Fuerte Olimpo
Encyclopedia
Fuerte Olimpo is a city in Paraguay
. It is the capital of the department of Alto Paraguay.
Capital of Alto Paraguay Region, far from Asunción
838 km, located on Paraguay River, originally called Fuerte Bordón
. The city is also known as “la puerta de entrada al Pantanal”, entrance to Pantanal.
Fuerte Olimpo is on east of Chaco Boreal on east shore of Paraguay River
near the mouth of Blanco River, to the north the moist ground called humedales from the Gran Pantanal. Fuerte Olimpo is far away from the flood area.
The city is surrounded by a wall 4 km long.
Fuerte Olimpo is between two hills, in one is Fuerte Bordón and in the other one is Maria Auxiliadora Cathedral.
The hill 3 hermanos are elevations of the region, on top of the middle cerro palms of karanday can be seen and also the moist ground of the Pantanal
Nabileque and Sierra de Bordón in Brazil
.
in 1792 named Fuerte Borbón
by the Governor Joaquín Alos y Bru, who sent the Commandant José Antonio de Zavala y Delgadillo, to protect the area from the Virreinato del Río de la Plata
from the bandeirantes
from Brazil. The first settlement was between the Brazilian Forte Porto Carrero and Fecho dos Morros. Caciques Mbayaes were invited for the foundation.
During José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
government it was called Fuerte Olimpo, maybe because of the main Cerro (hill) which was said to resembleMount Olimpus
in ancient Greece. At that time Paraguayan sovereignty established a free port
for Brazilian trading.
At the beginning of Triple Alianza War
(1865–1870) it was a very important offensive spot in the Mato Grosso
, in 1866 Fuerte Olimpo was a strategic place too but it was taken by Brazilians when campaign ended. Originally, Argentina
wanted to own from Fuerte Olimpo to Chaco Boreal to the Bahía Negra, but when Brazil left Paraguay, Argentina did not claim it.
After the 1970s the area belonged to large landowners who chopped the quebrechales
having native people work as slaves, that period was called tannin cycle, it was the beginning of some industries, forests were destroyed and the place was used for cattle raising good for the kind of weather. Another important aspect was the industries of tejas, palm and bricks. So Fuerte Olimpo became a port for exportation. During Chaco war in the 1930s Fuerte Olimpo was again an important place for offensive strategies. It was declared the business center of Alto Paraná Region
.
The main activity is cattle rising.
to Bahía Negra.
Another way to go there is going Route 9 “The Transchaco highway” to “Cruce Pioneros”, at km. 409, there is a no paved route to get Fuerte Olimpo.
You can also get to Loma Plata
, at km 444 and there is a no paved route until km. 333.
There is also a landing runway for small planes.
You can also ride some motor launches on the Paraguay River to enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna of the region. There are some tourist guides.
with: Camisano Vicentino
, Italy
(2011)
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. It is the capital of the department of Alto Paraguay.
Capital of Alto Paraguay Region, far from Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
838 km, located on Paraguay River, originally called Fuerte Bordón
Fort Borbon
Fort Borbón is a fort located in the Paraguayan Chaco; it was established to provide protection from the natives and Portuguese. After the Portuguese were expelled by Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, it was changed to its present name Fort Olimpo.-History:...
. The city is also known as “la puerta de entrada al Pantanal”, entrance to Pantanal.
Fuerte Olimpo is on east of Chaco Boreal on east shore of Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
near the mouth of Blanco River, to the north the moist ground called humedales from the Gran Pantanal. Fuerte Olimpo is far away from the flood area.
The city is surrounded by a wall 4 km long.
Geography
This plain is almost 300 metres above the sea level. Soil is good for farming and cattle rising. Laguna Capitán is a lagoon in Fuerte Olimpo.Fuerte Olimpo is between two hills, in one is Fuerte Bordón and in the other one is Maria Auxiliadora Cathedral.
The hill 3 hermanos are elevations of the region, on top of the middle cerro palms of karanday can be seen and also the moist ground of the Pantanal
Pantanal
The Pantanal is a tropical wetland and one of the world's largest wetland of any kind. Most of it lies within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay, sprawling over an area estimated at between and...
