Yaguarón (Paraguay)

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Yaguarón
Yaguarón
Flag of Yaguarón
Flag
Official seal of Yaguarón
Seal
Location of Yaguarón
Coordinates: 25°36′00″S 57°17′″W / <span class="geo-dec geo" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for -25.6 Expression error: Unexpected / operator">-25.6, Expression error: Unexpected / operator
Department Paraguarí
Founded 1539
Area
 - Total 192 km² (74.1 sq mi)
Elevation 61 m (200 ft)
Population
 - Total 27,250
 - Density 135/km² (349.6/sq mi)
Area code(s) 533

Yaguarón is a Paraguayan city, in the department of Paraguarí.

Contents

[edit] Toponimy

In the beginning the city was called Jaguarú, which means in the Guaraní mythology, an enormous dog or jaguar that inhabited the region.

[edit] Geography

Yaguarón is located 42 km from Asunción, in the base of Yaguarón Hill.

[edit] Climate

The average temperature is 21 degrees Celsius, in summer reaches 39 degrees Celsius and in winter drops to 2 degrees Celsius.

The church of Yaguarón
The church of Yaguarón

[edit] Demography

It has a total of 27.250 habitants, 13.965 men and 13.286 women, according to information provided by the Statistics, Polls and Census General Direction.

[edit] Economy

The economical activities of its population are the agriculture, production of clothes and sports gear.

Transportation

Located 48 kilometers from Asunción, capital of the country, the access to the city is through Route No. 1 “Mcal. Francisco Solano López”.

[edit] History

Located in the foot of a hill with the same name, the city started as a Franciscan Mission with the Guaraní population.

In 1600, Fray Alonso de Buenaventura and his followers built an imposing church that still stands nowadays and is one of the most beautiful examples of Franciscan construction in Paraguay.

The right wing of the church of Yaguaron
The right wing of the church of Yaguaron

[edit] Tourism

The Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Museum is located just a block away from the church. In there are a variety of belongings of Francia and other objects from the 19th century.

The cavern of Saint Thomas is the place of a legend. This legend narrates that in the area, lived a priest, Pa’i Sumé, who is said left marks in his trip through the region. The road that leads to the cavern was venerated by the natives of the area, who told stories of a blond man that came much before the Spanish arrived and showed them how to cultivate the corn.

The front of the church of Yaguarón
The front of the church of Yaguarón

The Franciscan settled in Yaguarón and in the altar of the church they built can be appreciated the Hispanic-Guaraní style of the carvings the natives made by hand.

From the Gamarra Oratory, on top of the Yaguarón Hill, the cities Pirayú, Itá, Paraguarí and Carapeguá can be well appreciated.

The festivity of Saint Roque on August 16th is celebrated in a chapel built in his honor. Because it is said that this saint is the protector of dogs, in the celebration, people make very particular offerings with the shape of dogs.

The altar of the church of Yaguarón
The altar of the church of Yaguarón

[edit] Musical Tradition

Yaguarón keeps one of the oldest musical traditions of Paraguay: The “Petete Peteke” Para’i Band, from Guayaibity Town, which uses the original musical instruments of the natives.

In the top of the Yaguarón Hill there is an Oratory, from where the beautiful landscape can be appreciated. The legend tells that in this hill are the footprints of Saint Thomas.

[edit] References

  • Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
  • Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL

[edit] External Links

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