Paraná River

The Paraná River is the second-longest river in South America. It flows through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for about 4,880 kilometres (3,030 miles). Only the Amazon River is longer in South America. The Paraná River joins with the Paraguay River and the Uruguay River to form the Río de la Plata, which then flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The first European to travel up the Paraná River was the Venetian explorer Sebastian Cabot in 1526. He was working for Spain at the time.

In 2021, a serious drought made the river's water level drop very low. It was the lowest it had been in 77 years.

Etymology

In eastern South America, many river names come from the Guarani language. Words like "para-" or "parana-" mean "river" or "sea". People have looked for a more exact meaning for the name of this big river, but those ideas are not widely accepted.

Course

The Paraná River starts where the Paranaiba and Rio Grande rivers meet in southern Brazil. It flows southwest for about 619 kilometers to where the Guaíra Falls used to be, now covered by the Itaipu Dam. The river then runs south, forming a border between Paraguay and Brazil, and joins the Iguazu River.

The Paraná continues south, forming the border between Paraguay and Argentina. It flows for about 468 kilometers before turning west for another 820 kilometers to meet the Paraguay River. After joining the Paraguay River, the Paraná turns south again through Argentina, finally merging with the Uruguay River to create the Río de la Plata, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Main article: Paraná Delta

Tributaries

The Paraná River has many smaller rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries.

^*Period: 1971–2000

Uses

The Paraná River and its tributaries form a large area of water in south-central South America. This includes all of Paraguay, much of southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and part of Bolivia. If we add the Uruguay River, it also covers most of Uruguay. The amount of water that flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Río de la Plata is about the same as what flows from the Mississippi River.

People who live near the river use it for food and jobs. Some fish, like the surubí and the sábalo, are important for eating and selling. The river’s delta is a great place for watching birds.

Much of the Paraná River can be used for travel. It connects cities in Argentina and Paraguay to the ocean, giving them deepwater ports. Large dams along the river have changed shipping, but they also help make electricity. The Yacyretá Dam and the Itaipu Dam have helped Paraguay become a big exporter of hydroelectric power.

Navigation rights

Argentina wanted to build a bridge across the Paraná River, either near Asunción or farther south. Paraguay did not support this until the issue of river navigation rights was settled. Argentina also wanted to develop a large hydroelectric power plant at the Apipé Rapids. Paraguay had already built the Acaray Dam, which provided enough energy for the country and extra power to export to Brazil and Argentina.

In late 1965, Paraguay shared a draft treaty with Argentina. The final agreement on navigation rights was signed in January 1973, allowing free navigation on the river and treating each other's ships as if they were their own. Construction started on the Itaipú Dam that same year.

Links across the Paraná

The Paraná River has many bridges. These bridges help people and cars go from one side of the river to the other.