Capitán Carmelo Peralta facts for kids

Capitán Carmelo Peralta, often called Carmelo Peralta, is a city and district in Paraguay. It sits right on the Paraguay River, bordering Porto Murtinho in Brazil. The city is about 716 km away from Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. It is part of the Alto Paraguay region.

People call it "The Gateway to the Pantanal" or "The Pantanal City." This is because it's a great starting point to explore the Pantanal. The Pantanal is the world's largest wetland, shared by Paraguay, Brazil, and Bolivia.

A very important road, the PY15 "Bioceanic" route, starts here. This road crosses the Paraguayan Chaco from east to west. It ends at Pozo Hondo, which is on the border with Argentina.

What's in a Name?

The city is named after Carmelo Peralta. He was a brave Paraguayan military pilot from Quiíndy. He served as a Captain in the Paraguayan Air Force during the Chaco War.

Later, he became a Major. He was the personal pilot for President José Félix Estigarribia and his wife. Sadly, he died in a plane crash with them on September 7, 1940, when he was only 30 years old. After his death, he was given the higher rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

A Look Back in Time

The first people came to this area in 1898. There were about 12 families. A Brazilian woman named Margarita was the first to settle on an island, which is now called Margarita Island.

An old Paraguayan map from 1933 shows this area. It was called Puerto Eduardo back then and was a cattle ranch.

The city of Carmelo Peralta was officially started in 1940. It was built directly across the river from Porto Murtinho in Brazil.

Around that time, a company from Argentina and England worked here. They harvested quebracho trees. These trees were used to make tannin, a substance that turns animal hides into leather.

In 1948, a religious group called the Apostolic Vicariate of the Paraguayan Chaco was formed. Its first bishop was Monsignor Ángel Muzzolón. From 1956 to 1962, he met the Ayoreo indigenous people. They lived near Fortín Madrejón in the Boreal Chaco. In 1963, because of dry weather, the Salesian missionaries moved their base. They went to Puerto María Auxiliadora, about 30 km south of Carmelo Peralta. The Ayoreo people who had been taught by them also moved there.

In 1974, there was an idea to start a Paraguayan settlement. It was called Colonia Francisco Careaga Chávez. But ten years later, most of the land was sold to businesses from Brazil.

Carmelo Peralta used to be part of the Puerto Casado district. But on May 2, 2008, it became its own municipality. This change happened because of Law No. 3,471.

Where is Carmelo Peralta?

The city is on the western side of the Paraguay River. It shares a border with Porto Murtinho, Brazil.

It borders other towns in Paraguay too:

• To the northwest: Coronel Cabral and Toro Pampa.
• To the north: Puerto Guaraní and Fuerte Olimpo.
• To the south: Puerto María Auxiliadora and Puerto La Esperanza.
• To the southwest: Coronel Paulino Alén (Cruce Paragro).
• To the west: Mayor Hilario Amarilla (Cruce 65).

What People Do for a Living

Most people in Carmelo Peralta work in different ways. They raise cattle, farm, and fish. Tourism is also important, with visitors enjoying boat trips. People also sell handicrafts and trade goods with Brazil.

Who Lives Here?

The people living in Carmelo Peralta include Paraguayan criollos, Ayoreo indigenous people, and Brazilian ranchers. The city has about five thousand residents.

Besides the main city, there are also smaller communities nearby:

• Puerto La Esperanza (once called Puerto Sastre) has 800 people.
• Colonia Monseñor Ángel Muzzolón has 50 people.
• Puerto María Auxiliadora (Cucaani Indigenous Community) has 50 people.
• Mayor Hilario Amarilla (Cruce 65), which is a detour to Bahía Negra, has 40 people.

Buildings and Services

Carmelo Peralta is growing fast! The PY15 road is being paved, and a new bridge to Brazil is being built. This brings many companies to the area.

New buildings are popping up, like:

• Real estate developments
• Hotels and restaurants
• Warehouses and minimarkets
• Gas stations and car repair shops
• Stores selling imported goods

The city also has important public services. These include schools, colleges, and health centers. There's a police station, a local court, and churches too.

There is a small dirt airstrip, about 1,300 meters long. It is used for regional flights. Plans are being made for a new, modern airport outside the city. It will have an asphalt runway and serve as a main hub for cargo and passengers in the region.

See also

In Spanish: Capitán Carmelo Peralta para niños