Paraguay's Fairy Tale

[Dneprovoy Alexey]

Going on with searching for interesting facts abour Paraguay, that is very interesting country in South America: 

http://tours-tv.com/ru/paraguay

• Paraguay got independence from Spanish rule on May 14, 1811
• Before the arrival of the Europeans, Paraguay was inhabited by a native tribe called Guarani.
• Paraguay derives its name from an eponymous river, which divides the country into two regions, Eastern Paraguay (or Paranena region) and Western Paraguay (also called Chaco). Majority of the country’s population lives in the east, and only 2-3% of the population lives in the west.
• Capital of Paraguay is Asuncion.
• Asuncion was founded in 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar y Espinoza.  
• Guarani and Spanish are official languages of Paraguay.
• Currency of Paraguay is Guarani.
• According to the latest census, Paraguay has a literacy rate of 94 per cent and life expectancy of 71 years.
• Majority of the population of Paraguay is Roman Catholic.
• Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in Latin America. About 95% of the country’s population belongs to a major ethnic group, mestizo, which is a mix-breed of Spanish and Amerindian.  
• Paraguay's legal system is based on Roman law, Argentine codes, and French codes.
• Cerro Pero, at an altitude of 842m, is the highest point in Paraguay.
• The Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland in the world, is spread across Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.
• The local climate of Paraguay ranges from subtropical to temperate, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions.
• The Jesuit Missions of La Santisima Trinidad de Parana and the Jesus de Tavarangue Mission of Paraguay are listed as the World Heritage Sites.
• The first railway line in Paraguay was constructed between 1858 and 1861 by British engineers.
• Paraguay is rich in natural resources such as hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, and limestone.
• Agriculture and cattle ranching are the major economic activities of Paraguay.
• Paraguay is currently the world's largest exporter of hydroelectric power. It co-owns Itaipu Dam with Brazil, which is presently the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world.
•  Paraguay is the world's third largest exporter of soybeans.