Caraguatay (), ''

Guaraní Guarani, Guaraní or Guarany may refer to Ethnography * Guaraní people, an indigenous people from South America's interior (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia) * Guarani language, or Paraguayan Guarani, an official language of Paraguay * G ...

: Karaguatay'') is a ''distrito'' and town located in the Vapor Cué region of the

Cordillera Department Cordillera () is a department in Paraguay. The capital is the city of Caacupé. History During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries this area of the country was going through a serious crisis due to population bellicosity of the Indians f ...

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

. The livelihood of most citizens includes farming, fishing, and local trading.

Climate

The climate in this department is mild and dry. The average temperature is 22 °C, in summer reaches 39 °C and in winter drops to 3 °C.

Demography

Caraguatay had a population of 11,568, including 6,045 men and 5,523 women, at the 2002 census. Many of its inhabitants traveled to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

to work, and send remittances to their families. Building work in the city shows the great investment that this income provided.

History

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

family Franco founded the city on 24 September 1770, during the

governorate A governorate or governate is an administrative division headed by a governor. As English-speaking nations tend to call regions administered by governors either states or provinces, the term ''governorate'' is typically used to calque divisions ...

of Carlos Morphi, on the banks of Yhaguy River. This locality was previously called Puesto Mbocajaty and included the areas of Iriarte, Ybyraity and Yeguarizo. It is one of the oldest localities of the country. It possesses a beautiful

colonial architecture Colonial architecture is a hybrid architectural style that arose as colonists combined architectural styles from their country of origin with design characteristics of the settled country. Colonists frequently built houses and buildings in a sty ...

, with well-cared-for gardens and streets.

Economy

Employment is focused on

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

and cattle. Many of its people have gone to work in other countries, specially the

, and the receiving of remittances is the greatest city income.

Tourism

The foundation of the city on 24 September, coincides with the patron saint's festivities of the Virgen De Las Mercedes, in which are organized official, liturgical and student events, in addition to musical and dancing festivals. Celebrations are also held on 14 May, the day of Saint Francis Labrador President

Francisco Solano López Francisco Solano López Carrillo (24 July 1827 or 1826 – 1 March 1870) was a Paraguay, Paraguayan statesman, Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician who served as President of Paraguay between 1862 and 1870, of which he serve ...

and Eliza Lynch used to live in a house in Caraguatay, the house of the Miranda family, before they moved to

San Estanislao San Estanislao de Kostka, usually referred to as San Estanislao and colloquially as Santaní, is a city and district in the department of San Pedro, Paraguay. History San Estanislao was founded on November 13, 1749 by Father Sebastián de Yeg ...

. The Ykuá Ramírez was a camp of the Paraguayan troops during the War of 1870. Close to the city centre and beside the Yhaguy River is the "Vapor Cué National Park", an open-air museum, where the remains of six ships of the Paraguayan forces that participated in the War of 1870 are exhibited. The ships, ''Anhambay'', ''Paraná'', ''Pirabebé''/''Piravevé'', ''Rio Apa'', ''Salto del Guairá'' and ''Yporá'', were set on fire and sunk towards the end of that war, to deny them to the enemy. Beginning in 1978, their remains were recovered and are now displayed, partly restored, alongside other objects, flags and photographs from their time.

How to get there

Caraguatay is 91 kilometers from

Asunción Asunción (, ) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of Asunción in the north ...

, taking the Route number 2. In the center of

Eusebio Ayala Eusebio Ayala Bordenave (August 14, 1875 – June 4, 1942) was a Paraguayan politician who served as the 28th President of Paraguay from 7 November 1921 to 12 April 1923 and again from 15 August 1932 to 17 February 1936. A member of the Liberal ...

, 65 kilometers from Asunción, there is a deviation to the north, which leads to Caraguatay and other cities. In Asunción, from the central bus station, there are several buses that go to Caraguatay.

People from Caraguatay

Three Paraguayan presidents were born in Caraguatay: * Juan Antonio Escurra (1859–1919) * Emiliano González Navero (1861–1940) * José Félix Estigarribia (1888–1940) Others personalities: * José del Rosario Miranda, Vice President from 1886 to 1890

Gallery

Image:Puente Sobre el Río Yhaguy.jpg, A bridge over the Yhaguy river File:Ahnambay 1.jpg, Steamer ''Anhambay'' in Vapor Cué National Park

References

Sources

* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. * Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL

External links

Secretaria Nacional de TurismoWorld Gazeteer: Paraguay
– World-Gazetteer.com
Google map of Caraguatay
{{Authority control Populated places in the Cordillera Department