Landscape in the Gran Chaco, Paraguay

The Gran Chaco (Quechua chaqu, "hunting land"), dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier", is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided between Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and a small portion in Brazil called Mato Grosso. Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 616 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 616 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Quechua (Runa Simi; Kichwa in Ecuador) is a Native American language of South America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. ... Río de la Plata in relation to Uruguay and Argentina A satellite view of the estuary The Río de la Plata (from Spanish: Silver River), also known by the English name River Plate, as in the Battle of the River Plate, or sometimes [La] Plata River, is the...

Geography

Very approximate location and borders of the Gran Chaco. The natural border to the west is the Andes and, to the east, the Paraguay River. Northern and southern borders are a bit less well-defined. (Underlying map taken from the CIA World Factbook)

The Chaco is about 647,500 square kilometres in size, though estimates differ, and located west of the Paraguay River and east of the Andes in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Argentina. It stretches from about 17° to 33° South latitude and between 65° and 60° West longitude, though estimates differ in this case too. Closer to the mountains in the west, the Alto Chaco, or Dry Chaco, is very dry and sparsely vegetated, but going eastward to the Bajo Chaco, or Humid Chaco, one encounters lots of thornbrush jungle with quebracho trees and grassy clearings with a wealth of insects. The landscape is mostly flat and slopes at a 0.04 degree gradient to the east. Download high resolution version (1740x1273, 458 KB)Very approximate location of the Gran Chaco (Underlying map taken from the CIA World Factbook) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (1740x1273, 458 KB)Very approximate location of the Gran Chaco (Underlying map taken from the CIA World Factbook) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... The Paraguay River near Asunción The River Paraguay (Rio Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil and Paraguay and forming a border between Brazil and Bolivia as well as Paraguay and Argentina. ... The Andes form the longest mountain chain in the world. ... Binomial name Schinopsis lorentzii Engl. ...

The area is mostly inhabitable only in the east and west of the Paraguay River. It is a great source of timber and tannin, which is derived from the native quebracho tree. Special tannin factories have been constructed there. The wood of the palo santo from the Central Chaco, is the source of oil of guaiac (a fragrance for soap). Paraguay also cultivated mate in the lower part of the Chaco. Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use—as structural material for construction or wood... Tannins are astringent, bitter-tasting plant polyphenols that bind and precipitate proteins. ... Binomial name Bulnesia sarmientoi Lorentz ex Griseb. ... Oil of guaiac is a fragrance used in soap. ... It has been suggested that Soapmaking be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name Ilex paraguariensis A. St. ...

History

Gran Chaco was a disputed territory since 1810. Officially, it was supposed to be part of Bolivia, but Paraguay began to push the natives out and settle there while Bolivia ignored it. It was the scene of The Gran Chaco War (1932-1935) (though violence started as early as December 5, 1928) between Paraguay and Bolivia over supposed oil in the Chaco Boreal (a region north of the Pilcomayo River and to the west of the Paraguay River). Bolivia sought the Paraguay River for shipping oil out into the sea (it had become a land-locked country after the loss of its Pacific coast in the War of the Pacific) and Paraguay claimed ownership of the land. Eventually, a treaty was signed in 1938 which gave Paraguay three quarters of Chaco Boreal and gave Bolivia a corridor to the Paraguay River with the ability to use the Puerte Cosado and the right to construct their own port. In the end, oil was not found there. 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Chaco War (1932–1935) was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the arid Chaco Boreal region of South America. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... There are things that have the name Chaco: South America: Gran Chaco, a region in South America Chaco Province, Argentina in the northeastern part of the country Chaco, a region in Paraguay Chaco Department, historical in Paraguay and proposed in Bolivia Gran Chaco Province, Bolivia (in Tarija Department) An Indian... The Pilcomayo is a river rising in the Bolivian Andes, east of Lake Poopó, flowing over 700 miles across Chaco into the Paraguay River near Asunción. ... Combatants Republic of Peru Republic of Bolivia Republic of Chile Commanders Juan Buendía Andrés Cáceres Miguel Grau Manuel Baquedano Patricio Lynch Arturo Prat Strength Peru-Bolivian Army Peruvian Navy Army of Chile Chilean Navy The War of the Pacific, sometimes called the Saltpeter War in reference to... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Mennonites came into the Paraguayan part of the region from Canada in the 1920s; more came from the USSR in the 1930s, and even more from the USSR after World War II. They created some of the largest population centers in the Gran Chaco. The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after and influenced by the teachings and tradition of Menno Simons (1496-1561). ... The 1920s was a decade sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

In the 1960s the trans-Chaco highway was built.

Flora and fauna

The ecosystems of the Gran Chaco are unique, and were little understood by scientists until recent years. These ecosystems are slowly being destroyed by civilization with the introduction of cattle, burning of vegetation and irresponsible agricultural decisions. Many groups are trying to protect this unique set of ecosystems. An ecosystem, a contraction of ecological and system, refers to the collection of components and processes that comprise, and govern the behavior of, some defined subset of the biosphere. ...

