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{{Short description|Department of Paraguay}}{{About|the department in Paraguay|film|Alto Paraná (film)|the Brazilian city|Alto Paraná, Paraná}}{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Alto Paraná Department
| native_name        = Departamento de Alto Paraná
| native_name_lang   = es<!-- ISO 639-2 code -->
| type               = [[Departments of Paraguay|Department]]
| image_skyline      = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Skyline of the capital city, Ciudad del Este.
| image_flag         = Bandera del Departamento de Alto Paraná.png
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| anthem             = 
| image_map          = Alto Parana in Paraguay.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Alto Paraná shown in red
| coordinates        = {{coord|25|25|S|54|38|W|region:PY_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Paraguay}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = Eastern Region
| parts_type         = Largest city
| parts_style        = para
| p1                 = [[Ciudad del Este]]
| established_title  = [[Republic of Paraguay|Established]]
| established_date   = 1945
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Districts of Paraguay|Number of Districts]]
| blank_info_sec1    = 19
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
| seat               = [[Ciudad del Este]]
| government_footnotes = 
| leader_party       = [[Colorado Party (Paraguay)|ANR]]
| leader_title       = Governor
| leader_name        = [[César Landy Torres]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 14895
| area_rank          = [[Ranked list of Paraguayan departments|7]]
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 763702
| population_as_of   = 2022 census
| population_rank    = [[Ranked list of Paraguayan departments|2]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_note    = 
| timezone1          = [[Time in Paraguay|PYT]]
| utc_offset1        = -03
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    =
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:PY|PY-10]]
| website            = [http://www.altoparana.gov.py/ altoparana.gov.py]
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Alto Paraná''' ({{IPA|es|ˈalto paɾaˈna}}; ''Upper Paraná'') is a [[Department (subnational entity)|department]] in [[Paraguay]]. The capital is [[Ciudad del Este]] (formerly known as Puerto Presidente [[Stroessner]], originally Puerto Flor de Lis).

The Alto Paraná department has experienced tremendous economic and population growth in the past 50 years. Most of this growth has been concentrated in the department capital of Ciudad del Este, and mainly occurred after the construction of the [[Friendship Bridge (Paraguay–Brazil)|Puente de la Amistad]] bridge in 1961, which connects [[Paraguay]] and Brazil. This department is home to the [[Itaipu Dam|Itaipu]] power plant, which supplies 95% of the energy consumed by Paraguay, and the [[Acaray Dam]]. Several ecological reserves, a [[zoo]] and the [[Taiwan]]ese-Paraguayan Technology Park are situated in this department.

The city of [[Presidente Franco District|Presidente Franco]] was the first city founded in this department. Several important agricultural establishments are centered in the region of [[Minga Guazú]] which is home of the [[Guarani International Airport]].

== History ==

In colonial times, there were several settlements established in this area. The most important of these being Ontiveros, Ciudad Real, and [[Villarrica, Paraguay|Villa Rica del Espíritu Santo]]. Nevertheless, these villages did not initially prosper due to the constant attacks of the [[Bandeirantes]].

By the end of the 17th century and beginnings of the 18th century, many populations settled in this area due to the promising [[logging]] economy. These urban centers organized around military bases that served to defend them against the attacks of the Bandeirantes. Some of these cities exist into the present day, such as: Villa [[Curuguaty]], [[Ygatimi]], [[Caaguazú District|Caaguazú]], [[Lima (Paraguay)|Lima]] and [[Coronel Oviedo|Ajos]].

After the [[Paraguayan War|War against the Triple Alliance]], these lands were sold, creating large states in which the most important economic activities were the exploitation of the local forests and the cultivation of [[yerba mate]]. During the [[Paraguayan War|War Against the Triple Alliance]] many of the men of Paraguay died, and to make up for population loss, European/Middle Eastern and East Asian men immigrated to the nation. In this region, many descendants of Poles, Ukrainians, and Japanese people are found demographically similar to the neighboring Brazilian state of [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]]. There was also settlement of Brazilian from the South of Brazil, most of the people were white Brazilians of Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Eastern European, Arabic blood. And Also Japanese Brazilians and Brazilians of mixed race.

By the end of the 19th century, it was a very active port known as Tacurú Pucú, which means "high termite mound". This port was used for the transport of lumber, through the Paraná River, to Encarnación, and from Encarnación to facilitate the trade of food and textiles.
After the TRI

The department, as it is today, was created in 1945.

In 1990, the department's structure was officially established.

