Arroyos y Esteros facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arroyos y Esteros
District
Arroyos y Esteros Location in Paraguay
Country	Paraguay
Department	Cordillera
Founder	March 9 by Pedro Melo de Portugal
Area
• Total	533 km2 (206 sq mi)
Elevation	70 m (230 ft)
Population  (2008)
• Total	19.001 inh.
• Density	37/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	-4 Gmt
Postal code	3190
Area code(s)	(595) (510)

Arroyos y Esteros (Spanish for Streams and Swamps) is a district in the Cordillera Department of Paraguay. It is a growing town known for its natural beauty and important farming activities.

What's in a Name? Arroyos y Esteros

The name "Arroyos y Esteros" means Streams and Swamps in Spanish. This name perfectly describes the area, which has many streams and swampy lands.

Long ago, it was also called Tobatí Tuyá, after one of the rivers in the region. The founder, Governor Pedro de Melo de Portugal, first named it "Chapel Duarte." But in 1849, Carlos Antonio López officially changed its name to "Arroyos y Esteros."

Discovering Arroyos y Esteros

Arroyos y Esteros is a small but growing town. About 20,000 people live in the district. Most of them live in 13 smaller communities around the main town center. Only about 8,000 people live in the town itself.

The town's founder, Father Fidel Maíz, once described the land as having many streams and swamps. This is how the town got its unique name.

Location and Travel

Arroyos y Esteros is located on International Highway 3. This makes it easy to travel quickly to Asuncion, the capital city. You can even go there and back in the same day! The town is about 67 kilometers (42 miles) from Asunción. Historically, Arroyos y Esteros has been closely connected to the larger town of Tobati, which is about 23 kilometers (14 miles) to the south.

Local Celebrations

The town's main festival, called fiesta patronal, is on October 4th, honoring San Francisco. However, each smaller community also has its own special celebration day. The town also celebrates its Foundation Day on March 9th. This day was chosen to honor the birth and death of Father Fidel Maíz, a very important person in the town's history.

Geography and Nature

Arroyos y Esteros is surrounded by rivers like the Piribebuy and Manduvirá. These rivers lead to many swamps and streams before flowing into the important Paraguay River.

The region is very rich in plants and trees because of its special location. It has a lot of natural beauty.

Local Legend

There's a local legend that says two images of the Mother Virgin were found in the area. One of these images is now in Caacupé, which is known as the faithful capital city of Paraguay. The other image is said to be in Tobatí.

Nearby Streams, Rivers, and Hills

Some streams nearby are:

• Yhaguy
• Yhú
• Capiatá
• Hondo
• Tobatiry

The rivers that surround the city are:

• Manduvirá
• Piribebuy

Some hills are:

• Mainumby
• Ypecuá
• Olivares
• Lomas de Acevedo
• Cordillera de los Altos

Weather in Arroyos y Esteros

The weather in Arroyos y Esteros is generally mild and dry. Temperatures usually range from 23 to 27 degrees Celsius (73.4-80.6 F). In winter, the lowest temperature can be around 3 degrees Celsius (37.4 F).

Population of Arroyos y Esteros

According to a 2002 census, Arroyos y Esteros had 22,723 residents. Out of these, 12,052 were men and 10,670 were women. About 2,049 people lived in the main urban area, while 16,592 lived in the surrounding rural areas.

History of the Town

The city was founded by Governor Pedro de Melo de Portugal. He first named it "Capilla Duarte." Later, in 1849, Carlos Antonio López officially changed its name to "Arroyos y Esteros."

Since there was no exact founding date, the town decided to celebrate its foundation on March 9th. This date marks the birth and death of Father Fidel Maíz, a very important priest connected to the town.

Local people tell a story about how the first President, Carlos Antonio López, visited Priest Maíz. The President supposedly said, "I had to cross rivers, streams, and swamps to get here!" This story is said to be the reason the city was named Arroyos y Esteros.

Economy: The "World's Cradle of Organic Sugar"

Arroyos y Esteros is famous for its farming. It is known as the "World's Cradle of Organic Sugar" because it is the main producer of sugarcane in Paraguay. From sugarcane, people also make honey and rum.

Besides sugarcane, farmers also grow other important crops like pineapple and bananas. Raising cattle is another big part of the town's economy. A large factory that makes organic sugar has greatly helped the local economy.

Getting Around: Transportation

The main way to reach Arroyos y Esteros is by using Route III, also known as “Gral. Elizardo Aquino.” Buses from a company called “Empresa Fidel Maiz” connect the city to the capital, Asuncion, passing through Emboscada. You can also get to Arroyos y Esteros by traveling from Caacupe through Tobati.

Things to See: Tourism

There are a few interesting places to visit in and around Arroyos y Esteros:

• The oldest organic sugar mill in the world, called OTISA.
• Its sister company, Legado Organic Craft Distillery.
• Paso Itá, a scenic spot.

Important People from Arroyos y Esteros

Father Fidel Maíz was born in Arroyos y Esteros. He was a very important person during the War of the Triple Alliance.

Images for kids

• 

  Church of Arroyos y Esteros

• 

  Front of the Municipality of Arroyos y Esteros

• 

  Square in Arroyos y Esteros

• 

  Ancient house in the city of Arroyos y Esteros

See also

In Spanish: Arroyos y Esteros para niños