!!!Paraguay %%image_right [{GoogleMap location='Paraguay' type='embedded' zoom='bounds' width='450' height='350'}] %% [{Image src='pa-lgflag.gif' class='image_left' height='150' width='226'}] [{Image src='paraguay.jpg' class='image_left' }] Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy. %%menu-geo %%cols-r * %%icon-geo,geo %% [Geography|Geography/America/Paraguay/Geography] * %%icon-geo,maps %% [Maps|Geography/America/Paraguay/Maps] * %%icon-geo,culture %% [Culture|Geography/America/Paraguay/Culture] ---- * %%icon-geo,special %% [Special Information|Geography/America/Paraguay/Special_Information] * %%icon-geo,picture %% [Pictures|Geography/America/Paraguay/Pictures] * %%icon-geo,community %% [Community Contributions|Geography/America/Paraguay/Community_Contributions] %% %%