Antequera District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antequera
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District
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From top: a view of the sunset over the Paraguay River and the watchtower in Antequera.
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 Antequera
Location in Paraguay
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| Named for | José de Antequera y Castro |
| Government | |
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• Mayor
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Julio César Alfonzo Fisher (ANR) |
| Area | |
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• Total
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1,492 km2 (576 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Population | |
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• 2023 estimate
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4,352 |
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• Density
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2.82/km2 (7.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 |
| Calling code | 451 |
| Website | https://www.municipios.gov.py/antequera/ |
Antequera is a district in the San Pedro region of Paraguay. It is known for its important role in exporting grains. The district has many large storage buildings called silos. It also has ports where ships load up the grains to send them to other places.
Contents
What Does Antequera Mean?
The district got its name from José de Antequera y Castro. He was a Spanish criollo. A criollo was someone born in the Americas but of Spanish family. José de Antequera y Castro helped solve problems between the criollos and the governor at the time.
He first arrived by boat at the very spot that later became the Antequera district. There is a monument by the river to honor him.
A Brief History of Antequera
Antequera started as a small settlement in 1892. It was founded by two brothers, Juan Alberto López and José Visitación López. Later, in 1955, this settlement grew and officially became a district.
Amazing Geography
Antequera is home to two special lakes, Verá and Brillante. These names mean "bright" in Guarani and Spanish. They are popular places for tourists to visit. People believe these lakes were formed thousands of years ago by a meteor shower. Imagine meteors falling from space and creating lakes!
Culture and Traditions
The biggest celebration in Antequera is the Feast of the Cross. It happens every year on May 3. This festival honors a cross that was put up to remember a woman named Francisca.
During the Paraguayan War, Francisca was on a boat and about to have a baby. Sadly, the soldiers left her, and she and her baby died in the river. The cross became known as Kurusu Chika. This means "the cross of Chika" in Guarani. Chika is a Guarani way of saying Francisca.
Over time, people in Antequera believed Francisca could perform miracles. They started to see the cross as a way to protect their district.
On the day of the feast, many fun activities take place. Thousands of people come to enjoy student parades, music shows, and boat processions. There are also ballet performances and religious celebrations. Sometimes, they even act out the story of Francisca.
Throughout the rest of the year, fishing is a very popular activity. Antequera is right next to a river, and the fish there are known to be very good!
See also
In Spanish: Antequera (Paraguay) para niños
