Filadelfia
Encyclopedia
Filadelfia is the capital of Boquerón Department
in the Gran Chaco
of western Paraguay
. It is the centre of the Fernheim Colony
. It is about a 5 hour drive from the capital of Asunción
.
, but was little affected. It became divided in the Second World War, with some of the originally German colonists supporting the Nazis
and later being expelled.
, a library
, a radio station
and a hospital. The colony's villages lie around Filadelfia, as do several native reserves, home to much of the area's native population, from the Chulupí, Lengua, Toba-Pilaga, Sanapaná
and Ayoreo
groups. A modern supermarket is located in the centre of the town, which is the last place to get groceries before heading farther out into the Chaco
. Most of the town's potable water supply is drawn from underground cisterns, being replenished by intermittent rainfall; the underground water is too salty to drink. A small commemorative park known as Parque Trebol lies about 5 km (3 mi) to the east of town. It now serves as a place for visitors to camp for the night.
. From this point onwards, the road to the border town fort General Eugenio A. Garay
with Bolivia is almost impassable.
.
Boquerón Department
Boquerón is a department in the western region of Paraguay. It is the country's largest department, with an area of , but its population is only 45,617 . The department includes the Russian Mennonite colonies of Fernheim, Menno and its administrative center Loma Plata and Neuland. The capital is...
in the Gran Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
of western Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It is the centre of the Fernheim Colony
Fernheim Colony
Fernheim Colony is a Russian Mennonite settlement of about 5000 in the Chaco of Paraguay. Mennonites from the Soviet Union founded it between 1930 and 1932. Filadelfia is the administrative center of the colony...
. It is about a 5 hour drive from the capital of Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
.
History
Filadelfia was founded in 1930 by Russian Mennonites who fled from the Soviet Union. Filadelfia lay near the front of the Chaco WarChaco War
The Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region of South America, which was incorrectly thought to be rich in oil. It is also referred to as La Guerra de la Sed in literary circles for being fought in the semi-arid Chaco...
, but was little affected. It became divided in the Second World War, with some of the originally German colonists supporting the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and later being expelled.
Infrastructure
Today the town is home to a museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
and a hospital. The colony's villages lie around Filadelfia, as do several native reserves, home to much of the area's native population, from the Chulupí, Lengua, Toba-Pilaga, Sanapaná
Sanapana
The Sanapana were one of many nomadic tribes inhabiting the lower Gran Chaco of western Paraguay. With the introduction of Mennonite settlements in the central Chaco in the 1930s, many nomadic tribes semi-settled near the Mennonites. The Mennonites established Missions to many of these tribes,...
and Ayoreo
Ayoreo
The Ayoreo are a native ethnic group living on Gran Chaco, in an area among rivers Paraguay, Pilcomayo, Parapetí and Grande, stretching both in Bolivia and Paraguay. They speak the Ayoreo language, which is classified under Zamucoan, a small language family of Paraguay and Bolivia...
groups. A modern supermarket is located in the centre of the town, which is the last place to get groceries before heading farther out into the Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
. Most of the town's potable water supply is drawn from underground cisterns, being replenished by intermittent rainfall; the underground water is too salty to drink. A small commemorative park known as Parque Trebol lies about 5 km (3 mi) to the east of town. It now serves as a place for visitors to camp for the night.
Transportation
The newly asphalted highway from Asunción continues past Filadelfia for another 70 km (43.5 mi) and runs out at the military checkpoint Mariscal EstigarribiaMariscal Estigarribia
Mariscal Estigarribia is a town in the Boquerón Department, Paraguay.- Strategic importance :Mariscal Estigarribia is home to Dr. Luis Maria Argaña International Airport , which some media reports claim is a US military base set up to provide access to the strategic Triple Frontera region.400 US...
. From this point onwards, the road to the border town fort General Eugenio A. Garay
General Eugenio A. Garay
General Eugenio Alejandrino Garay is a village in the Boquerón Department of Paraguay.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
with Bolivia is almost impassable.
Notable residents
A distinguished Russian Mennonite writer and historian living in Filadelfia is Peter P. KlassenPeter P. Klassen
Peter P. Klassen is a Russian Mennonite author living in Paraguay and writing in German language.Peter P. Klassen fled with his parents from Russia to Paraguay, arriving there in 1931. He has had a distinguished career as the premier historian of Mennonites in South America...
.
External links
- Filadelfia (Fernheim Colony, Boquerón Department, Paraguay) at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia OnlineGlobal Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia OnlineThe Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online is an online encyclopedia of topics relating to Mennonites and Anabaptism. The mission of the project is to provide free, reliable, English-language information on anabaptist-related topics....
- The 'Green Hell' Becomes Home: Mennonites in Paraguay as Described in the Writings of Peter P. Klassen A review essay by Gerhard Reimer, Mennonite Quarterly Review 76, no. 4 (October 2002): 460-480.