Paraguay is a landlocked country covering an average of 406750 square kilometers. It is located in South America. Its prominent physical feature of the country is the Paraguay River that separates the country into two regions with distinct differences in climate, and land topography. Industrialization and other human activities have adversely affected the country’s environment. The current environmental issues are water pollution caused by industrial discharges into rivers and streams, deforestation and encroachment into wetlands. The rate of deforestation is quite high due to weak government policies on deforestation and weak implementation of forest protection policies. The country lost over twenty thousand square kilometers of forest land between 1958 and 1985. Currently, the country forest cover shrinks by 178,000 hectares per year (Schaefer 1).
Land Topography
According to Schaefer (1), the southwards flowing Paraguay River divides into two distinct parts i.e. the eastern and western parts that have different topographies. The rivers originate from Pantanal wetlands located in the northeastern part of the country. The eastern part is characterized by forested rounded hills averaging 1300 feet and low-lying meadows. The highest hill is 2,762 ft above the sea level. The area is also covered by the Parana Plateau that has an average altitude of 750 ft sloping to east and south, broad valleys and various lowlands. On the other hand, the majority of the western side of the river is made up of the plateau averaging 410 ft. However, it has some low hills in the northwestern part.
Climate
The country experiences both tropical and subtropical climates. Besides, the eastern part receives more rainfall than the western part. The eastern region records and average of over 1000mm while the western part record 800mm. The country has two distinct seasons i.e. a rainy season extending from October to April and a dry spell from May to October. This climate is mainly influenced by distance from the sea where the amount of rainfall received decreases as you advance westward. The highest temperatures are experienced in summer that occurs between December and March. In this period the temperatures average 32 degrees Celsius. However, in the northern parts, the temperatures can rise to almost forty degrees Celsius. During the winter season, experienced between May and September, temperature range from 13 to 21 degree Celsius (Chris 1). In this period the country receives no rainfall.
Crops and Livestock Kept
Paraguay is a country whose economy relies heavily on agriculture. The sector accounts for almost a quarter of the gross domestic product. The country mainly grows corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarcane. Farmers also grow cover crops like oats in the winter season. Other crops grown include cotton, tobacco, coffee, fruits, and vegetables. The main fruits grown are citrus and pineapples while the main vegetables are gourds, tomatoes, and carrots. Livestock keeping is also popular in the country. It accounts for over thirty percent of total agricultural output. Thus, the country produces adequate dairy and meat for local consumption and export. The tropical climate and extensive grassland offer suitable environment for livestock keeping. The beef cattle are popular in the ranches that are within the countryside. The popular breeds are Zebu and Spanish Criollo (Chris 1). However, farmers rely on artificial insemination to boost the local breeds and increase milk and beef production. Poetry keeping is also popular across the country.
References
Chris , Lyddon. "Paraguay | World Grain." Paraguay | World Grain. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.world-grain.com/Departments/Country-Focus/Country-Focus-Home/Paraguay-2016.aspx?cck=1>.
Schaefer. "Weather and Climate: Average monthly Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperatures, Humidity, Wind Speed." Weather and Climate: Paraguay, average monthly Rainfall, Sunshine, Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed. N.p., 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Paraguay>.
