Asuncion, Paraguay

General Information

Asuncion is an important city because not only is it the capital of Paraguay, but it is also the center of everything vital to the country. All economic and political matters are dealt with here, and it also defines such sapects of life as education and culture for the whole country. Asuncion is located on the Paraguay River, so it is also the main port and industrial center in the country.

Asuncion's importance is shown by Paraguay's demography. Asuncion is the largest city in Paraguay, and the majority of the country's population that does not live directly in Asuncion live within the radius of 90 miles North, South, and East of the City. Therefore, Asuncion is a vital part of life for Paraguay's people, and will definitely give a visitor a sense of its population and culture. Most natives of Paraguay living in Asuncion are mestizo, or of mixed Spanish and Guarani (native Paraguayan, commonly called "Indian" in the US) ancestry. Therefore, almost all the people in the city (about 90%) speak both Spanish and the Guarani language.

The cental part of Asuncion, which covers a few blocks of the city, is commonly La Chacarita, and this is where most of the skyscrapers and large buildings are located. The rest of Asuncion, as well as the metropolitan area known as the Central Department, shares many characteristics with a small Latin American neighborhood because most of its buildings are shorter than those found in other large cities and capitals. The Siesta, or midday break from work in order to eat lunch and rest, is observed in the city as well. La Chacarita and the rest of urban Asuncion is built on high ground, but surrounding areas sometimes experience flooding because of their low-lying position.

Asuncion is a great represention of Paraguay as a whole, and is a great place for the tourist to visit. The vibrant mestizo culture is unique in comparison with the mostly Spanish culture of Spain and the mostly native people group cultures of some smaller towns in Central America. Also, Asuncion has an ideal climate in the winter, since it is subtropical, although in the summer temperatures can exceed 95 degrees Farenheit. Therefore, if you enjoy hot and sunny weather, Asuncion would be a good place to visit in the summer; otherwise, it would be better to go during another season.

The remainder of the links to your left will give you ideas about where to go and what to see if you visit Asuncion, as well as more information about its culture and people. Some basic facts are listed below, as well as some links where more general information about Asuncion and Paraguay can be found.