The Chacoan Peccary (Catagonus wagneri), which was discovered in the 1970’s, is a large mammal endemic to the Chaco. The Chaco is a center of Armadillo diversity, with at least eight species in the Argentinean Chaco and ten species in the Paraguayan Chaco. The Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), is the closest living relative to the extinct Platygonus pearcei. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... Genera Dasypus Calyptophractus Chaetophractus Chlamyphorus Euphractus Zaedyus Cabassous Priodontes Tolypeutes Glyptodontidae (extinct) Armadillos are small placental mammals of the family Dasypodidae, known for having a bony armor shell. ...

In September 1995, the Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco National Park was established in an area of the Chaco in Bolivia. It is administered and was established solely by the indigenous peoples which include the Izoceño Guaraní, the Ayoreode, and the Chiquitano. 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Provinces/departments in the Gran Chaco

• Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay
• Boquerón Department, Paraguay
• Catamarca Province, Argentina
• Chaco Province, Argentina
• Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia
• Córdoba Province, Argentina
• Formosa Province, Argentina
• Jujuy Province, Argentina
• La Rioja Province, Argentina
• Presidente Hayes Department, Paraguay
• Salta Province, Argentina
• Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia
• Santa Fe Province, Argentina
• Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina
• Tarija Department, Bolivia
• Tucumán Province, Argentina

The Gran Chaco has some of the highest temperatures on the continent One of the several common geographical regions distributions of Argentina. ... The Argentine Northwest is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca and Tucumán. ... La Mesopotamia, Región Mesopotámica or Litoral (Littoral) is the humid and verdant area of north-east Argentina, comprising the provinces of Misiones, Entre Ríos and Corrientes. ... Cuyo is the name given to the wine-producing, mountainous area of north-west Argentina, comprising the provinces of San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza. ... This article is about the lowland plains in South America. ... In orange the area most commonly defined as Patagonia. ... Antarctic portion between meridians 25º West and 74º West Argentine Antarctica (in Spanish, Antártida Argentina) is a sector of Antarctica which Argentina considers part of its National Territory. ... For the Antarctic Treaty from the Gundam anime, see Antarctic Treaty (Gundam) The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate the international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earths only uninhabited continent. ... Alto Paraguay is a department in Paraguay. ... Boquerón is a department in the western region of Paraguay. ... Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. ... Chaco is an Argentine province located on the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. ... Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia, with an area of 51,524 km². Population (2001 census) 1,352,000. ... Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. ... Formosa Province is in northeastern Argentina, part of the Gran Chaco Region. ... Jujuy is a province of Argentina, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. ... La Rioja is a one of the provinces of Argentina and is, located in the west of the country. ... Presidente Hayes is a department in Paraguay. ... Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. ... Motto: ¡Arriba cruceños, hagamos historia! (Stand up cruceños, lets make history!) Himno: Bajo el cielo más puro de América Capital Santa Cruz de la Sierra Largest city Santa Cruz de la Sierra Official Languages Spanish, Guaraní Provinces 15 Area  - total  - % de Bolivia Place nº 1 370. ... Santa Fe is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. ... Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. ... Tarija is a city in southern Bolivia, located 22. ... Tucumán is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. ...

Indigenous peoples of the Gran Chaco

• Abipón - no longer exist
• Ayoreo
• Chamacoco
• Chiquitano
• Enxet
• Enlhet
• Guana
• Pai Tavytera
• Sanapaná
• Ava Guaraní
• Mbyá
• Simba Guaraní
• Guarayo
• Kaiwá
• Chiripá
• Chané
• Tapieté
• Maskoy
• Wichí
• Nivaclé
• Chorote
• Mocoví
• Pilagá
• Toba
• Maká
• Yuqui

The Enxet are an indigenous people of about 17,000 living in the Gran Chaco region of western Paraguay. ... Roberto Guana (born January 21, 1981 in Brescia, Italy) is an Italian footballer, presently playing with U.S. Città di Palermo of Serie A. Roberto plays primarily in central midfield in a holding role, likened to Claude Makélélé. Roberto started his career at Brescia Calcio before moving to... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Kaiwá is a Tupi language spoken by about 15,000 in Brazil in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, and also 512 in Argentina. ... Chiripá (ISO/DIS 639-3: nhd) is a Tupi language spoken by in Paraguay, Brazil, and also Argentina. ... Tapieté is a Tupi-Guaraní language spoken by 33 Paraguayans (Out of an ethnic group numbering 513 to 1,519), 100 Argentines, and 70 Bolivians. ... The Wichí are an indigenous people of South America. ... Nivaclé is a Mataco language spoken in Paraguay by 18,000 and Argentina by 200. ... The Mocovi language is a Guaicuruan language of Argentina spoken by about 4,500 people. ... Pilagá is a language spoken by 2,000 people in the Bermejo and Pilcomayo River valleys, western Formosa Province, in addition to Chaco and Salta province. ... The Toba are an ethnic group in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. ...

External links

• The National Museum of Natural History's description of Gran Chaco
• Chaco ecoregion (World Wildlife Fund)
• Humid Chaco ecoregion (World Wildlife Fund)
• Food and Agriculture Oranization of the United Nations' description of the Gran Chaco - focuses mainly on agriculture.
• Some stamps showing the dispute over the Gran Chaco before the war - some people claim this was the spark that ignited the war