Puerto Casado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puerto Casado
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|---|---|
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| Country | Paraguay |
| Department | Alto Paraguay |
| Founded | 1889, Carlos Casado |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.226 km2 (7.037 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 7.280 |
| Time zone | -4 Gmt |
| Postal code |
9000
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| Climate | Aw |
Puerto Casado is a town and district in Alto Paraguay Department, Paraguay. It was once known as La Victoria. About 7,800 people live in the town of La Victoria or Puerto La Victoria.
Contents
A Look at Puerto Casado's History
Puerto Casado was founded in 1889. It was named after the Carlos Casado Company. This company was very important for the area. In 1973, Puerto Casado officially became a district.
Puerto Casado and the Chaco War
Puerto Casado played a big role in the Chaco War. This war was fought between Paraguay and Bolivia. The town was a key port for Paraguayan soldiers. They traveled through Puerto Casado to reach the battlefields.
The Carlos Casado Company owned a huge area of land. It was over 5,000,000 hectares in the Paraguayan Chaco. The company had a special narrow-gauge railway. This railway stretched 145 km west from the River Paraguay. It helped move soldiers and supplies. Mennonites, who were early settlers, also used this railway.
The Railway's Importance
The railway was first built to move wood. It had almost 150 km of track deep into the Chaco region. During the Chaco War, the railway was extended. It reached 160 km. This allowed Paraguayan troops to get to forts. It helped them stop the Bolivian army.
The railway was vital for the war effort. It transported:
- Soldiers
- Weapons
- Ammunition
- Food and supplies
- Vehicles
- Fuel
- Medicines
- Wounded soldiers
Old Landmarks and Famous Visitors
The old Kilometro 11 station is a historic spot. It was once part of the Carlos Casado Company's railway. This old house still stands today.
In 1931, a military command was set up in Puerto Casado. General José Félix Estigarribia was the commander. He lived in a large house called "La Chaqueña."
Emiliano R. Fernández, a famous Paraguayan poet, lived in Puerto Casado around 1923. He wrote many poems there. He was often called the "northern poet."
The Carlos Casado Company
The Carlos Casado Company was a very large business. It bought over 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi) of land in 1886. The company focused on cutting down trees. They also produced Tannin. Tannin is a substance from the "quebracho" tree. It was used to treat animal hides.
The founder's son, José Casado, managed the site from 1929 to 1945. During the Chaco War, the company's workshops were used. They repaired all kinds of machinery and weapons. Puerto Casado also served as a river port and military base. The tannin factory closed down in the late 1990s.
What to See and Do in Puerto Casado
Galvan Hill
Galvan Hill is about 5 km south of Kilometro 11. You can still see old railway tracks there. The poet Emiliano R. Fernández wrote a poem called "The Fashion" here in 1926.
Local Crafts
In the early 1980s, a former worker had an idea. He made a "guampa" (a cup for drinking mate tea). He used stainless steel from the old tannin factory. People loved his idea! He started making more guampas. Today, these unique guampas are made in many designs. They are popular gifts and souvenirs.
Fishing
Fishing is a popular activity in Puerto Casado. You can fish in the Paraguay and Apa Rivers. There are also many streams in the area.
What's in a Name?
Puerto Casado means "Casado Port." The town was named after the Compañía Carlos Casado. This company was based in Rosario, Argentina. They processed quebracho logs into tannin here for many years.
Puerto Casado's Climate
The climate in Puerto Casado is tropical. Summers can be very hot, reaching 45 degrees Celsius. Winters are milder, with lows around 9 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is 25 degrees. The area often has long dry periods. These are followed by heavy rains. The climate is known as a tropical savannah climate (Aw).
| Climate data for Puerto Casado | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 42.0 (107.6) |
41.6 (106.9) |
42.0 (107.6) |
38.5 (101.3) |
36.0 (96.8) |
33.2 (91.8) |
37.0 (98.6) |
40.0 (104.0) |
39.5 (103.1) |
43.2 (109.8) |
42.2 (108.0) |
42.0 (107.6) |
43.2 (109.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 33.8 (92.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
32.8 (91.0) |
30.6 (87.1) |
27.5 (81.5) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
27.9 (82.2) |
29.7 (85.5) |
31.7 (89.1) |
32.9 (91.2) |
33.6 (92.5) |
30.5 (86.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
26.9 (80.4) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.8 (71.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.3 (73.9) |
25.6 (78.1) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.9 (82.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
22.1 (71.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
14.9 (58.8) |
15.7 (60.3) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.3 (70.3) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 13.0 (55.4) |
12.8 (55.0) |
9.5 (49.1) |
5.6 (42.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.8 (46.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 140.0 (5.51) |
118.6 (4.67) |
123.0 (4.84) |
107.0 (4.21) |
76.1 (3.00) |
56.6 (2.23) |
27.9 (1.10) |
44.8 (1.76) |
51.9 (2.04) |
111.9 (4.41) |
150.0 (5.91) |
181.8 (7.16) |
1,189.6 (46.83) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 85 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 66 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 69 | 71 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Geography of Puerto Casado
The land around Puerto Casado is mostly flat. It is a plain that is not higher than 300 meters above sea level. There are some small hills and fertile areas. These lands are used for farming and raising animals.
How People Live in Puerto Casado
The town of La Victoria has 6,489 residents. This includes 3,304 men and 3,185 women. These numbers are based on government estimates.
Puerto Casado's Economy
The main business in Puerto Casado is raising animals. In the past, the Carlos Casado Ltda. company was the biggest employer. It was a large tannin factory. Today, you can still see the old homes of its workers and owners. There is also an old hotel from that time.
Transportation to Puerto Casado
You can reach Puerto Casado by road. Take the Transchaco Highway (National Route N° 9). Drive 409 km from Asunción to the Pioneers junction. From there, it's about 230 km east on an unpaved road called Amalia Route.
Puerto Casado also has an airport, La Victoria Airport. You can also travel to Puerto Casado by riverboat.
Images for kids
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Map showing Alto Paraguay Department, where Puerto Casado is located.
See also
In Spanish: Puerto Casado para niños
