The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-08
THE GREAT RIVER PARAGUAK. WITH IT'S AZ
FLUENTS AND THEIR CAPACITY FOR STEAM
M wa 4TJON



The Paraguay has its in little lakes las
es LGgas situated ia about latitude 1870 south longi
ude So 2O in those elevated ranges to the west Of Bra
iii which constitute the watershed OF of the prnci
pal rivers Of South America from the northern deeliyi
ties Of which descend the MADEIRA the Tapajo and other
great streams, afiuents Of the Amazon whilst those
which pour down towards the south unite with the Para
guay. II is joined by several nayisable streams IL
passes through the rich Brazilian provinces of Matte
Crosse and Cuyaba The short portage that intervenes
between the headwaers Of the Jaufd of its upper
atuents and the Guapore which falls into the Amazon
Is all that breaks continuous water from the
mouths Of that mighty river TO that of the La Plata
The mouth of the Jaurd is in latitude 100 25' longi
tude $50 S0 and the boundary established between
tbs spanish and Portuguese doTninons by Joint COM
mission in pursuance Of the treaty of 1850. To this
point the Paraguay is nayigabe upwards OF twelve hun
bred miles from the for vessels Of fifty tons bur-
den. little below the JapId commences that region Of
swamps called the Lagunas of XaTayes, which, during
the periodical foundations of the rivers that descend from
the mountains above Cuyaba, is flooded for vast ex
tent forming great shallow inland sea from latitude
49, where may be said TO commence to 22o reaching
nearly three hundred miles from north TO SOUTH and up
wards of one hundred in width inundating Of the
low lands in the province OF Chqutos and of the Gran
Chaco. The rivers which flow into the Paraguay from
the eastward afford the OF Communication with the
gold and diamond districts Of Brazil and lower down
with those districts of Paraguay proper which abound in
the finest timber and produce the yeba mate the article
most in demand in that country.
From the west the most important affuens of the
Paraguay the Pcomayo and the Vermejo which fall
into it below the town Of Assumption the capital of the
republic of Paraguay both the rivers flow through
vast extent of country, having their in the eeya
ted regions of the Bolivian Andes The Paraguay unites
with the Parana near Corrientes in latitude 2Io so
north Its total course is about sixteen hundred miles
The Pcomayo rises in the mountains to the northwest
of Poos and is shortly after increased by several smaller
streams and amongst Others the Cachimayo rising in
the vicinity of Chuquisaoa the capital of Bolivia About
two hundred miles below where it is crossed by the high
road between Potos and Chuquisaca it receives its
nnnD tyyfaf he Inv the
united streams OF many small rivers descending from the
mountains of Lpez, Tupia and IuIina WHENCE running
in souheasterly direction after very toruous course
through the fiat low country in the centre of the Gran
Chaco it falls into the Paraguay by two branches
Assumption called the Araguay guazu, Great
Araguay, in latitude $50 81 49,; the other the Mini,
or Little Araguay. about twentyseven miles further
down. Its total is estimated at two thousand
miles 1t is navgable for vessels of eighty tons burden
about two hundred and seventy miles to its burcaton
where the navigation is DISTRACTED by ledge it,
The yermeo, Red river, rises the Bolivian from
tier and joins the Paraguay fourteen miles southwest OF
Neembuca Its total is estimated at hundred
and fifty miles, and is navigabe from Its junction with
the Lavayan, in about latitude 23o not far from the
town Of Oran, the confines of Bolivia to the Para
quay and thence to Buenos Ayres distance of than
two thousand miles.
About thirty miles below the mouth of the Vermejo,
the Paraguay joined from the East by the great river
Parana, which the united waters thence take till
they finally lost in the La Plata This river, rival
ling in extent the Paraguay itself rises in the mountain
chains of the Brazilian province OF Mnas Genes to the
northwest of Rio de Janero, in latitude zoo south
Turning first westward and afterwards towards the South
is increased by several large rivers, amongst which the
most noted the Rio Grande or Para the iete, the
PaTanapane and the Curtiba On reaching the Guaran
Missions Candelara in about latitude 27o 30, it
turns again westward until it falls into the Para uay
Thence these two mighty streams, mngling their waters,
flow on in vast and uninterrupted body, gradually
increased by rivers of minor importance which join
it from either side till they finally empty themselves into
the great estuary OF the Rio de la Plata Its total
is about two tho sand miles.
The Parana is interrupted in its by many fords
and rapids and is only navgable to the island of Apip
about hundred miles above its junction with the Pa
raguay The latter properly called the contrary
may be naygated upwards by vessels of burden the
whole way 70 the Jaurd in latitude leo 25, presenting
the extraordinary instance of an uninterrupted inland
navigation in extent of nearly 100 of latitude,
throughout the whole of which there is not rock
stone to impede the passage the bottom being everywhere
formed of mud or fine sand.
The Rio Salado Salt river has its sources in the
snowy ranges of Acay, in the province of Saa, in lat
24o 20 flows through the departments of Salta Tucu
man. and Santiago, and falls into the Parana Santa
Fe, in latitude about 80 40' two hundred and ten
about thousand miles 1t is said to be navgable
high Mataa in the latitude of Santiago del Estero
about 2To 40.
There is q striking analogy between the Paraguay and
the Nile, in their periodical risngs and foundations
Both have their sources in ntcrtropcl ATTITUDES and
though running towards opposite poles dsembogue by
deltS at ABOUT the same distance from the equator both
nayigabe for very long distances, and both have
their periodical rsngs, bursting their natural
bounds, flooding and ferzing vast tracts of country
The Uruguay, which contributes with the Parana to
form the great estuary of La Plata takes its from
its falls and rapids The whole extent of its
course is about eight hundred miles 1T rises in lat 27o
30' in the province of Rio Grande do Sui, Brazil and
for long distance nearly due west receiving be
sides many auents of less Importance the Uruguay Mini
or Little Uruguay from the south, and Pepiry-Guazd
Greater Pepry, from the north As it approaches the
Parana 1T changes its COURSE ncning southwark through
the fertile territories in which the Jesus established
their celebrated Missions Opposite to Yupeqd the last
of those establishments it receives in lat 29o 80 the
Ybcuy, considerable stream from the east. In 500
IL the Mnay pours into it from the west considerable
portion Of the drainage of the vast lake swamp of
Ybera lis principal tributaries afterwards the Qua
leguaychh from the Argentine province of Entire Rios
and the Rio Negro the largest river of the Banda Oren
tai after receiving which it falls into the La Plata
with the Pauna forty miles north of Buenos Ayres in
about $40 south latitude.
The navigation of the Uruguay is interrupted by many
Lodges of rocks ard falls, only rsabe wi the waters
at their highest during the periodical inundatons or
by poages In the dry OF these the Sato Grande
and Sato Chico great and small falls little below the
3lst degree of latitude the first and worst imped
ments met with in ascending the river The former CON
sists Of rocky reef running like wall across its bed
foabe at low water though during the floods is pass
able in boats, by which the river navigabe without
further danger, as high up the Missions The higher
parts OF the river bounded by forests OF noble trees in
great variety and in its bed found beautiful specimens
of slicfied wood and yariegated pebbles
The Rio Negro, Black river which runs into the
Uruguay from the Banda Oriental, derives it's name from