Loma Plata facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Loma Plata
City
Loma Plata Location in Paraguay
Country	Paraguay
Department	Boquerón
Founded	June 25, 1927
Elevation	133 m (436 ft)
Population
• Total	16,460
Time zone	UTC-4
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3
Postal code	9370
Area code(s)	(595)(492)
Climate	BSh

Loma Plata is a city in the Boquerón Department of Paraguay. It is about 407 kilometers (253 miles) from Asunción, the capital city. You can reach it by a paved road that branches off the Ruta Transchaco.

Loma Plata is the main town of the Menno Colony. This is one of the Mennonite communities in the Paraguayan Chaco region.

Climate and Weather

The weather in Loma Plata can be very hot in summer, reaching up to 44°C (111°F). In winter, temperatures can drop to 0°C (32°F). The average temperature is around 26°C (79°F). The main rainy season happens from December to March.

History of Loma Plata

The history of Loma Plata is closely linked to the Russian Mennonite people. Mennonites are a Christian group who believe in peace and do not fight in wars.

Moving from Russia and Canada

In 1874, Russia started making everyone join the army. Because of their beliefs, many Mennonites moved to the US and Canada. Later, in 1917, Canada introduced new school rules. These rules made English language and general education compulsory. Some Mennonites felt this threatened their religious way of life.

So, in 1927, about 1,743 Mennonite pioneers traveled from Canada to Paraguay. They wanted to find a place where they could live according to their beliefs. They settled in the dry Chaco region and worked hard to turn it into good farmland. This was the first Mennonite colony in the area. Later, more Mennonites from Germany and Russia also came and started other colonies like Fernheim (1930) and Neuland (1947).

Challenges of Early Settlement

The journey to Paraguay was very difficult. The land was not ready for them. There was no railroad, and the settlers had to wait 16 months in Puerto Casado. They traveled to the settlement area using ox carts on rough roads.

Many families lived in wilderness camps at first. There was not much medical care, and many people got sick. Sadly, 121 people died, including 75 children under 14. About 60 families decided to return to Canada.

Building a Community

Despite the challenges, the settlers kept going. They formed 14 villages and slowly built homes, schools, and churches. Over time, the Menno Colony grew. Today, it has about 9,000 descendants of the original settlers. The community is also very diverse, with Mennonites, indigenous Paraguayans, Latin Paraguayans, and other groups living there.

In 1937, Loma Plata became the main center of the colony. An office was built, which is now the Post Office. The name "Loma Plata" is Spanish, meaning "Silver Hill." Some settlers wanted a German name, "Sommerfeld," but Loma Plata remained the official name.

Today, Loma Plata is still the main town. It is home to a large farming cooperative called La Cooperativa Chortitzer Ltda. This cooperative focuses on producing dairy products and meat.

Churches in Loma Plata

The first and largest church building was built in Osterwick, which is outside Loma Plata. Today, there are many churches in the area. Some churches speak German, like Emmanuelgemeinde and Elimgemeinde. There are also churches that speak Spanish, such as Agua Viva. You can also find Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Pentecostal churches.

Economy and Jobs

People in Loma Plata work in different areas. Many are involved in agriculture (farming), raising livestock (animals), and industry. They are part of La Cooperativa Chortitzer Ltda.

There are big dairy farms in the region. About 5,000 people live in Loma Plata. The town has two large supermarkets and many smaller ones. You can also find hardware stores, a bookshop with books in German, English, and Spanish, and many small clothes shops.

Things to See and Do (Tourism)

Loma Plata has some interesting places for visitors.

• Tourist Office: You can find the tourist office in a traditional building on the main street. They show a film every day about how the colony was founded.
• Museum: Loma Plata has a museum with old farming tools displayed outside. You can also see a typical pioneer house. Inside, there are photos showing the history of the colony. Guided tours are available in German, Plattdeutsch, Spanish, and English.
• Dairy Tours: The "Trebol" dairy company offers tours of their facilities. You can learn how they make dairy products.
• Meat Processing Tours: You can also visit Frigochorti, a meat processing plant. You can watch the slaughtering process through glass windows.
• Rodeo Club Exhibit: The Rodeo Club Isla Po'i holds an annual exhibit on June 12. This event shows new developments in farming and agricultural equipment.

Getting Around (Transportation)

Loma Plata is easy to reach by a paved road. This road is 22 kilometers (14 miles) long and connects to the Transchaco highway. Bus companies like Nasa and Golondrina offer bus services multiple times a day between Loma Plata and Asunción. Loma Plata also has its own private airport.

See also

In Spanish: Loma Plata para niños