Paraguay is a landlocked country situated between the 19th and 27th southern latitudes and the 54th and 72nd longitudes west of Greenwich. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses the country, which covers a total area of 406,752 square kilometers. The Paraná and Paraguay Rivers are the largest and most important waterways, both of which originate in Brazil. The Paraná River is approximately 4,500 km long and its flow is interrupted by the largest hydroelectric dam in the world —Itaipú— located in the Iguassu Falls area, on the border with Brazil. Another hydroelectric dam situated on the same river, but on the border shared with Argentina is Yacyretá Dam.

The Paraná and Paraguay Rivers run into the Rio de la Plata delta and flow into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Uruguay. The Paraguay River divides the country into two regions:

Western Paraguay, also known as the Chaco, is a vast flatland, divided into two areas: the Upper and Lower Chaco. The Upper Chaco is slightly higher than the Lower Chaco and slowly rises towards the Bolivian border. The Upper Chaco is recognized by its savannas and small creeks and a few natural ponds surrounded by hardwood and thorny scrub forests. The Lower Chaco is bordered by the Paraguay and Pilcomayo Rivers; it’s almost at sea level and is covered by endless palm forests and grasslands. The majority of the people residing in the Chaco live in the lower portion because the climate, rains and soil provide easier living conditions. The wild Chaco has less than one inhabitant per square kilometer.

Eastern Paraguay presents the visitor with a completely different topography. There, one will find tropical and semitropical forests, interrupted by natural grasslands and small hills with a maximum height of 850 meters. Its elevation slowly rises towards the Brazilian border and is crisscrossed by numerous rivers. There are also two large lakes called the Ypoá and the well-known Lago Ypacaraí. The majority of Paraguay’s entire population lives in this region and is where the main cities are located.