Itapúa Department

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Itapúa
Departamento de Itapúa
Department
Flag of Itapúa
Flag
Coat of arms of Itapúa
Coat of arms
250px
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Country  Paraguay
Established 1906
Capital Encarnación
Government
 • Governor David Benjamín Franz Kugler (ANR)
Area
 • Total 16,525 km2 (6,380 sq mi)
Population (2002)
 • Total 453,692
 • Density 27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Time zone AST (UTC-04)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-03)
ISO 3166 code PY-7
Number of Districts 30
Website http://www.itapua.gov.py

Itapúa (Spanish pronunciation: [itaˈpu.a]) is a department in the southern region of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Encarnación. It is divided into 30 districts, making it the department with the most districts in the country.

History

This department was created after the breakup of the Misiones Department, with the city of Encarnación as the capital. It had a high economic growth in the first 30 years by the coming of immigrants and the Carlos Antonio Lopez Railway, the growth was accompanied with several ups and downs.

Then came an era of decline until the 50s when the Carnaval Encarnaceno became known and attracted tourists from various regions. In the 80s the department became more industrial, but modestly, compared with other departments like Central Department.

In 1989 the Yacyretá Dam displaced the people living in the Yacyretá Reservoir, which still continues. The San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge was inaugurated in 1991, connecting not only the city of Encarnación and Posadas, but Paraguay with Argentina.

Toponymy

The name is in Guaraní and refers to the place where Encarnación, the current capital city, was founded. The site was known as "itá" (rock, stone) and "punta" (tip); hence the name means "Tip of the Stone".

Demography

According to the 2002 National Census Itapúa has a total population of 453,692 inhabitants making it the third most populated department of the country after Central and Alto Paraná, 8,9% of Paraguay's total population lives in this department.

Cultural diversity

Much of the Itapúa region was colonized by immigrants from different origins, among them are the Italians, Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, French, Japanese, Poles, and recent time there were also immigrants from Syria and Lebanon. Because of this cultural diversity Itapúa was given the name "Melting pot", making it the most cosmopolitan department of Paraguay.

In the beginning, the first economic sector of the immigrants was the exploitation of natural resources, especially timber, in the Alto Paraná and San Rafael Hills, now a national park, but now they hold several thriving industries. They also engaged in agriculture (soybean, tung, corn, etc.) and livestock.

Administrative division

The department is divided into the following 30 districts:

District Population (2002) District Population (2002) District Population (2002)
1 Alto Verá 13,799 11 Fram 6,923 21 Nueva Alborada 9,193
2 Bella Vista 9,193 12 General Artigas 11,042 22 Obligado 11,441
3 Cambyretá 9,193 13 General Delgado 6,611 23 Pirapó 6,754
4 Capitán Meza 9,193 14 Hohenau 9,685 24 San Cosme y Damián 7,322
5 Capitán Miranda 9,193 15 Itapúa Poty 14,642 25 San Juan del Paraná 7,091
6 Carlos Antonio López 17,622 16 Jesús 5,560 26 San Pedro del Paraná 28,598
7 Carmen del Paraná 9,193 17 La Paz 3,076 27 San Rafael del Paraná 20,434
8 Coronel Bogado 17,065 18 Leandro Oviedo 4,353 28 Tomás Romero Pereira 27,239
9 Edelira 22,287 19 Mayor Otaño 12,157 29 Trinidad 6,873
10 Encarnación 93,497 20 Natalio 19,456 30 Yatytay 11,415

Location

This department is located southeast of the Eastern Region of Paraguay.

Limits

Climate

The climate is humid subtropical with a tendency to low temperatures, the annual average is 15°C, with a maximum of 40°C and a minimum of -3°C. Rainfall is abundant, with an annual average of nearly 1,700 mm, recorded throughout most of the year except in July and August.

See also