Rivers of Paraguay
Encyclopedia
Rivers meant, in the absence of usable roads, natural ways to access the more remote territories of Paraguay
. Some of them, the major tributaries of Paraguay and Parana, enabled navigation on a small scale, and smaller boats with limited use in times of drought due to decreasing flow of water flows.
Among the subsidiary of the left bank of the Paraguay River are:
Historically it had strategic importance by the Portuguese, who continuously attempted to control this communication channel to access to the Paraguay River
, which was a fast way to access the gold mines of Cuyabá.
The whole area surrounding the river was committed to defending the sovereignty of Paraguay
in the delicate dispute with Portugal for the possession of the region that produced mate herb in Igatimí
.
The town of Curuguaty
is accessed by the Jejui River, when the water level allowed it. The overland journey from Asunción consumed much time because of the distance and natural difficulties of crossing jungles and rivers.
This town, like others in remote parts of the country, suffered from a sharp isolation. For that reason Curuguaty was chosen by the dictator José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
as a place of imprisonment of the Uruguayan leader General Jose Gervasio Artigas
when he applied for asylum in Paraguay.
In the boom of the mate herb production there was a constant movement of small-size boats coming up ports of Itaba and Ysaú. The first was a major point of embarkation of mate
, belonging to the powerful Paraguayan Industrial Company, established shortly after the War of the Triple Alliance
.
The river's opening, close to 24 degrees south
latitude, was an active meeting place for traders engaged in the provision of goods for crews of boats and residents of neighboring villages. There workers spent their meager assets after they had worked for long months. There were piles of firewood in the canyons of the river - basic material for the operation of boilers and steam plants - and thousands of rolls of hardwood accumulated waiting to be shipped to ports below.
The loss of coastal mountains filled up the river's banks with wastes and this decreased the depth of its waters. Later, the construction of overland routes produced, moreover, the abandonment of this route as a means of communication.
.
At the port of this population came small motor boats engaged in trade of national fruits and passengers transport. The Manduvirá ends in the Paraguay River, a short distance from Asunción
, destiny of passengers and pedestrians who accompanied their loads of fruit
, tobacco
and alcohol
.
, especially from Corrientes
. They reached the passage of Santa Maria
, current Villa Florida
, where strong commercial firms were established. These firms engaged in distributing their merchandize to a variety of peoples. As their return, these boats carried cotton and firewood to the city of Pilar
.
The first study of its geography
was done by the Spanish naturalist
Felix de Azara
, who wrote a booklet on the details of the expedition conducted by his aides.
The water channel suffered the same deterioration, as a result of the misuse of their sources and adjacent wetlands.
, the Monday River is significant, with an area of 170 km.
This river rises in the mountains of Caaguazú and poured water on the right bank of Paraná River, a short distance from the mouth of the River Iguazu.
There are recent references that flatboats and tugboats transported mate and wood in the short journey between the Caaguazú jungle factories. These were close to the famous Saltos del Monday
, that ended in the Paraná River, where cargo was transferred to larger capacity ships.
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...
. Some of them, the major tributaries of Paraguay and Parana, enabled navigation on a small scale, and smaller boats with limited use in times of drought due to decreasing flow of water flows.
Paraguay river tributaries
The Jejui River
The Jejui River covers an area of approximately 350 km. It receives water from rivers Jejui-mi and the Jejui Guazú, in addition to substantial influx of the Aguaray River. Near its emerging flow together the Curuguaty River and the stream Itanará.Historically it had strategic importance by the Portuguese, who continuously attempted to control this communication channel to access to the Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
, which was a fast way to access the gold mines of Cuyabá.
The whole area surrounding the river was committed to defending the sovereignty of 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...
in the delicate dispute with Portugal for the possession of the region that produced mate herb in Igatimí
Ygatimi
Ygatimí is a town in the Canendiyú department of Paraguay.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
.
The town of Curuguaty
Curuguaty
Curuguaty is a city in the Canindeyú Department of Paraguay, that was the 4th capital of Paraguay during the War against the Triple Alliance.-Toponimy:...
is accessed by the Jejui River, when the water level allowed it. The overland journey from Asunción consumed much time because of the distance and natural difficulties of crossing jungles and rivers.
This town, like others in remote parts of the country, suffered from a sharp isolation. For that reason Curuguaty was chosen by the dictator José Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
as a place of imprisonment of the Uruguayan leader General Jose Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas
José Gervasio Artigas is a national hero of Uruguay, sometimes called "the father of Uruguayan nationhood".-Early life:Artigas was born in Montevideo on June 19, 1764...
when he applied for asylum in Paraguay.
