Humaitá
Encyclopedia
Humaitá is a town on the Paraguay River
in southern Paraguay
. During the War of the Triple Alliance
, it served as the main Paraguayan stronghold from 1866 until its fall in August 1868. During that time, it housed as many as 24,000 troops. Up until March 1868, it was the de facto home of the Paraguayan government.
Portions of the old fortification
s, including some large earthworks
, are still visible. It also possesses the remains of a Jesuit church dating from the 18th century.
words “yma” (meaning antique) and “itá” (meaning stone).
, the increase of the waves overwhelms the whole bordering zone, therefore the geopolitical importance that the city had in the past.
During the Triple Alliance War
(1864–1870) this fortress was important because it controlled river access to the capital, Asunción
.
The defenses of Humaitá were begun by Carlos Antonio López (1790–1862). Built both on water and on land, they dominate a bend in the river. They include two walls with heavily-armed bunkers, barracks for troops and officials, ammunition stores, offices, a church, and cemeteries, protected by kilometers of trenches. Mines and chains were used to restrict navigation of the river.
Local crafts include vases, gauntlets, pictures in burlap, and articles made from vegetable sponge. Carpets, tapestries, tablecloths, and crocheted apparel are also produced.
, take the detour to Pilar
. From Pilar, the route heads southward, going 40 more kilometre on a road without asphalt.
One may also take the bus from Asunción to Pilar
and transfer to an interurban bus that serves Humaitá.
Hotels in the city include the Municipal Hotel, with Italianate architecture, constructed at the end of the 19th century. Many historians believe that Stroessner
stayed there during the 1947 revolution.
, Humaitá is also a popular place to fish. Fish such as Mandi'i, catfish, piranha, armado, duck, dorado
, surubí, and pacú
provide the main income of fishermen. Milanese surubí is a popular dish in local restaurants.
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
in southern Paraguay
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...
. During the War of the Triple Alliance
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...
, it served as the main Paraguayan stronghold from 1866 until its fall in August 1868. During that time, it housed as many as 24,000 troops. Up until March 1868, it was the de facto home of the Paraguayan government.
Portions of the old fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s, including some large earthworks
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
, are still visible. It also possesses the remains of a Jesuit church dating from the 18th century.
Toponymy
Humaitá comes from the GuaraníGuaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
words “yma” (meaning antique) and “itá” (meaning stone).
Geography
The predominant geography in the zone is of a sheet of low areas, of whitish land, without prominent waviness. Due to the proximity of the Paraguay RiverParaguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
, the increase of the waves overwhelms the whole bordering zone, therefore the geopolitical importance that the city had in the past.
Climate
The climate is tropical, with temperatures reaching 0 °C in winter and 40 °C in the summer.History
The old fortress of Humaitá is located on the left side of the Paraguay River, approximately 430 km to the south of Asunción.During the Triple Alliance 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...
(1864–1870) this fortress was important because it controlled river access to the capital, 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...
.
The defenses of Humaitá were begun by Carlos Antonio López (1790–1862). Built both on water and on land, they dominate a bend in the river. They include two walls with heavily-armed bunkers, barracks for troops and officials, ammunition stores, offices, a church, and cemeteries, protected by kilometers of trenches. Mines and chains were used to restrict navigation of the river.
Economy
The inhabitants fish, raise cattle, and practice small-scale agriculture.Local crafts include vases, gauntlets, pictures in burlap, and articles made from vegetable sponge. Carpets, tapestries, tablecloths, and crocheted apparel are also produced.
Transportation
Humaitá may be reached via Route 1 from Asunción. At San IgnacioSan Ignacio, Paraguay
San Ignacio, also known as San Ignacio Guazú, is a city and district in the Misiones Department of Paraguay, located from Asunción. It is the second-largest district in area and the largest in population , of Misiones' ten districts.-Geography:The urban area of the district is located right in...
, take the detour to Pilar
Pilar, Paraguay
Pilar is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Ñeembucú, located along the Paraguay River in the southwestern part of the country. Located about from Asunción, Pilar serves as an important center of commerce and government for the far southwestern region of the country.- History :Pilar...
. From Pilar, the route heads southward, going 40 more kilometre on a road without asphalt.
One may also take the bus from Asunción to Pilar
Pilar, Paraguay
Pilar is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Ñeembucú, located along the Paraguay River in the southwestern part of the country. Located about from Asunción, Pilar serves as an important center of commerce and government for the far southwestern region of the country.- History :Pilar...
and transfer to an interurban bus that serves Humaitá.
Patrimony
The city has a rich historical patrimony. Humaitá was more involved than any other city in the Triple Alliance War. The Paraguayan army used this city to contain the invasion of the Alliance. When the city had been totally wrecked by the enemy’s troops, the war was over, Paraguay had lost what was probably the greatest genocide that occurred in Latin-America.Tourism
Many tourists visit Humaitá. Students from all over Paraguay come the vestiges of the War of the Triple Alliance, as do Brazilian, Paraguayan and Argentine military men and American and European civilians.- Ruins of Humaitá. Only a few vestiges survived bombardment by enemy cannons during the war. One of these was San Carlos Borromeo's church. Carlos Antonio López ordered its construction. It was inaugurated on January 1, 1861. At the time, it was considered one of the most beautiful in the AmericasAmericasThe Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. - Museum of Lopez's former barracks. It has three rooms where bullets, cannon, stirrups, spurs, swords, and other battlefield relics are displayed.
- Itapunta
- Curupayty
- Estero Bellaco
Hotels in the city include the Municipal Hotel, with Italianate architecture, constructed at the end of the 19th century. Many historians believe that Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...
stayed there during the 1947 revolution.
Fishing
Due to its location on the Paraguay RiverParaguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
, Humaitá is also a popular place to fish. Fish such as Mandi'i, catfish, piranha, armado, duck, dorado
Dorado
Dorado is a constellation in the southern sky. It was created in the late 16th century and is now one of the 88 modern constellations. Its name refers to the dolphinfish , which is known as dorado in Spanish, although it has also been depicted as a swordfish...
, surubí, and pacú
Pacú
Pacu or pacú is the common name of several South American fishes.PACU, Pacu or pacú may also refer to:*Piaractus mesopotamicus , a South American ray-finned fish that is endemic to the Paraguay-Paraná River basin*Tambaqui , known as black pacu, black-finned pacu, giant pacu*Philippine Association...
provide the main income of fishermen. Milanese surubí is a popular dish in local restaurants.
Sources
- World Gazeteer: Paraguay – World-Gazetteer.com * Revista Zeta