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Ciudad del Este

Táva Kuarahyresẽme (Avañe'ẽ)

City

Skyline of Old Town Ciudad del Este

Friendship Bridge

Lake Republic

Acaray Dam

Anfiteatro del Lago

Peru Avenue

Ciudad del Este, Paraguay

Flag

Ciudad del Este

Location in Paraguay

Country

Paraguay

Department

Alto Paraná

Founded

3 February 1957
(68 years ago)

Area

• City

104 km² (40 sq mi)

Population

(2019)

• City

301,815

• Density

2,902/km² (7,520/sq mi)

• Metro

546,643

GDP (PPP, constant 2015 values)

• Year

2023

• Total

$4.7 billion

Time zone

UTC-04 (PYT)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-03 (PYST)

Postal code

7000

Area code(s)

+595 (61)

Climate

Cfa

Ciudad del Este (which means Eastern City in Spanish) is the second-largest city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the Alto Paraná Department. The city is located on the Paraná River, about 327 kilometers east of Asunción, Paraguay's capital.

Ciudad del Este is right next to the border with Brazil. A special bridge called the Friendship Bridge connects it to Brazil. This city is the biggest one in the Triple Frontier area. This is where Paraguay, Brazil (at Foz do Iguaçu), and Argentina (at Puerto Iguazú) all meet.

Near Ciudad del Este, you can find the Itaipú Dam. This is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world. The famous Iguazu Falls are also close by.

Ciudad del Este is a very busy commercial city. It is one of the biggest free-trade zones in the world. Many people from Brazil and Argentina come here to shop because items are tax-free.

The city is home to Club Atlético 3 de Febrero, a football team. Their stadium, Estadio Antonio Aranda, is Paraguay's third-largest football stadium. It was used for the 1999 Copa América tournament.

History of Ciudad del Este
Where is Ciudad del Este?
- Rivers and Lakes
- Climate
Economy
- Fun Things to Do (Tourism)
People of Ciudad del Este
- Neighborhoods
City Design
Getting Around
International Connections
Famous People from Ciudad del Este
Sister Cities
Gallery
See also

History of Ciudad del Este

After the 1950s, Paraguay wanted to connect more easily to the Atlantic Ocean through Brazil. Building a road to the Paraná River was a big step. Captain Porfirio Pereira Ruiz Díaz led the army units that built a 200-kilometer road. This road started from Coronel Oviedo.

On February 3, 1957, the city was officially founded. It was first named "Puerto Flor de Lis," which means "Port Lily Flower." This was near a place called Tacuru pucu, meaning "Tall Termite Hill" in the Guarani language.

Later, the city's name was changed to "Puerto Presidente Stroessner." This was to honor the leader at the time, Alfredo Stroessner.

After a big change in Paraguay in 1989, people voted for a new name. They chose "Ciudad del Este," meaning "East City."

The city grew very quickly after the Friendship Bridge was built. Also, the Acaray and Itaipu dams helped the city and its economy grow. Many people from different countries moved here. Today, there are many Chinese, Arab, Indian, and Korean people living in Ciudad del Este. It is now the second most developed and populated city in Paraguay.

Where is Ciudad del Este?

This city is in the southeastern part of Paraguay. It is part of an international meeting point called the "Triple Frontier." Ciudad del Este is across the river from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. The Paraná River separates them, and they are connected by the Friendship Bridge.

The border with Argentina is also nearby. It is between the town of Presidente Franco and Puerto Iguazú. Ciudad del Este, along with nearby towns like Hernandarias, Minga Guazú, and Presidente Franco, forms a larger city area.

Ciudad del Este is on an important international road. This road connects southeastern Bolivia with southern Brazil. This has helped the city become a busy trading spot.

Rivers and Lakes

The Paraná River is on the east side of the city. The Acaray River is to the north, separating it from Hernandarias. To the southwest, the Monday River separates it from Los Cedrales.

The city also has other important water bodies:

The Republic Lake is a popular place for fun and relaxation.
The Yrendy Lake is seen as a special natural area.
There are bridges over the Acaray River, like the José Costa Cavalcanti bridge and the Peru bridge.

Climate

Ciudad del Este has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. The average temperature in January is about 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit).

Winters are mild and can be unpredictable. Temperatures in July average around 16 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit).

The city gets about 1700 millimeters (67 inches) of rain each year. It even snowed once in 1982, which was very rare for the country!

