Guaíra () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

in the

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

of Paraná in the Southern Region of

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

. The population is 33,310 (2020 est.) in an area of 560 km². The elevation is 517 m. This place name comes from the

Tupi language Old Tupi, Ancient Tupi or Classical Tupi () is a classical Tupian language which was spoken by the indigenous Tupi people of Brazil, mostly those who inhabited coastal regions in South and Southeast Brazil. In the words of Brazilian tupinol ...

and means "place difficult to access". It borders the Paraguayan city of Salto del Guairá, across the

Paraná River The Paraná River ( ; ; ) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some ."Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. ...

, which marks the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Just like its Paraguayan twin city, it is named after the Guaíra Falls, which was located on the border with Paraguay. The falls was submerged after the construction of the

Itaipu Dam The Itaipu Dam ( ; ; ) is a hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. It is the third largest hydroelectric dam in the world, and holds the 45th largest reservoir in the world. The name "Itai ...

in 1982.

History

The foundation of Guaíra is closely linked to Companhia Matte Larangeira, also responsible for the founding of the city of Porto Murtinho. In historical times, it belonged to the indigenous people; in 1556 it was occupied by the Spanish. At that time, the Jesuit Missions took place, which aimed to catechize the Indians, based on the precepts of the Catholic Church. The Missions took place in the territories now geographically demarcated in the States of Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Paraguay. In 1620, the territory of Guaíra was virtually in the hands of the Portuguese, as the São Paulo bandeirantes periodically ravaged the region, destroying the Spanish people and enslaving the catechized Indians of the Jesuit reductions. It was only in 1872, with the Limits Treaty, that the territorial limits between Brazil and Paraguay were demarcated, leaving Guaíra in Brazilian territory. The search for wealth, or for slave labor, led the Bandeirantes Paulistas to enter this territory, decimating the Spanish groups and enslaving the Indians. These lands remained without economic and population development for a period. After complaints from the Superintendent, Antonio Corrêa da Costa and losses caused by the transport of Matte Larangeira's production, Banco Rio Branco declared bankruptcy in 1902 and Thomaz Larangeira acquired his estate, while Cia Matte Larangeira was sold to the Argentine company Francisco Mendes & Cia , changing its name to Larangeira Mendes e Companhia. A new lease contract was signed with the state government, along the same lines as the previous one, which would remain in force until 1916. In 1910, the main focus of exploration of erva mate was transferred to the

, reducing its strategic importance for the company, with its monopoly being broken in 1916. The Company's headquarters were transferred in 1918 from Porto Murtinho to Campanário Farm, near the municipality of Caarapó. The herb began to be exported via the Paraná River, with only the production from nearby ranches being exported via Porto Murtinho. Since 1902, the Company had been established in Guaíra, initially called Porto Monjoli, beginning the construction of a railroad from the Guaíra to Porto Mendes Railway in 1911, which would cross the Sete Quedas rapids. In territorial divisions dated July 31, 1936 and July 31, 1937, the district of Guaíra appears in the municipality of Foz de Iguassú. By state decree-law No. 7573, of October 20, 1938, the district of Guaíra was extinct, with its territory being annexed to the district headquarters of the municipality of Foz do Iguassú. The dominance of Companhia Matte Larangeira continued until 1943, when Getúlio Vargas assumed power, creating the Federal Territory of Ponta Porã and the Federal Territory of Iguaçu, and annulling the concession. On April 17, 1944, Decree No. 6,428 was signed, by Getúlio Vargas incorporating the Plata Basin Navigation Service (SNBP), the District of Guaíra, the Guaíra to Porto Mendes Railway, as well as material and fixed installations, port facilities and all floating installations and material. Guaíra was elevated to the category of municipality with this name by state law no. 790, of November 14, 1951, separated from Foz do Iguassú, being installed on December 14, 1952.

Population

Transportation

The city is served by Walter Martins de Oliveira Airport. File:Guaíra Airport airside 22OCT19.jpg, Terminal building as seen from the apron in 2019

Consular representation

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

has a Consulate in Guaíra. File:Consulado Paraguay Guaíra.jpg, Consulate of Paraguay

Climate

References

Municipalities in Paraná {{ParanáBR-geo-stub