== Geography ==

=== Location ===

This department is located in the Oriental Region of Paraguay, between parallels 24° 30′ and 26° 15′ of latitude south and between the meridians 54° 20′ and 55° 20′ of longitude west.

It is located in the Center East of Oriental Region. It is bordered by:

* To the North: with [[Canindeyú Department]]
* To the South: with [[Itapúa Department]]
* To the East: with [[Brazil]] and [[Argentina]]
* To the West: with [[Caaguazú Department|Caaguazú]] and [[Caazapá Department|Caazapá]] departments

The capital is Ciudad del Este, originally named Puerto Flor de Lis, and later Puerto Presidente Stroessner until it was renamed once more following the end of the dictatorial government of General [[Alfredo Stroessner]]. It is within the limits of the Brazilian city, [[Foz do Iguaçu]].

=== Districts ===

The department is divided into 22 districts:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alto Paraná (Department, Paraguay) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/paraguay/admin/10__alto_paran%C3%A1/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

{{div col}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Districts
! Population (2022)
|-
| '''1''' [[Ciudad del Este District|Ciudad del Este]]
| 325,819
|-
| '''2''' [[Doctor Juan León Mallorquín]]
| 16,144
|-
| '''3''' [[Domingo Martínez de Irala, Paraguay|Domingo Martínez de Irala]]
| 5,035
|-
| '''4''' [[Hernandarias District|Hernandarias]]
| 83,285
|-
| '''5''' [[Iruña, Paraguay|Iruña]]
| 3,943
|-
| '''6''' [[Itakyry]]
| 27,340
|-
| '''7''' [[Juan Emilio O'Leary]]
| 16,092
|-
| '''8''' [[Los Cedrales]]
| 7,258
|-
| '''9''' [[Mbaracayú]]
| 6,406
|-
| '''10''' [[Minga Guazú]]
| 81,072
|-
| '''11''' [[Minga Porá]]
| 11,959
|-
| '''12''' [[Naranjal District, Paraguay|Naranjal]]
| 6,608
|-
| '''13''' [[Ñacunday]]
| 6,468
|-
| '''14''' [[Presidente Franco District|Presidente Franco]]
| 88,744
|-
| '''15''' [[San Alberto District|San Alberto]]
| 11,162
|-
| '''16''' [[San Cristóbal District, Paraguay|San Cristóbal]]
| 8,563
|-
| '''17''' [[Santa Fe del Paraná]]
| 3,981
|-
| '''18''' [[Santa Rita District, Paraguay|Santa Rita]]
| 27,249
|-
| '''19''' [[Santa Rosa del Monday]]
| 5,923
|-
| '''20''' [[Yguazú District|Yguazú]]
| 8,131
|-
| [[Doctor Raúl Peña]]<sup>*</sup>
| 5,617
|-
| [[Tavapy]]<sup>*</sup>
| 6,903
|}
[[File:Organización Política de Alto Paraná.PNG|340px]]
{{div col end}}

<sup>*</sup> The districts of [[Doctor Raúl Peña]] and [[Tavapy]] were created after the 2002 Census, and therefore not displayed on the map.

Alto Paraná has a combination of valleys and streams that come from the [[Paraná River]]. It also has mountainous areas of high elevation that can reach 300 meters above sea level.

The lands near the banks of the Paraná River have forests, which are threatened in the present by indiscriminate [[deforestation]]. There are local efforts to combat this through the introduction of reforestation programs, with managed planting of different species of [[pine]].

=== Hydrography ===

The Paraná River is the most important supply of water for the department. The following are branches of this river:

* Itambey
* Ñacunday
* Limoy
* Itabo Guazú
* Pira Pyta
* Ycua Guazú
* Acaray
* Monday
* Yacuy

In this area, there are also several streams that help make the land fertile for [[agriculture]].

These streams and rivers part due to the presence of large rocks that give origin to local waterfalls. Among these are the ones formed by the Monday and Ñacunday Rivers.

The flow of the rivers Paraná and Acaray has been used in favor of constructing the hydroelectric power stations in Itaipú and Acaray.

=== Climate ===

Alto Paraná presents an absolute maximum temperature in summer of {{convert|38|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}. The absolute minimum in winter is {{convert|0|°C|°F|disp=or}}. The annual average is {{convert|21|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}.

The department receives abundant precipitation during the entire year, registered as {{convert|1725|mm|in|0|disp=or}} annually. This total is the highest anywhere in Paraguay. Consequently, this area has a lot of humidity in the environment, which is good for agriculture.

