Itapúa Department


Itapúa is a department in the southern region of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Encarnación. It is divided into 30 districts, more than any other district in the country.

History

This department was created after the breakup of the Misiones Department, with the city of Encarnación as the capital. It had a high economic growth in the first 30 years by the coming of immigrants and the Carlos Antonio Lopez Railway, the growth was accompanied with several ups and downs.
Then came an era of decline until the 50s when the Carnaval Encarnaceno became known and attracted tourists from various regions. In the 80s the department became more industrial, but modestly, compared with other departments like Central Department.
In 1989 the Yacyretá Dam displaced the people living in the Yacyretá Reservoir, which still continues. The San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge was inaugurated in 1991, connecting not only the city of Encarnación and Posadas, but Paraguay with Argentina.

Toponymy

The name is in Guaraní and refers to the place where Encarnación, the current capital city, was founded. The site was known as "itá" and "punta" ; hence the name means "Tip of the Stone".

Demography

According to the 2002 National Census Itapúa has a total population of 453,692 inhabitants making it the third most populated department of the country after Central and Alto Paraná, 8,9% of Paraguay's total population lives in this department.

Cultural diversity

Much of the Itapúa region was colonized by immigrants from different origins, among them are the Italians, Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, French, Japanese, Poles, and recent time there were also immigrants from Syria and Lebanon. Because of this cultural diversity Itapúa was given the name "Melting pot", making it the most cosmopolitan department of Paraguay.
In the beginning, the first economic sector of the immigrants was the exploitation of natural resources, especially timber, in the Alto Paraná and San Rafael Hills, now a national park, but now they hold several thriving industries. They also engaged in agriculture and livestock.

Administrative division

The department is divided into the following 30 districts:
DistrictPopulation DistrictPopulation DistrictPopulation
1 Alto Verá13,79911 Fram6,92321 Nueva Alborada9,193
2 Bella Vista9,19312 General Artigas11,04222 Obligado11,441
3 Cambyretá9,19313 General Delgado6,61123 Pirapó6,754
4 Capitán Meza9,19314 Hohenau9,68524 San Cosme y Damián7,322
5 Capitán Miranda9,19315 Itapúa Poty14,64225 San Juan del Paraná7,091
6 Carlos Antonio López17,62216 Jesús5,56026 San Pedro del Paraná28,598
7 Carmen del Paraná9,19317 La Paz3,07627 San Rafael del Paraná20,434
8 Coronel Bogado17,06518 Leandro Oviedo4,35328 Tomás Romero Pereira27,239
9 Edelira22,28719 Mayor Otaño12,15729 Trinidad6,873
10 Encarnación93,49720 Natalio19,45630 Yatytay11,415

Location

This department is located southeast of the Eastern Region of Paraguay.

Limits

The climate is humid subtropical with a tendency to low temperatures, the annual average is 15 °C, with a maximum of 40 °C and a minimum of -3 °C. Rainfall is abundant, with an annual average of nearly 1,700 mm, recorded throughout most of the year except in July and August.