Travel the World - Week 42

This is the 42nd week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked country that shares a border with some of the largest countries in South America: Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. Due to its location, it is sometimes referred to as Corazón de Sudamérica ('Heart of South America') and it is the smallest landlocked country in the Americas. Paraguay is mainly composed of large swaths of swampland, subtropical forests and scrubland.

Paraguay is just a little smaller than the state of California.

It may lack a coastline but Paraguay has the largest navy of any landlocked country, with naval aviation, a river defense corps and coastguard all part of its force.

The terrain of Paraguay is mixed to say the least. Marsh plains, woody hills, forest and grass plains make up most of the country.

Although nearly twice the size of the UK, Paraguay’s population in 2015 was just over 6.5 million, barely one tenth of the UK.

Paraguay receives almost 100% of its electricity from hydroelectric power. The Itaipu Dam which is co-owned with Brazil, produces 75% of this. Situated on the Paraná River, the Itaipu Dam is the 2nd largest in the world.

Paraguay is the only country worldwide whose national flag has different emblems on each side. The country’s Coat of Arms is on the front and its Treasury Seal is on the back with its motto, ‘Paz y Justica’ (Peace and Justice). Paraguay’s flag is one of the world’s oldest national flags.

The people of Paraguay enjoy sports, including football (soccer), rugby, tennis, and volleyball. Fishing is as popular as football.

In Paraguay, pistol duelling is still legal as long as both parties are registered blood donors.

Until 1991, divorce was illegal in Paraguay.

Paraguay is home to the world’s largest rodent called the Capybara, which is basically a giant guinea pig.

Paraguay has 42 protected wildlife areas and 10 national parks. There are comfortable accommodations and tours available in the Mbaracayu tropical forests, as well as 89 mammal species and 410 bird species. Ybycui features metallic blue butterflies, waterfalls and howler monkeys.

Endangered animals include the jaguar, harpy eagle, red parrot, giant armadillo and anteater (jurumi). More Uruguay animals include brown wolves, foxes, tapirs and more than 1000 species of birds. Paraguay also has many boa constrictors and crocodiles, and even some piranha, as well.

You can find over 1000 different types of bird in Paraguay, as well as Jaguars, crocodiles and anteaters.

Soy is one of the biggest exports. Paraguay ranked number 6 in the world for soy production.

The day’s main meal is eaten at noon. Two staples of the Paraguayan diet are corn and cassava, a starchy root vegetable. Cassava (or mandioca) is baked with cheeses to make the thick bread known as Chipa. Corn is used in Paraguayan soup (sopa paraguaya), Bori bori soup and other dishes.

Paraguay’s national beverage is mate. Mate (pronounced “mahtay”) is often served hot. When it is served chilled, it is called tereré. It is imbibed through a metal drinking straw called a bombilla.

The most tea drunk per head in the world, is in Paraguay.

 Iguacu Falls, spanning the Iguacu River, is made up of more than 275 individual waterfall cascades, is taller than Niagara Falls, and is twice its width.

As many as 210 football stadiums could be built with the same amount of concrete as was used to build the Itaipu Dam.

One of the world’s deadliest fires occurred in the capital in 2004. Nearly 500 died and the same number was injured when a fire broke out in a supermarket. The doors had been locked by the stores manager after the fire broke out to stop people leaving without paying for their shopping. A true tragedy.

Homes have no doorbells. To announce your arrival, clap your hands. With windows always open in the hot climate, claps are clearly heard inside.

Paraguay’s colorful festivals also attract tourists. The Festival de San Juan in June features fire walking in hot coals and embers, great food and the ritual burning of an effigy of Judas Iscariot. 

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Paraguay’s people make some of the world’s finest lacework. Nanduti (meaning “spiderweb”) is beautiful lace created in circular designs and found in a rainbow of various colors. Other traditional folk arts are embroidered cloth, black clay work and ceramics, and gorgeous silver jewelry in filigree designs.

I decided to let this Paraguay fact be the inspiration for this week's card... 

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Paraguay is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest barbecue, which was attended by approximately 30,000 people.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: SU King of the Grill stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Lemon Lime Twist CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Brads from an unknown vendor