Central Department

Central Department
Departamento Central
Department

Areguá – Ypacaraí lake

Flag
Coat of arms

Central shown in red
Coordinates: 25°18′S 57°25′W / 25.300°S 57.417°W / -25.300; -57.417Coordinates: 25°18′S 57°25′W / 25.300°S 57.417°W / -25.300; -57.417
Country  Paraguay
Region Eastern Region
Established 1935
Capital Areguá
Largest city San Lorenzo
Government
 • Governor Carlos Alberto Amarilla Cañete (Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico)
Area
 • Total 2,465 km2 (952 sq mi)
Area rank 17
Population (2008)[1]
 • Total 1,929,834
 • Rank 1
 • Density 780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone AST (UTC-04)
 • Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-03)
ISO 3166 code PY-11
Number of Districts 19

Central (Spanish pronunciation: [senˈtɾal]) is a department in Paraguay. The capital is Areguá. With 1,929,834 inhabitants, it is the most populated and the smallest of the 17 departments of Paraguay.

Boundaries

Districts

The department is divided in 19 districts:

District km² Population (2002)
Areguá 122 44.566
Capiatá 83 154.274
Fernando de la Mora 21 113.560
Guarambaré 59 16.687
Itá 190 50.391
Itauguá 122 60.601
Julián Augusto Saldívar 948 37.374
Lambaré 37 119.795
Limpio 117 73.158
Luque 203 185.127
Mariano Roque Alonso 122 65.229
Ñemby 40 71.909
Nueva Italia 312 18.525
San Antonio 29 37.795
San Lorenzo 41 204.356
Villa Elisa 122 53.166
Villeta 888 22.429
Ypacaraí 111 18.530
Ypané 53 25.421

Geography

The mountainous area of Altos and the bodies of water such as the Paraguay and the Salado rivers, the lakes Ypacaraí and Ypoá, and the pond Cabral are part of the natural limits in Central. These along with other regions in the south section generate a good potential of resources for the diverse activities such as tourism and even agriculture.

Education

Conurbation of Gran Asunción.

Central is one of the most benefited departments in terms of attendance in both elementary and higher education, with over 84% of assistance by people of age between 7 and 18. There is a predominance of assistance of males over females, by a margin of 6%. The attendance of public schools is greater, with 69.9% of students attending them, while the resting 30.1% attend private schools. In the Central department there are around 750 elementary education institutions and close to 350 higher education institutions. In the city of San Lorenzo resides the Universidad Nacional de Asunción which is a state-run University.

Climate

The maximum temperatures are in the summer, reaching the 40°C, which sometimes can be even higher. In the winter, the minimum temperature is 0°C. The annual average temperature is 22°C. Rains vary approximately 1433 mm per year. The period between the months of January and February is the rainiest, and the driest period is during the months of June and August.

Hydrology

Villeta – View of the Paraguay River

The department is mainly watered by the Paraguay River and its affluents: the Salado River, which is flowed by the Ypacaraí Lake and the streams Itay, Paray e Ytororó. The streams Yuquyry and Ñanduá drain into the Ypoá wetlands. The lakes Ypacaraí, Ypoá and the lagoon Cabral are situated in this region of the country.

Orography

The spurs of the Ybytypanema, part of the los Altos chain is in this department. Its highest hills are Lambaré, Ñanduá and Arrua-í. Other lower hills in the zone are the Ñemby and the Patiño.

History

San Antonio

The Central Department, known as “Comarca Asuncena”, was the most populated country region in old times. In the times of the conquest and colonization, this region had already been the center from where new foundations were expanded, as well as it was the settlers’ refuge who were escaping from the attacks of the Guaicurú Indians.

The towns which compound this department nowadays had different origin. One of the main protagonists of these foundations was Domingo Martínez de Irala, who gave rise to the districts of Itá and Areguá. The town of Luque was established as a Spanish village. Villeta and Tapuá, nowadays called Mariano Roque Alonso were founded in order to establish military forts for defence.

Others tows like Capiatá and Itauguá were expanded around chapels used as evangelization centers, The towns which compound the department are bound, partly, due to the chaqueños Indians’ resistance against the Spanish conquest of their lands, which force the settlers to emigrate and take refuge in this part of the region. That was how were established villages like Guarambaré, Ypané and Ñemby.

A different origin had the towns of Nueva Italia, Colonia Thompson and Villa Elisa, already established as agricultural colonies back in the 19th century and beginnings of the XX, and mainly settled by foreign immigrants. In 1985, it was already established the last district in the Central department named Juan Augusto Saldívar, being constituted definitely the political division of the department.

Communications and Services

This department is favored by having a lot of routes. Most of the routes of the country leave from Asunción, the Capital city, to the country towns. One of the main roads in the so-called Ruta I, “Mariscal Francisco Solano López”, which links the Capital city with the town of Encarnación, capital of the Departmento de Itapúa to the south. This town border on the Republic of Argentina. Another important road is the Number II, “Mariscal José Félix Estigarribia”, linking Asunción with Ciudad del Este, capital of the Alto Paraná Department, which border on the Federal Republic of Brazil to the east. This department is also crossed by the Route II, “General Elizardo Aquino” and the IX, “Carlos Antonio López”.

Economy

Concrete factories in Villeta.

Of the 3049 industrial plants in the Paraguayan territory, 1558 are found in this department. The industrial production includes the processing of food, furniture, clothing, pharmaceutical production, metallurgic, plastic and ceramics. The city of Villeta is home to a large number of industries. Central is the second biggest economy of Paraguay, and occupies the second place in attraction of inversions from other countries. Only 62% of the population is considered economically active.

Waterway

The waterways which have the Central Department are determined by the “Río Paraguay”, being its main affluents those of Asunción and Villeta.

Airway

Its main airway is the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, located in the town of Luque. This station links the department with the country and abroad.

Means of Communication

There are a lot of AM radio stations. Some of them are Radio Cardinal, Radio Ñandutí, Radio Nanawa and Radio Libre. Frequency modulation transmitters are as follows: 1º de Marzo, Ñemby, Cardinal, Disney, Amor, Luque, Itaguá, Lambaré, Trinidad, San Lorenzo, Azul y Oro, Guarania, among others. There are also numerous television channels and cable transmission services.

Capiatá.

In Areguá, located on the banks of the Lago Ypacaraí is situated the Satellite Station In the Central Department it is installed telephone exchanges which communicate all of the districts.

Health

The department has numerous health places, such as Hospitals, health posts and centers. The private sector takes part in this area as well, offering health services in every district of the department.

Tourist attractions

The Central Department has a large number of attractions for tourism. Among the most famous natural resources at an international level, is the Lago Ypacaraí, which is represented in the immortal play of Demetrio Ortíz, the beautiful guarania. This lake is a very important natural attraction and the town of Areguá, capital of the department is located on the banks of this lake

There is a great variety of Museums, historical places and cultural centers in the districts. It can be seen parks and green places preserved for the practice of outdoors sports. The hotel industry is an important income resource of this department. Each district has its patronal feasts and celebrations which are part of the people culture.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dgeec.gov.py DGEEC
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