9781422286449

Paraguay

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es provide a home for species such as the capuchin monkey and the harpy eagle. There are exotic flowers, such as the brun- felsia , or Paraguay jasmine. However, more than 12 million acres (4.85 million hectares) have already been destroyed by deforestation . Environmentalists fear that Paraguay’s forests may soon be gone. West of the Brazilian border the hills flatten out into grasslands irrigated by the country’s two major rivers, the Paraguay and the Paraná, and their tributaries .

The capuchin monkey is one of many exotic species in Paraguay.

Spectacular waterfalls abound. Paraguay’s major cities, nearly all its indus- try, and much of its agriculture are in the fertile valleys of this region. The Paraná River forms the country’s southeastern border with Brazil and Argentina.

Words to Understand in this Chapter

agriculture— the practice of growing crops or raising farm animals. deforestation— the cutting down of forests for lumber or to clear the land for farming. endemic— native to a particular area and existing nowhere else. predator— an animal that survives by preying on other animals. tributaries— streams that feed larger bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes.