International disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined
Climate: subtropical; 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 lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese,
limestone
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 39%
forest and woodland: 35%
other: 5%
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of
forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many
urban residents
natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
but not ratified - Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Wetlands
Geographic note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil
People ———
Population: 5,504,146 (July 1996 est.)