Geography (Paraguay)
====================


     Total area:
         406,750 km2
     Land area:
         397,300 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly smaller than California
     Land boundaries:
         3,920 km total; Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
     Coastline:
         none - landlocked
     Maritime claims:
         none - landlocked
     Disputes:
         short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the
         Rio Parana) has not been determined
     Climate:
         varies from temperate in east to semiarid in 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
     Natural resources:
         iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber
     Land use:
         arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and
         woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL%
     Environment:
         local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains
         may become boggy (early October to June)
     Note:
         landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil