Paraguay River

Paraguay River
Rio Paraguai, Río Paraguay
View of Paraguay River near Asunción
Countries	Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia
Tributaries
- left	Rio Negro, Miranda River, Cuiabá River, Apa River, Tebicuary River
- right	Jauru River, Pilcomayo River, Bermejo River
Source
- location	Parecis plateau, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Mouth	Paraná River
- elevation	50 m (164 ft)
- coordinates	27°18′S 58°38′W / 27.300°S 58.633°W / -27.300; -58.633Coordinates: 27°18′S 58°38′W / 27.300°S 58.633°W / -27.300; -58.633
Length	2,621 km (1,629 mi)
Basin	365,592 km2 (141,156 sq mi)
Discharge
- average	2,700 m3/s (95,000 cu ft/s)
Map of the Rio de la Plata Basin, showing the Paraguay River joining the Paraná River near Resistencia and Corrientes, south of Asunción.

The Paraguay River (Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese, Ysyry Paraguái in Guarani) is a major river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. It flows about 2,621 kilometres (1,629 mi) from its headwaters in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso to its confluence with the Paraná River north of Corrientes and Resistencia.

The Paraguay's source is south of Diamantino in the Mato Grosso state of Brazil. It follows a generally southwesterly course, passing through the Brazilian city of Cáceres. It then turns in a generally southward direction, flowing through the Pantanal wetlands, the city of Corumbá, then running close to the Brazil-Bolivia border for a short distance in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.

From the city of Puerto Bahia Negra, Paraguay, the river forms the border between Paraguay and Brazil, flowing almost due south before the confluence with the Apa River.

The Paraguay makes a long, gentle curve to the south-southeast before resuming a more south-southwesterly course, dividing the country of Paraguay into two distinct halves: the Gran Chaco region to the west, a largely uninhabited semi-arid region; and the eastern forested departments of the country, accounting for some 98% of the country's inhabitants. As such the river is considered perhaps the key geographical feature of the country with which it shares its name.

Some 400 kilometres (250 mi) after flowing through the middle of Paraguay, at the confluence with the Pilcomayo River and passing the Paraguayan capital city, Asunción, the river forms the border with Argentina, flowing generally south-southwesterly for another 275 kilometres (171 mi) before it reaches its end, joining with the Paraná River.