Economy

Ciudad del Este is very important for Paraguay's economy. It creates about 8% of the country's total economic output. This is around 3.5 billion dollars.

Many companies in the city work in services and industry. They make things like car parts and textiles. Even though the city itself doesn't have farms, it's a hub for nearby farming areas. The city also has a large food market with over 800 shops. They sell fruits, vegetables, and clothes.

The city's economy is closely linked to Brazil's economy. Paraguay sells most of its share of power from the Itaipu Dam to Brazil. Also, many Brazilians cross the border daily to buy cheaper products in Ciudad del Este, especially electronics.

In recent years, Ciudad del Este has become known for selling electronics, computer products, and luxury items like perfumes. The city's economy is growing beyond just trade. New industries are starting, like agribusiness, which deals with farming and food production.

Fun Things to Do (Tourism)

Ciudad del Este has many hotels, modern shopping centers, restaurants, and places for fun at night. While shopping is a big reason people visit, there are also many other cool places to see.

The area is known as the Triple Frontier, where Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina meet. Here are some highlights:

About 20 kilometers north, in Hernandarias, is the Itaipú Dam. It's one of the biggest hydroelectric power plants in the world. There's also the Museum of the Guaraní Land.
About 8 kilometers south, in Presidente Franco, you can see the Jumps of Monday. These are beautiful waterfalls.
About 26 kilometers south is the Moisés Bertoni Scientific Monument. This is a protected area where a famous wise man did his research.
About 20 kilometers east, on the border between Argentina and Brazil, are the amazing Iguazu Falls.

Close to the city center, you'll find the "Lake of Republic." It's surrounded by green plants and has an outdoor theater. This is a great place for the community to enjoy art and cultural events. There are also walking paths, bike paths, playgrounds, and places to eat.

The 3D Planet Museum is inside the Paris Shopping center. It has incredible 3D paintings made by artists from around the world. You can see famous places like the Great Wall of China and the Roman Colosseum. The shopping center also has a snow park!

The Tourist's Home (El Turista Róga) helps visitors. It's near the Green Park and offers information and maps in many languages.

People of Ciudad del Este

Ciudad del Este is a very diverse city. It has a population of over 300,000 people. It is the most populated city in Paraguay after Asunción.

Many people from Asia live here, especially from Taiwan, Korea, Lebanon, and Iran. You can see this in the city's mosques and pagodas.

Like in the rest of Paraguay, many people speak both Spanish and Guaraní. A mix of these languages, called Jopara, is also common. Because of its closeness to Brazil, many people also speak Portuguese, especially in business. With so many immigrants, you can also hear languages like Arabic, Chinese, and Korean in the city center.

Neighborhoods

Ciudad del Este is divided into many neighborhoods. A main road, Route No. 7, splits the city into two parts. The Microcentro neighborhood is right in the middle.

City Design

Buildings

Even though Ciudad del Este is a newer city, it has some buildings with classic designs. You can see these at the Plaza Jesuítica.

Green Spaces

The city has many green areas with lots of trees. Some of the main parks include:

Ex-airport Alejo García park
Monseñor Agustín Van Aaken park
Bernardino Caballero park
Acosta Ñu park
Green Park

These parks offer fun things to do like bike paths, exercise areas, and skateboarding tracks.

Along Los Yerbales Avenue, there are parks like "Manuel Ortiz Guerrero" and "José Asunción Flores." These parks help protect the local plants and animals. The Linear Park project is making some of these green spaces even better for everyone to enjoy. It will have walking trails, bike paths, free Wi-Fi, playgrounds, and outdoor gyms.

City Planning

Because the city is growing so fast, there are plans to make it even better. Architects and engineers are working to improve transportation and make Ciudad del Este a modern and sustainable city.

Getting Around

Guarani International Airport is located in the nearby city of Minga Guazú. It connects Ciudad del Este with other places in Paraguay. It also handles international cargo flights, mostly to Asia and North America.

International Connections

Because Ciudad del Este is an important city, it has many international offices. These offices help with diplomatic services and matters for people from other countries. The city also has offices for legal matters, identification, and migration. For example, the National Direction of Migration is located at the start of the Friendship Bridge.

Famous People from Ciudad del Este

Axel Bachmann: A chess player who won the Ibero-American chess championship twice.
Braian Samudio: A professional football player.
Fabián Balbuena: A professional football player.