Itapúa (Spanish pronunciation: [itaˈpu.a]) is a department in the southern region of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Encarnación. It is divided into 30 districts, more than any other district in the country.

Itapúa
Departamento de Itapúa
Flag of Itapúa
Coat of arms of Itapúa
Coordinates: 27°20′S 55°53′W / 27.333°S 55.883°W / -27.333; -55.883
Country Paraguay
Established1906
CapitalEncarnación
Government
 • GovernorJavier Pereira (PLRA)
Area
 • Total16,525 km2 (6,380 sq mi)
Population
 (2002)
 • Total453,692
 • Density27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-04 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-03 (ADT)
ISO 3166 codePY-7
Number of Districts30
Websitehttp://www.itapua.gov.py

History edit

This department was created after the breakup of the Misiones Department, with the city of Encarnación as the capital. It had high economic growth in the first 30 years of the arrival of immigrants and the Carlos Antonio Lopez Railway; the growth was accompanied by several ups and downs.

An era of decline followed until the 1950s when the Carnaval Encarnaceno became better known and attracted tourists from various regions. In the 1980s the department became more industrial, but modestly so compared with other departments like the Central Department.

In 1989 the Yacyretá Dam displaced the people living in the Yacyretá Reservoir; the displacement still continues. The San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge was inaugurated in 1991, connecting not only the city of Encarnación and Posadas, but also Paraguay with Argentina.

Toponymy edit

The name is in Guaraní and refers to the place where Encarnación, the current capital city, was founded. The site was known as "itá" (rock, stone) and "punta" (tip); hence the name means "Tip of the Stone".

Demography edit

According to the 2002 National Census Itapúa has a total population of 453,692 inhabitants making it the third-most populated department of the country after Central and Alto Paraná. 8.9% of Paraguay's total population lives in this department.

Cultural diversity edit

Much of the Itapúa region was colonized by immigrants from different origins, among them the Italians, Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, French, Japanese, Poles, and also immigrants from Syria and Lebanon in more recent times. Because of this cultural diversity Itapúa was given the name "Melting pot", making it the most cosmopolitan department of Paraguay.

In the beginning, the first major economic activity of the immigrants was the exploitation of natural resources, especially timber, in the Alto Paraná and San Rafael Hills (now a national park). Nowadays, residents are engaged in several thriving industries, including agriculture (soybean, tung, corn, etc.) and livestock.

Administrative division edit

The department is divided into the following 30 districts:

District Population (2002) District Population (2002) District Population (2002)
1 Alto Verá 13,799 11 Fram 6,923 21 Nueva Alborada 9,193
2 Bella Vista 9,193 12 General Artigas 11,042 22 Obligado 11,441
3 Cambyretá 9,193 13 General Delgado 6,611 23 Pirapó 6,754
4 Capitán Meza 9,193 14 Hohenau 9,685 24 San Cosme y Damián 7,322
5 Capitán Miranda 9,193 15 Itapúa Poty 14,642 25 San Juan del Paraná 7,091
6 Carlos Antonio López 17,622 16 Jesús 5,560 26 San Pedro del Paraná 28,598
7 Carmen del Paraná 9,193 17 La Paz 3,076 27 San Rafael del Paraná 20,434
8 Coronel Bogado 17,065 18 Leandro Oviedo 4,353 28 Tomás Romero Pereira 27,239
9 Edelira 22,287 19 Mayor Otaño 12,157 29 Trinidad 6,873
10 Encarnación 93,497 20 Natalio 19,456 30 Yatytay 11,415
 

Location edit

This department is located southeast of the Eastern Region of Paraguay.

Limits edit

Climate edit

The climate is humid subtropical with a tendency to low temperatures, the annual average is 15 °C, with a maximum of 40 °C and a minimum of -3 °C. Rainfall is abundant, with an annual average of nearly 1,700 mm, recorded throughout most of the year except in July and August.

See also edit

References edit