The subtropical Paraguay was founded in 1811 and nicknamed Corazón de América, meaning “the Heart of America” for its central location on the continent. The population is around 6.8 million (2013) and the capital is Asunción. Christianity is the main religion and the Roman Catholic Church is especially popular. The official languages are Spanish and Paraguayan Guaraní, with Guaraní being is one of the most-widely spoken indigenous languages of the Americas. The time zone is two hours ahead of EST.

Paraguay people are known for producing some of the world’s most exquisite lacework. They are famous for Nanduti (meaning “spiderweb”), which is beautiful lace created in circular designs in various vibrant colors. Another unique fact is that Paraguay is the only country in the world whose national flag has different emblems on each side, with the Coat of Arms on the front and the Treasury Seal on the back. The motto on the flag is Paz y Justica, meaning “peace and justice.” Paraguay’s flag is also one of the world’s oldest national flags.

A beautiful collection of waterfalls worth exploring is the Iguacu Falls on the Iguacu River. It’s made up of 275 individual waterfall cascades, and it is taller and two times wider than Niagara Falls! Another amazing sight is the Itaipu Dam, a huge hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River between Brazil and Paraguay. It’s known for its nighttime light shows and astonishing views. About 210 football stadiums could be built with the concrete used to make the Itaipu Dam – it is truly huge!