Concepción Department, Paraguay
Concepción () is a department of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Concepción. History. Throughout history, this department has suffered a great amount of population instability, especially in the times of the colony, due to the advance of the Brazilian "bandeirantes" through the east and the attacks of the Mbayá – Guaicurú natives of Chaco, which, by then, were the lords of that region. During the later years of the colony, it was organized a great campaign to re-conquest the invaded territories with the intention of defending by populating the region and also with the important task  of the Jesuit that founded the city of Belén, of creating a Mission with the Mbayá natives, in the year 1760. During the governments of Francia and López, the populating process got stronger and the north area of Paraguay became a territory dedicated to cattle. Francia ordered the construction of the penal colony of Tevego in 1813 in the Concepción department. Once the Paraguayan War was over, Concepción united with Amambay, constituting a great territory for forestall and yerba plantations. In the Twentieth Century, Concepción was proclaimed to be the second most important city of the country and it became  an active commercial center. Because of its bind with Mato Grosso it experienced important development during that time. In the year 1906, with the first plan to arrange the national territory, it was proclaimed the first department. Its limits were established with the decree 426 of 1973, as we know them nowadays. Limits. Concepción is located in the central part of the oriental region of Paraguay, between the parallels 22°00′ y 23°30′ South and meridians 58°00′ y 56°06′ West. Districts. The department is divided into 14 districts: Note: The districts of Sargento  José Félix López, Paso Barreto, San Alfredo, and others were created after the 2021 Census. Climate. In summer, the temperature rises to 39° Celsius, and in winter, drops to 2 degrees Celsius. The media is 24 degrees Celsius. The rains can be about 1.324 mm. The rainiest months are November, December and January, and the dryer ones are June, July and August. Orography and soil. The lands of this territory are of relatively elevation and even more close to the north and east frontiers, where they acquire the characteristic of true mountains. These are lands of calcareous origin, with  a diversity of granite rocks and marble. The soil is very fertile. In the center and the north the land is a great territory for pasture, with woods and yerba fields. In the south, the lands are high, with little pendants and woods. To the north of the department, there is a succession of hills of low height; the elevations that are continuous form the Cordillera Quince Puntas, along with the mountain range of San Luis from north to south. The hills: Valle-mi, Medina, Pyta, Naranjahai, Itaipú Guazú and Sarambí, destacate from others. Hydrography. The Paraguay river runs to  the west of Concepción along with the minor rivers Apa, Aquidabán and Ypané, and the streams that bathe the territory are: Estrella, Sirena, Apamí, Primero, Quiensabe, Negla, Trementina, Chacalnica, Tapyanguá, Pitanohaga, Guazú, Mbui'i, Ypanemí, Capiibary, Mboi Guazú. The ports are: There is an important watch tower over the Paraguay River and the Vallemí area. Nature and vegetation. Concepción is set in the ecological region of Aquidabán, a part of region of Amambay and another part in the region of the Central Forest. Deforestation is a big problem in this department because of the continuous advance of human activity, creating a  great shock to the natural resources of the region. One of the biggest problems is the uncontrolled hunting of animals in the area. Most of the forestall species are in extinction danger, as do the animals too. The ones that are in more risk of disappearing of the area are: the puma, yaguareté, gua'a pytá (red parrot), gua'a hovy (blue parrot), tucán, tacua guazú, mbo'i jagua, jacaré overo and lobopé. Some of the protected areas are: Economy. In agriculture, the most important products are: cotton, sugar cane, maize, sesame seed, wheat and manioc. It is also important the production of  bell pepper, sweet potatoes, banana, pepper, tártago, coffee, pineapple, grapefruit, and stevia. The silviculture has diminished due to the massive deforestation in this region. The breeding of animals is the third production of the country, surpassed only by Presidente Hayes and San Pedro's. The mortality rates for bovine cattle are relatively low. In Concepción is found the largest land of natural pasturing of the Oriental Region. There are also, porcine, ovine, and goat cattle in important percentage. In Vallemí is the Cement National Industry, which has 150 lime extractor plants by the Paraguay River. And near the Apa River  quarries of marble are exploit. There are also other industries such as cold-storage plants, silos, mills and cotton gin industries. Communication and services. The Paraguay River is the most important waterway, because is navigable most of the territory that coasts Concepción, almost 230 km. The Bioceanic Route crosses through the department. The Route 5 "Gral. Bernandino Caballero" communicates with Pedro Juan Caballero and connects with Route 3 "Gral. Elizardo Aquino", that takes to Asunción. Another access to the department is through Pozo Colorado, a military depot, which connects with Route 9 "Carlos Antonio Lopez", also known as "Transchaco Route