Caraguatay (), ''

Guaraní Guarani, Guaraní or Guarany may refer to Ethnography * Guaraní people, an indigenous people from South America's interior (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia) * Guaraní language, or Paraguayan Guarani, an official language of Paraguay * ...

: Karaguatay'') is a ''distrito'' and town located in the Vapor Cué region of the

Cordillera Department Cordillera () is a department in Paraguay. The capital is the city of Caacupé. History During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries this area of the country was going through a serious crisis due to population bellicosity of the Indians f ...

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

. The livelihood of most citizens includes farming, fishing, and local trading.

Climate

The climate in this department is mild and dry. The average temperature is 22 °C, in summer reaches 39 °C and in winter drops to 3 °C.

Demography

Caraguatay had a population of 11,568, including 6,045 men and 5,523 women, at the 2002 census. Many of its inhabitants traveled to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

to work, and send remittances to their families. Building work in the city shows the great investment that this income provided.

History

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

family Franco founded the city on 24 September 1770, during the governorate of Carlos Morphi, on the banks of

Yhaguy River The Yhagüy River ( es, Río Yhagüy) is a small river running north–south in Cordillera Department, Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=s ...

. This locality was previously called Puesto Mbocajaty and included the areas of Iriarte, Ybyraity and Yeguarizo. It is one of the oldest localities of the country. It possesses a beautiful

colonial architecture Colonial architecture is an architectural style from a mother country that has been incorporated into the buildings of settlements or colonies in distant locations. Colonists frequently built settlements that synthesized the architecture of their ...

, with well-cared-for gardens and streets.

Economy

Employment is focused on

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...

and cattle. Many of its people have gone to work in other countries, specially the

, and the receiving of remittances is the greatest city income.

Tourism

The foundation of the city on 24 September, coincides with the patron saint's festivities of the Virgen De Las Mercedes, in which are organized official, liturgical and student events, in addition to musical and dancing festivals. Celebrations are also held on 14 May, the day of Saint Francis Labrador Marshall López and Eliza Lynch used to live in a house in Caraguatay, the house of the Miranda family, before they moved to

San Estanislao {{Infobox settlement , settlement_type = City & District , official_name = San Estanislao de Kostka , native_name = , nickname = Santaní , motto = , image_skyline = , imagesize ...

. The Ykuá Ramírez was a camp of the Paraguayan troops during the War of 1870. Close to the city centre and beside the Yhaguy River is the "Vapor Cué National Park", an open-air museum, where the remains of six ships of the Paraguayan forces that participated in the War of 1870 are exhibited. The ships, ''Anhambay'', ''Paraná'', ''Pirabebé''/''Piravevé'', ''Rio Apa'', ''Salto del Guairá'' and ''Yporá'', were set on fire and sunk towards the end of that war, to deny them to the enemy. Beginning in 1978, their remains were recovered and are now displayed, partly restored, alongside other objects, flags and photographs from their time.

How to get there

Caraguatay is 91 kilometers from

Asunción Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay. The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay o ...

, taking the Route number 2. In the center of

Eusebio Ayala Eusebio Ayala (August 14, 1875 – June 4, 1942) was an intellectual and statesman, and President of Paraguay from 7 November 1921 to 12 April 1923 and again from 15 August 1932 to 17 February 1936. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He was over ...

, 65 kilometers from Asunción, there is a deviation to the north, which leads to Caraguatay and other cities. In Asunción, from the central bus station, there are several buses that go to Caraguatay.

People from Caraguatay

Three Paraguayan presidents were born in Caraguatay: *

Juan Antonio Escurra Juan Antonio Escurra (May 6, 1859 – August 24, 1929) was the President of Paraguay from 1902 to 1904. He was born on May 6, 1859 in Caraguatay, Cordillera department. He was married with Josefa M. Rojas, woman from a traditional family, who later ...

(1859–1919) *

Emiliano González Navero Emiliano González Navero (16 June 1861 – 18 October 1934) was a Paraguayan politician of the Liberal Party, he served as President of Paraguay on three occasions and as Vice President of Paraguay on two occasions. His life He was one of the ...

(1861–1940) *

José Félix Estigarribia José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (February 21, 1888 in Caraguatay – September 7, 1940 in Altos) was a Paraguayan military officer, politician and president. He was Commander in Chief of the Paraguayan Army during the Chaco War (1 ...

(1888–1940) Others personalities: * Commandant Lara, Hero of the War of 1870 * Quemil Yambay, comedian and musician * Gregorio y Cirilo Ortega * Monsignor Demetrio Aquino *Christian Gayoso

Gallery

Image:Puente Sobre el Río Yhaguy.jpg, A bridge over the Yhaguy river File:Ahnambay 1.jpg, Steamer ''Anhambay'' in Vapor Cué National Park

References

* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. * Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL

External links

Secretaria Nacional de TurismoWorld Gazeteer: Paraguay
– World-Gazetteer.com
Google map of Caraguatay
{{Authority control Populated places in the Cordillera Department