Paraguay

Paraguay is a country in the heart of South America. It has no coastline. Paraguay is special because most people speak Guarani, an indigenous language, along with Spanish. It is a warm country with wide rivers.

Land and People

About 7 million people live in Paraguay. The capital is Asuncion. The Paraguay River splits the country in two. The east has green forests and farms. The west is a wild area called the Chaco with thorny bushes and few people.

Portrait of an early leader who once ruled Paraguay.
Portrait of an early leader who once ruled Paraguay. (Alfredo L. Demersay / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Paraguayans speak both Spanish and Guarani, often mixing them together. They love to drink terere, which is cold mate tea perfect for hot days. Harp music is popular, and so is soccer. People eat chipa, a cheesy bread made from cassava.

Fun Facts

  • Paraguay is one of the few countries where an indigenous language is spoken by most of the people.
  • The Itaipu Dam on Paraguay's border is one of the largest dams in the world.
  • Paraguay's flag is unique because each side has a different design.

Did You Know?

Paraguay's flag is one of the only national flags in the world that has a different picture on each side. The front shows the national coat of arms and the back shows the treasury seal. No other country in the Americas has a two-sided flag like this.