Navigation
The river maintained in the past a greater flow by the regularity of rain and humidity sustained by its extensive forests. Until the middle of twentieth century it was common to observe in its lower reaches, the transit of boats transporting hardwoods and mate.In the boom of the mate herb production there was a constant movement of small-size boats coming up ports of Itaba and Ysaú. The first was a major point of embarkation of mate
Yerba mate
Maté, yerba maté or erva maté , Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay...
, belonging to the powerful Paraguayan Industrial Company, established shortly after the War of the Triple Alliance
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
.
The river's opening, close to 24 degrees south
24th parallel south
The 24th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 24 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane, about 60km south of the Tropic of Capricorn...
latitude, was an active meeting place for traders engaged in the provision of goods for crews of boats and residents of neighboring villages. There workers spent their meager assets after they had worked for long months. There were piles of firewood in the canyons of the river - basic material for the operation of boilers and steam plants - and thousands of rolls of hardwood accumulated waiting to be shipped to ports below.
The loss of coastal mountains filled up the river's banks with wastes and this decreased the depth of its waters. Later, the construction of overland routes produced, moreover, the abandonment of this route as a means of communication.
The Manduvirá River
A similar phenomenon occurred with the Manduvirá River of 212 km long. It is born in the Cordillera de los Altos and moves from east to west. For many years this was the alternative to reach isolated villages like Arroyos y EsterosArroyos y Esteros
Arroyos y Esteros is a district of the Cordillera Department, Paraguay.-Etymology:Its name describes exactly the real aspect of this place, which is surrounded by swamps and streams...
.
At the port of this population came small motor boats engaged in trade of national fruits and passengers transport. The Manduvirá ends in the Paraguay River, a short distance from 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...
, destiny of passengers and pedestrians who accompanied their loads of fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
, tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
The Tebicuary River
The 235 km Tebicuary River drains at 23º30' south Latitude. Long ago such rivers served as communication between the area of Ñeembucú and the inland territories inside the old Jesuit missions. Through this river smaller vessels entered to transport goods from ArgentinaArgentina
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...
, especially from Corrientes
Corrientes
Corrientes is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about from Buenos Aires and from Posadas, on National Route 12...
. They reached the passage of Santa Maria
Santa María, Paraguay
Santa María de Fe is a town and district located in the Misiones department in Paraguay, located about 15 km from the city of San Ignacio.-Geography:The district of Santa María de Fe is located in the Eastern Region of Paraguay...
, current Villa Florida
Villa Florida
Villa Florida is a city of southernmost Paraguay, located on the Tebicuary River, at the entrance of Misiones Region. Initially, when it was established by the Jesuits in 1632, it was called Paso Santa María. It was officially founded as a city on September 6, 1880 during Bernardino Caballero's...
, where strong commercial firms were established. These firms engaged in distributing their merchandize to a variety of peoples. As their return, these boats carried cotton and firewood to the city of Pilar
Pilar, Paraguay
Pilar is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Ñeembucú, located along the Paraguay River in the southwestern part of the country. Located about from Asunción, Pilar serves as an important center of commerce and government for the far southwestern region of the country.- History :Pilar...
.
The first study of its geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
was done by the Spanish naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
Felix de Azara
Félix de Azara
Félix Manuel de Azara was a Spanish military officer, naturalist and engineer. He was born in Barbunales, Aragon....
, who wrote a booklet on the details of the expedition conducted by his aides.
The water channel suffered the same deterioration, as a result of the misuse of their sources and adjacent wetlands.
The Monday River
Among the tributaries of the Paraná RiverParaná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, the Monday River is significant, with an area of 170 km.
This river rises in the mountains of Caaguazú and poured water on the right bank of Paraná River, a short distance from the mouth of the River Iguazu.
There are recent references that flatboats and tugboats transported mate and wood in the short journey between the Caaguazú jungle factories. These were close to the famous Saltos del Monday
Saltos del Monday
-Location:The Municipal Park Monday and its main attraction, the break of Monday, are located in the District of Presidente Franco, Alto Paraná Department, Paraguay, located between 25 ° 33'40, 6 and 54 ° 38'00,1 latitude, occupying an area of .-Weather:...
, that ended in the Paraná River, where cargo was transferred to larger capacity ships.