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General Information Area: 406,752 sq km (157,048 sq miles). Population: 5,356,000 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 13.2 per sq km. Capital: Asunción. Population: 550,060 (1997). GEOGRAPHY: Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, lying some 1440km (900 miles) up the River Paraná from the Atlantic. The River Paraguay, a tributary of the Paraná, divides the country into two sharply contrasting regions. The Oriental zone, which covers 159,800 sq km (61,700 sq miles), consists of undulating country intersected by chains of hills rising to about 600m (2000ft), merging into the Mato Grosso Plateau in the north; the Paraná crosses the area in the east and south. East and southeast of Asunción lie the oldest centres of settlement inhabited by the greater part of the population. This area is bordered to the west by rolling pastures, and to the south by thick primeval forests. The Occidental zone, or Paraguayan Chaco, covers 246,827 sq km (95,300 sq miles). It is a flat alluvial plain, composed mainly of grey clay, which is marked by large areas of permanent swamp in the southern and eastern regions. Apart from a few small settlements, it is sparsely populated. Government: Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1811. Head of State and Government: President Luis Ángel González Macchi since 1999. Language: The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní; Guaraní is spoken by most of the rural population. Most Paraguayans are bilingual, but prefer to speak Guaraní outside Asunción. Religion: Mostly Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from October to February). Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 595. Outgoing international code: 002. Moderate internal network apart from the main cities. Mobile Telephone GSM 1900 network coverage is limited to main urban areas. The local network providers are VOX and Hutchison Telecommunications Paraguay SA. Fax Some hotels provide facilities. Internet ISPs include Planet (website: www.pla.net.py). Three Internet cafes are available in main urban areas. Telegram Many hotels have facilities. Services are also available at COPACO (Compañía Paraguayo de Comunicaciones). Post Airmail to Europe takes five days. Press The main newspapers are Noticias, ABC Color, Ultima Hora and la Nación. American newspapers are available. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.19 12.10 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.