. Farther down the river, near the Bermejo River, the water carries lots of mud and dirt.

The water in the Paraguay River changes a lot during different times of the year. In the dry season, the water is warm and cloudy. In the wet season, it is cooler and clearer. The upper part of the river stays pretty warm all the time, usually never dropping below 22.5 °C (72.5 °F).

Fauna

The Paraguay River has many kinds of fish, with about 350 species. Most are small and colorful, like tetras, and others are catfish. Some fish swim up the river to lay their eggs, such as Prochilodus lineatus and Pseudoplatystoma corruscans.

The river has some fish that are also found in the Amazon Basin, like the black phantom tetra, which people keep in aquariums, and the golden dorado, which people like to catch to eat.