The Paraguay River (Río Paraguay in
Spanish, Rio Paraguai in
Portuguese) is a major
river in south central
South America, running through
Brazil and
Paraguay and running close to the border between Brazil and
Bolivia as well as being the border between Paraguay and
Argentina. It runs over a course of approximately 2,549 kilometers (1,584 miles) from its headwaters in the
Brazilian state of
Mato Grosso to its confluence with the
Parana River north of
Corrientes. Due to the shape of the country, Paraguay is located on the west side of the river in the north of that country (Brazil on the east), while in the south Paraguay is located on the east side of the river (with Argentina in the west).
The Paraguay River
The Paraguay is born south of Diamantino in Mato Grosso, Brazil. It follows a generally southwesterly course, passing through the Brazilian city of Cáceres. It then turns in a generally southward direction, flowing through the Pantanal wetlands, the city of Corumbá, and then running close to the Brazil-Bolivia border for a short distance. The river runs close to the border but is actually located within the Brazilian side.
From the city of Puerto Bahia Negra, Paraguay, the river forms the border between Paraguay and Brazil, flowing almost due south before the confluence with the Apa River.
The Paraguay makes a long, gentle curve to the south-southeast before resuming a more south-southwest course, dividing the country of Paraguay into two distinct halves: the Gran Chaco region to the west, a largely uninhabited semi-arid region; and the eastern forested departments of the country, accounting for some 98% of the country's inhabitants. As such the river is considered perhaps the key geographical feature to the country with which it shares its name.
Some 400 kilometers after flowing through the middle of Paraguay, at the confluence with the Pilcomayo River and passing the Paraguayan capital city, Asunción, the river forms the border with Argentina, flowing generally south-southwesterly for another 275 kilometers before it reaches its end, joining with the Parana River.
The River Paraguay is the second major river in the
Río de la Plata watershed, covering a vast area of land that includes major portions of northern Argentina, southern Brazil,
Uruguay, parts of Bolivia and the entire country of Paraguay. Unlike many of the other great rivers of the Parana basin, the Paraguay has not been
dammed for
hydroelectric power generation, and as such it is navigable for a considerable distance, second to the
Amazon River only in terms of navigable length on the continent. This makes it an important shipping and trade corridor, providing a much needed link to the
Atlantic Ocean for the otherwise
landlocked nations of Paraguay and Bolivia. It serves such important cities as Asunción and
Concepción in Paraguay and
Formosa in Argentina.