Nabileque and Sierra de Bordón in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Weather
The weather is tropical, temperatura is around 45 °C (113 °F) in summer, and the minimum 9 °C (48 °F) in winter. The average is 25 °C (77 °F). Long droughts followed by strong rains are important characteristics of the region.Demography
Fuerte Olimpo is a city with 4998 inhabitants, 2585 men and 2413 women, according to the Census.History
The city was founded by SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1792 named Fuerte Borbón
Fort Borbon
Fort Borbón is a fort located in the Paraguayan Chaco; it was established to provide protection from the natives and Portuguese. After the Portuguese were expelled by Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, it was changed to its present name Fort Olimpo.-History:...
by the Governor Joaquín Alos y Bru, who sent the Commandant José Antonio de Zavala y Delgadillo, to protect the area from the Virreinato del Río de la Plata
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, , was the last and most short-lived Viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire in America.The Viceroyalty was established in 1776 out of several former Viceroyalty of Perú dependencies that mainly extended over the Río de la Plata basin, roughly the present day...
from the bandeirantes
Bandeirantes
The bandeirantes were composed of Indians , caboclos , and some whites who were the captains of the Bandeiras. Members of the 16th–18th century South American slave-hunting expeditions called bandeiras...
from Brazil. The first settlement was between the Brazilian Forte Porto Carrero and Fecho dos Morros. Caciques Mbayaes were invited for the foundation.
During José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
government it was called Fuerte Olimpo, maybe because of the main Cerro (hill) which was said to resembleMount Olimpus
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
in ancient Greece. At that time Paraguayan sovereignty established a free port
Free port
A free port or free zone , sometimes also called a bonded area is a port, port area or other area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location...
for Brazilian trading.
At the beginning of Triple Alianza War
War of the Triple Alliance
The Paraguayan War , also known as War of the Triple Alliance , was a military conflict in South America fought from 1864 to 1870 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay...
(1865–1870) it was a very important offensive spot in the Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso
Mato Grosso is one of the states of Brazil, the third largest in area, located in the western part of the country.Neighboring states are Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul. It also borders Bolivia to the southwest...
, in 1866 Fuerte Olimpo was a strategic place too but it was taken by Brazilians when campaign ended. Originally, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
wanted to own from Fuerte Olimpo to Chaco Boreal to the Bahía Negra, but when Brazil left Paraguay, Argentina did not claim it.
After the 1970s the area belonged to large landowners who chopped the quebrechales
Schinopsis balansae
Schinopsis balansae is a hardwood tree which forms forests in the subtropical Gran Chaco ecoregion of north-eastern Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found in the wild Pantanal vegetation in Brazil. Some of its common names are quebracho colorado chaqueño and quebracho santafesino...
having native people work as slaves, that period was called tannin cycle, it was the beginning of some industries, forests were destroyed and the place was used for cattle raising good for the kind of weather. Another important aspect was the industries of tejas, palm and bricks. So Fuerte Olimpo became a port for exportation. During Chaco war in the 1930s Fuerte Olimpo was again an important place for offensive strategies. It was declared the business center of Alto Paraná Region
Alto Paraná Department
Alto Paraná is a department in Paraguay. The capital is Ciudad del Este .The Alto Paraná department has experienced tremendous economic and population growth in the past 50 years...
.
Economy
It includes some ports:- 14 de Mayo
- Esperanza
- Leda
- Lida
- Maria Elena
The main activity is cattle rising.
Transportation
Boats and canoes are the main important means of transportation to get to Fuerte Olimpo. People travel in the riverboat Aquidabán , which goes from ConcepciónConcepción, Paraguay
- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
to Bahía Negra.
Another way to go there is going Route 9 “The Transchaco highway” to “Cruce Pioneros”, at km. 409, there is a no paved route to get Fuerte Olimpo.
You can also get to Loma Plata
Loma Plata
Loma Plata is a city and distrito of the Department of Boquerón, Paraguay, located 407 km from Asunción by a detour of Route IX "Carlos A. Lopez". It is part of one of the Mennonite colonies of the Paraguayan Chaco.-Climate:...
, at km 444 and there is a no paved route until km. 333.
There is also a landing runway for small planes.
Tourism
- Fuerte Borbón, from 1792. Built from rocks on one of the Olimpo hills.
- María Auxiliadora Cathedral, on top of another hills, built of stone.
- An observatory: the three hills of Fuerte Olimpo: called "Tres Hermanos".
- A museum and native tribe called Ishir “Virgen Santísima”, which includes presentation of some crafts and a welcome from the Shaman.
You can also ride some motor launches on the Paraguay River to enjoy the wonderful flora and fauna of the region. There are some tourist guides.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Taipei is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Camisano Vicentino
Camisano Vicentino
Camisano Vicentino is a town in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. It is north of SP24, and about 5 miles away from Autostrada A4.It has a famous Sunday market.-Twin towns — Sister cities:Taipei is twinned with: Fuerte Olimpo, Paraguay...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(2011)