Ypacaraí is a town in the
Central Department
Central () is a department in Paraguay. The capital is Areguá. With 2,243,792 inhabitants, it is the most populated and the smallest of the 17 departments of Paraguay.
Boundaries
*North: the departments of Cordillera and Presidente Hayes
*W ...
of
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 ...
on the
Lake Ypacarai. On the
Paraguayan highway system, it is located between
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 ...
and
Caacupé
Caacupé (; Guarani: ''Ka'akupe'', literally: "Behind the Mount") is a city and district in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of Cordillera
A cordillera is an extensive chain and/or network system of mountain ranges, such as those ...
, near
Areguá
Areguá () is the capital of Central Department in Paraguay, located from the capital, Asunción. The city lies between Ypacaraí Lake to the east and hills to the west. Areguá is known for its colonial architecture and historic cobblestone s ...
and
San Bernardino
San Bernardino (; Spanish for "Saint Bernardino") is a city and county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 cen ...
. Known as the "City of Folklore" after the
Ypacaraí Festival, it is located on the Ybytypanemá mountain range, which is in the Los Altos mountain range, near the
Ypacaraí lake
Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water located in Paraguay, about east of the capital, Asunción. The lake lies in the western part of the Asunción-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, a tectonic depression from the Mesozoic Era, and drains to the no ...
. In 2020, the village had a population of 28,283, and is 64.1 m above sea level. Notable agricultural crops of the area include tobacco and cotton. Lake Ypacaraí is popular with tourists and locals in the landlocked nation of Paraguay.
Paraguayan footballer
Carlos Gamarra
Carlos Alberto Gamarra Pavón () (born 17 February 1971) is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a centre back. He captained the Paraguay national team at international level and was for a long time the most capped player ...
is from Ypacaraí.
Etymology
Ypacaraí, means "''Conjured Lake''", so called because in 1603, the missionary
Luis de Bolaños
Luis de Bolaños (1549? – 11 October 1629) was a Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary evangelist, initiator of the system of reductions (indigenous towns) in Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Bolaños was born in Marchena, Seville, and ...
blessed the lake to contain its waters, since they flooded all the way to the Valley of
Pirayú
Pirayú is a town in the Paraguarí department of 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 ...
. The
Guarani words, "ypa" means lake and "karai" means Lord or blessed, thus Paraguay has the Lord's Lake or Blessed Lake.
There are other versions, such as the one that says that when the Spaniards arrived they asked the natives what the lake was called and, responding, they said "''Ypa Karaí?''" Which when translated is "''Are you referring to the water, Sir?''".
History
The city that already existed at the end of the 17th century – was one of the Itauguá companies, with the name of «Guazú Virá», later changed to «Tacuaral».
On 27 March 1864, the extension of the railway line to the Guazú Virá station was inaugurated, called "Estación Tacuaral" (from there it takes the name of "Tacuaral"), around said station the community grew due to the movement that this generated. Over the years the idea of separating from
Itauguá
Itauguá () is a city of the Central Department, Paraguay. Founded in 1728, it is known by its peculiar art of the ñandutí and its music.
The San Rafael Museum shows various objects from the Colonial Age.
The National Hospital, one of the most ...
arose and a commission was formed to take the request to the President of the Paraguayan Republic, General
Patricio Escobar
Patricio Escobar (March 17, 1843 – April 19, 1912) was the President of Paraguay between November 25, 1886 and November 25, 1890.
His life
He was born in San José de los Arroyos on March 17, 1843. His parents were José Escobar and Ana Bella ...
. This commission was made up of: Lytton Snead, José Galo Guanes, Higinio Escobar, Eustaquio Feliú, David Baruch, Ramón Negrete, Dionisio Pérez and Eliseo Patiño, thus initiating the corresponding procedures.
On 13 September of the year 1887 the creation of "Ypacaraí" was established. The first people to lead the town were Mr. Higinio Escobar as police chief and justice of the peace and Father Adolfo Valenzuela, in charge of religious services.
The district was very marginalized during the
Stroessner dictatorship, which is why it came to be known as "the capital of folklore and democracy".
Geography
Ypacaraí limits to the west with the departmental capital
Areguá
Areguá () is the capital of Central Department in Paraguay, located from the capital, Asunción. The city lies between Ypacaraí Lake to the east and hills to the west. Areguá is known for its colonial architecture and historic cobblestone s ...
, to the south with
Itá, to the north with
Ypacaraí Lake
Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water located in Paraguay, about east of the capital, Asunción. The lake lies in the western part of the Asunción-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, a tectonic depression from the Mesozoic Era, and drains to the no ...
and to the east with the
department of Cordillera . Belonging to the central part and the metropolitan region of the
Greater Asunción Area.
Hydrography
Several streams flow into the lake and they are: Pirayú, Paso Puente, Estrella, Jukury, in turn the waters of the lake flow into the
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River (Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese, Ysyry Paraguái in Guarani) is a major river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. It flows about from its headwaters i ...
, through the
Salado River .
The
Ypacaraí Lake
Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water located in Paraguay, about east of the capital, Asunción. The lake lies in the western part of the Asunción-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, a tectonic depression from the Mesozoic Era, and drains to the no ...
has been an inspiration for locals and others, and as a result of this the song known worldwide as "Memories of Ypacaraí" was born, composed by Zulema de Mirkin and
Demetrio Ortiz . This lake has an extension of 22 km from north to south, between 5 and 6 km wide and a depth of 3m, surrounded by lush vegetation.