Fog and light rains are the norm in wintertime.

== Economy ==

The logging industry remains to be the most important activity in the area. Nowadays, the population is also involved in the industrial process of different varieties of wood, such as: cedar, yvyra pyta, lapacho, taperyva guasu, petereby, guatambu, incense, guaica and others. Another important activity is the plantation of pine as a form of reforestation. There's also the clearing of palm hearts.

About 700,000 hectares of land are utilized for agriculture. [[Soy]], [[maize]], [[wheat]], [[Mentha|mint]], [[cotton]], [[sugarcane]], [[tangerine]], [[orange (fruit)|sweet orange]], [[tomato]], [[manioc]], [[sweet potato]], [[rice]], [[potato]], [[carrot]], [[strawberry]], [[sunflower]], pea and [[Stevia|ka’a he’e]] (a sweetener and medical plant) are cultivated here.

In this department cows, pigs, cebú, and nelore are raised by ranchers. This industry occupies a place of growing importance. There are factories of oil, food, sausages, sawmills, rice and yerba mills, of ceramic products, and also dairy products.

== Education ==

{{See also|List of high schools in Paraguay#Alto Paraná|l1=List of high schools in Alto Paraná}}

Alto Paraná has institutions that impart initial, elementary and secondary education. Also there are institutions working to impart education to the natives of the area. There are private universities and the national university.

== Communication ==

The most important ways of access to the department are Route No. 7 "Dr. Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia", that crosses the department from east to west and connects with [[Asunción]], and also the Route No. 6 "Juan León Mallorquín" that joins Encarnación with the southern region of the country. There is a route that connects [[Salto del Guairá]] to the north.

An international bridge over the Paraná River connects Paraguay with Brazil.

The "[[Guaraní International Airport]]", in the [[Minga Guazú]] district, offers regular flights to [[Asunción]], [[São Paulo]], and connections with other flights.

The department has televisions stations. It has an automatic phone center, and mobile phone communication services. There are also several radio stations.

AM: Radio Parque, Itapiru, Magnificat, America, Concierto, La voz de Hernandarias, Cedro Ty, Corpus and Minga Guazú.

FM: Guarani, Progreso, Integración, Ciudad del Este, Virtual, Educacción, Yguazú, Naranjal, Transparaná, Pionera, Transcontinental, Santa Rita, Pentagrama and El Portal de Itapúa.

== Tourism ==
{{Advert|section|date=November 2023}}
This department offers a very rich and attractive natural environment, specially represented by the Acaray and Paraná Rivers.

The following places are recommended to visit:

* [[Refugio Tatí Yupí|Tati Yupi Refuge]]
* [[Reserva Itabó|Itabó Natural Reserve]]
* [[Reserva Limoy|Limoy Natural Reserve]]
* [[Ñacunday National Park]]
* Pikyry Refuge
* [[Refugio Carapá|Carapá Refuge]]
* The mouth of Itambey River
* Minga Guazú Ecology Park
* [[Refugio Mbaracayú|Mbaracayú Refuge]]

[[File:Itaipu 171.jpg|thumb|400px|Itaipú Hydroelectric Dam]]
Other touristic places are the modern engineering constructions that produce great admiration in the visitors, those are: the Amistad's Bridge, that communicates Paraguay and Brazil, the hydroelectric stations Itaipu Binacional and Acaray.

In Ciudad del Este there are the Park and Lake of the Republic, an artificial lake formed by the waters of the Amambay stream, the park serves as lung for the city. This space was created with the collaboration of every city council of the country.

Alto Paraná has several museums that exhibit artifacts of great scientific and cultural value, such as:

* The House of Culture in Ciudad del Este
* El Mensú Hydric Museum
* Museum of Natural History
* Itaipú Natural and Anthropology Museum

The Museum Moisés Bertoni was declared [[Monument Scientific Moises Bertoni|Natural and Scientific Monument]]. This place is a port, where [[Moisés Santiago Bertoni|Moisés Bertoni]] accomplished to compile a great variety of plants from the entire world and who dedicated his life to the preservation of the nature.

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Alto Paraná Department}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516222104/http://www.senatur.gov.py/Paraguay/altoparana.htm Alto Paraná Info (in Spanish)]

{{Departments of Paraguay}}
{{Geography of Paraguay}}
{{Districts in the Alto Parana Department}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alto Parana Department}}
[[Category:Alto Paraná Department| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1945]]