Fuerte Olimpo

Fuerte Olimpo is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of Alto Paraguay.Infobox City
official_name = Fuerte Olimpo
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image_shield =Coat_of_arms_of_Paraguay.svg


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Paraguay
subdivision_type1 = Department
subdivision_name1 = Alto Paraguay
leader_title = Intendente municipal
leader_name = Diego Ricardo Gallagher Villamayor
established_title = Founded
established_date = September 25, 1792
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population_total = 4498
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timezone = -4 Gmt
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latd= 21|latm=2 |lats=0 |latNS=S
longd=57 |longm=54 |longs=0 |longEW=W
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coordinates_type = type:city_region:PY
elevation_m = 64
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postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 9000
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Capital of Alto Paraguay Region, far from Asunción 838 km, located on Paraguay River, originally called Fuerte Bordón. The city is also known as “la puerta de entrada al Pantanal”, entrance to Pantanal. Fuerte Olimpo is on east of Chaco Boreal on east shore of Paraguay River near the mouth of Blanco River, to the north the moist ground called humedales from the Gran Pantanal. Fuerte Olimpo is far away from the flood. The city is surrounded by a big wall 4 km long.

Geography

This plain is almost 300 metres above the sea level. Soil is good for farming and cattle rising. Laguna Capitán is a lagoon in Fuerte Olimpo.Fuerte Olimpo is between two hills, in one is Fuerte Bordón and in the other one is Maria Auxiliadora Cathedral.The hill 3 hermanos are elevations of the region, on top of the middle cerro palms of karanday can be seen and also the moist ground of the Pantanal Nabileque and Sierra de Bordón in Brazil.

Weather

The weather is tropical, temperatura is around 45°C in summer, and the minimum 9°C in winter. The average is 25°C. Long droughts followed by strong rains are important characteristics of the region.

Demography

Fuerte Olimpo is a city with 4998 inhabitants, 2585 men and 2413 women, according to the Census.

History

The city was founded by Spain in 1792 named Fuerte Borbón by the Governor Joaquín Alos y Bru, who sent the Commandant José Antonio de Zavala y Delgadillo, to protect the area from the Virreinato del Río de la Plata from the bandeirantes from Brazil. The first settlement was between the Brazilian Forte Porto Carrero and Fecho dos Morros. Caciques Mbayaes were invited for the foundation.

During José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia government it was called Fuerte Olimpo, maybe because of the main Cerro (hill) which was said to resembleMount Olimpus in ancient Greece. At that time Paraguayan sovereignty established a free port for Brazilian trading.

At the beginning of Triple Alianza War(1865-1870) it was a very important offensive spot in the Mato Grosso, in 1866 Fuerte Olimpo was a strategic place too but it was taken by Brazilians when campaign ended. Originally, Argentina wanted to own from Fuerte Olimpo to Chaco Boreal to the Bahía Negra, but when Brazil left Paraguay, Argentina did not claim it.

After the 70's the area belonged to large landowners who chopped the quebrechales having native people work as slaves, that period was called tannin cycle, it was the beginning of some industries, forests were destroyed and the place was used for cattle raising good for the kind of weather. Another important aspect was the industries of tejas, palm and bricks. So Fuerte Olimpo became a port for exportation. During Chaco war in the 30's Fuerte Olimpo was again an important place for offensive strategies. It was declared the business center of Alto Paraná Region.

Economy

It incluyes some ports :

• 14 de Mayo • Esperanza • Leda • Lida • Maria Elena

The main activity is cattle rising.

Transportation

Boats and canoes are the main important means of transportation to get to Fuerte Olimpo. People travel in the riverboat Aquidabán , which goes from Concepción to Bahía Negra.Another way to go there is going Route 9 “The Transchaco highway” to “Cruce Pioneros”, at km. 409, there is a no paved route to get Fuerte Olimpo.You can also get to Loma Plata, at km 444 and there is a no paved route until km. 333.There is also a landing runway for small planes.

Tourism

• Fuerte Borbón, from 1792. Built from rocks on one of the Olimpo hills. • María Auxiliadora Cathedral, on top of another hills, built of stone.

• An observatory: the three hills of Fuerte Olimpo: called "Tres Hermanos". • A museum and native tribe called Ishir “Virgen Santísima”, which includes presentation of some crafts and a welcome from the Shaman. You can also ride some motor launches on the Paraguay River to enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna of the region. There are some tourist guides.

Bibliography and references

* Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
* Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL
* EVP - Wikipedia
* [http://www.evp.edu.py/index.php?title=Portada Enciclopedia Virtual Paraguaya - Portal]

External links

* [http://www.senatur.gov.py/ Secretaria Nacional de Turismo]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PA/23/Fuerte_Olimpo.html Coordenadas Geográficas e Imágenes Satelitales: Fuerte Olimpo]
* [http://www.ventacamposparaguay.com/photos.htm site, showing photos of a farm close to Fte Olimpo]