Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
406,752 sq km
country comparison to the world: 60
land:
397,302 sq km
water:
9,450 sq km
slightly smaller than California
total:
3,995 km
border countries:
Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
More Climate Details
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
lowest point:
junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point:
Cerro Pero 842 m
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
arable land:
9.59%
permanent crops:
0.22%
other:
90.19% (2011)
670 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
336 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita:
88.05 cu m/yr (2000)
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country