Paraguay's Geography
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Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references: South America

Area: total: 406,750 sq km

land: 397,300 sq km

water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries : total: 3,920 km

Border Countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

Highest Point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural Resources : hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use: arable land: 6%

   permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 55%

forests and woodland: 32%

   other: 7% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards : local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land were lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Geography - note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country