La Victoria District, Paraguay
Encyclopedia
Puerto Casado is one of the 4 districts in Alto Paraguay, 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 includes the town of La Victoria or Puerto La Victoria, which has a population of around 6,000.

History and Tourism

Founded in 1889 in time of President Patricio Escobar
Patricio Escobar
-His life:He was born in San José de los Arroyos on March 17, 1843. His parents were José Escobar and Ana Bella Cáceres. He was married first with Ignacia Garcete and later with Estalación E. The General Escobar was a hero in War of Paraguay against the Triple Alliance.He was a private in the base...

, formerly known as Angel Custodio. It was based on Enterprise Taninera Carlos Casado, which is also called "Puerto Casado." Elevated by district in 1973.

This was used as a port of embarkation and disembarkation point for Paraguayan troops on their way to fight the Bolivians during the Chaco War
Chaco 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...

.

The Carlos Casado Company came to have more than 5,000,000 hectares in the Paraguayan Chaco, today the factory is shut down. It is from here that Mennonites and Paraguayan soldiers passed, using the narrow-gauge trains of the Chaco Central railroad that extended 145 km west from the River Paraguay.

In Puerto Casado there are places of historical epoch of the Chaco War
Chaco 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...

, the first Mennonite settlers arrived here in 1920.

Galvan Hill is located 5 km south of "Kilometro 11," the former railway station that left from Puerto Casado. The boat makes a high Aquidabán here, part of Concepcion
Concepción, Paraguay
- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...

. Another boat that is here for the "Cacique II," which part of Asuncion
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...

 for Vallemí.

At Galvan Hill one can still see the old railroad tracks. Here Emiliano R. Fernández
Emiliano R. Fernández
Emiliano R. Fernández was born on August 8, 1894, in Yvysunu, Guarambare, Paraguay. His parents were Silvestre Fernandez and Bernarda Rivarola.-Childhood and youth:He is the author of more than 2,000 poems...

 wrote his poem "The Fashion" in 1926. This is the first railroad station of importance along the railroad.

The railway was built by the company for the extraction of timber, with nearly 150 km of narrow gauge track into the heart of the Chaco. The same route of the railway was extended up to 160 km, which enabled the Paraguayan troops in campaign to access the fortresses to stop the advance of Bolivians in this vast territory during the Chaco War.

During the Chaco War
Chaco 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...

 of the railroad was vital to transport soldiers, arms, ammunition, supplies, vehicles, fuel, medicines and wounded.

The old Kilometro 11 station, a former house that was part of the old railway station of the Carlos Casado Company, is one of the historic landmarks still standing in the locality.

With the sale of public lands in the late nineteenth century was established company Carlos Casado Ltda., which acquired in 1886 over 3000 square miles (7,770 km²), about 5,625,000 hectares, was devoted to logging and production of tannin. Tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...

 is a substance extracted from the "quebracho" tree, used for tanning hides. The son of the founder, José Casado, arrived in 1929 to manage the site, lived on site until 1945.

During the Chaco War, the facilities were used as workshops for all kinds of machinery, armaments, especially motor vehicles, before being sent into battle. It also was used as river port and military post.

In 1931 the Command Infantry Division was installed at the port, José Félix Estigarribia
José Félix Estigarribia
Marshal José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde was a decorated Paraguayan war hero and President of Paraguay for the Liberal party. Educated as an agronomist, he joined the national Army in 1910 and spent time in Chile and in Saint Cyr's military academy in France for additional training...

 accepted the post of Commander that he proposed the then president Joseph P. Guggiari
José Patricio Guggiari
José Patricio Guggiari Corniglione was a Paraguayan politician.He was a doctor in law and social sciences, and a general attorney . He went on to found the liberal Constitutional Party, and was elected as congressman in . He was designated Minister of Internal Affairs in 1920, and in 1922...

 since late July, 1931 Estigarribia was already installed there. When the new commander settled in the place, the owner of the factory provided him with a house, called "La Chaqueña", a large and comfortable residence located in the city centre.

Emiliano R. Fernandez, popular poet and musician, often called the "northern poet," to 1923 was in Puerto Casado, where he performed several tasks. Often his works are signed as having been written in Alto Paraguay.

As for handicrafts, in the early 80's a former worker of the company had the idea of making a guampa (mate cup) for his own use from pieces of the stainless steel that was used to store tannin. The idea was warmly accepted and began to receive orders and the manufacturer improved technology and creating new models of guampa for drinking mate and terere. Today these are manufactured in various designs on special orders for gifts or as souvenirs of Puerto Casado.

In the Paraguay and Apa Rivers and in the many streams in the area, an important tourist activity is fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

.

Etymology

Puerto Casado is a company town founded by the Compañía Carlos Casado, established in the city of Rosario (Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

). For many years, quebracho logs were processed into tannin here. In the late 1990s, the company ceased production and the tannin operation was closed down.

Climate

The climate is tropical, with a maximum of 45 degrees Celsius in summer, and a minimum of 9 degrees Celsius in winter. The average is 25 degrees. We present long drought followed by torrential rains.

Geography

The terrain is a plain that does not exceed 300 meters above sea level. There are sporadic and undulations of fertile land, used for agriculture and animal husbandry.

Demography

La Victoria has a total of 6,489 inhabitants, of whom 3304 are men and 3185 women, according to estimates by the Directorate General of Statistics, Census and Surveys.

Economy

Its main business is animal husbandry. Previously the company was located here taninera Carlos Casado Ltda.

One of the largest companies in the country was the company Carlos Casado, former factory tannin, about the company looks at the homes of former employees and owners, as well as the old Hotel de Puerto Casado.

Pilgrimage "Ñanda Yvyrekávo"

In search of our land,Guarani', with whom he traveled nearly 600 km from Puerto Casado to Asuncion, 156 km for six days on foot and the rest by truck. The villagers say it is the longest in the social struggle in the country. They call on the government to expropriate the property sold by the Casado Company to Moon Sect, which includes the district.

Transportation

You can reach the town by Transchaco Highway (National Route N° 9), to the junction of the Pioneers, located 409 km from Asunción, then an unpaved road to Puerto Casado, about 230 km east, this is the Amalia Route.

In Puerto Casado there is a landing strip for aircraft, and one can also get to Puerto Casado by riverboat.

Sources

  • World Gazetter: Paraguay – World-Gazetteer.com
  • Geography Illustrated 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...

    , Distributed Arami SRL, 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
  • Geography of Paraguay, First Edition 1999, Publisher Hispanic Paraguay SRL


External links

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