Climate
The maximum temperature in the summer, reaches 40 °C, which can rise even more in some occasions. The minimum temperature for winter is −2 °C. The annual average is 22 °C.
The rains oscillate in approximately 1433 mm annually. The season with the highest rainfall is between the months of January and April, the rarest being between the months of June to August.
Economy
The main activity is the manufacture of guitars and handicrafts in saddlery, and everything related to leather, blankets, bedspreads and hammocks. There are also several
chipa
Chipa (, ) is a type of small, baked, cheese-flavored rolls, a popular snack and breakfast food in Paraguay. The recipe has existed since the 18th century and its origins lie with the Guaraní people of Asunción.
It is inexpensive and often sold ...
home-made factories.
It has a rich agricultural and industrial activity. Of the latter, the majority is found in Ypacaraí, such as cotton gins, textile and logging industries, and vegetable oil refineries. The already famous Ypacaraí Lake festival, known worldwide, is another economic entry to the city and the expo fair held every year in the historic center of the city.
Culture
In this city we can visit the monument to music, symbol and trophy of the
Ypacaraí Festival. Upon entering the city, we come across the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, also the "House of Culture: Teodoro S. Mongelós", in which there is a
mausoleum, the mortal remains of
Teodoro S. Mongelós and
Demetrio Ortiz, creator of "Memories of Ypacaraí", also in this Cultural Center is the Museum "Memoria Ypacaraiense" where objects from the war of 70 are exhibited, and also of contemporary people, illustrious men and women.
Francisco Gaona, educator, social activist, trade unionist and historian, author of the book called "''Introduction to the Guild and Social History of Paraguay''", was born in this city in 1901.
It is worth highlighting the history of Luisón de Tacuaral, a legend that originated in Cerrito, a place adjacent to the city.
The Paraguayan rock bands of Salamandra and Bohemia Urbana, of great national and international diffusion, are originally from this city, where they also usually record takes for their video clips.
The public square; considered as the main axis of the cultural and historical heritage of the city, it is connected to the Station and the House of Culture.
Religion
The Sacred Heart of Jesus parish is the main church of the city along with the convent of the house of the
Franciscan
, image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg
, image_size = 200px
, caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans
, abbreviation = OFM
, predecessor =
, ...
sisters and the
Shrine of the Virgin of Schoenstatt of Tuparendá; replica of the sanctuary of the one in Germany, with an infrastructure to house several groups, it has a beautiful vegetation, a major construction is currently being carried out. We also find the
Salesian Church of Don Bosco; There is also the house of the "Salesian Family".
Sports
On the occasion of the National Bicentennial of the
Republic of 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 government inaugurated in 2010 the National Bicentennial Stadium of Ypacaraí.
Carlos Gamarra
Carlos Alberto Gamarra Pavón () (born 17 February 1971) is a Paraguayan former professional footballer who played as a centre back. He captained the Paraguay national team at international level and was for a long time the most capped player ...
, born in the city in 1971, was captain of the
Paraguayan
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 ...
team and played the World Cups in
France 1998,
Korea-Japan 2002 and
Germany 2006
The 2006 FIFA World Cup, also branded as Germany 2006, was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which had won ...
. He was one of the most prominent Paraguayan defenders worldwide, integrating teams of clubs such as
Independiente de Avellaneda,
Benfica,
AEK Athens F.C.
AEK FC ( el, ΠΑΕ A.E.K. ; Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως; ''Athlitikí Énosis Konstantinoupόleos'', meaning ''Athletic Union of Constantinople'') is a Greek professional football club based in Nea Filade ...
,
Atlético de Madrid,
Internazionale
Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as Internazionale () or simply Inter, and colloquially known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Inter is t ...
and the two most traditional shirts of Paraguayan football,
Cerro Porteño
Club Cerro Porteño is a professional Paraguayan football club, based in the neighbourhood of Obrero in Asunción. Founded in 1912, Cerro has won 34 Primera División titles and is one of the most popular football clubs in Paraguay. Its presi ...
(where he made his professional debut) and
Club Olimpia where he finished his career. He was captain of the soccer team that won the only Paraguayan sports Olympic medal in
Athens 2004.
Sister cities
Ypacaraí is
twinned with:
*
Santa Fe, Argentina (1978)
*
San Gregorio de Polanco, Uruguay
Gallery
File:Ypacaraientrada.jpg, The entrance to the city of Ypacaraí, Paraguay
File:Iglesia_de_los_Heraldos.jpg, The Heralds of the Gospel Church in Ypacaraí
File:Estadio_Bicentenario_Parking.jpg, Bicentennial Stadium of Ypacaraí, Paraguay
File:Ypacarai_lake_airview.jpg, Ypacaraí Lake
Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water located in Paraguay, about east of the capital, Asunción. The lake lies in the western part of the Asunción-Sapucai-Villarrica graben, a tectonic depression from the Mesozoic Era, and drains to the no ...
, Ypacaraí, Paraguay
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ypacarai
Populated places in the Central Department
Guaraní words and phrases