Chaco Central
Quick Summary
The Chaco Central is a region within the Gran Chaco, an alluvial plain in South America. This area is situated between the Pilcomayo and Bermejo rivers in Argentina and Paraguay. The Gran Chaco itself is a vast lowland region characterized by arid subtropical climates, low forests, and savannas.1
The Chaco Central's landscape is largely flat and features a mix of vegetation, including deciduous scrub woodlands and forests of spiny, thorny trees and brush. The region experiences significant flooding during the rainy season due to heavy rainfall and flat terrain, with drainage being a persistent challenge. Water scarcity is also a major impediment to development in many parts of the Chaco.213
Historically, the Gran Chaco has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples and later saw European colonization, with economic activities focusing on cattle ranching, timber exploitation, and, more recently, cotton cultivation. The Chaco War (1932-1935) between Bolivia and Paraguay significantly impacted the region, with Paraguay gaining control of much of the Chaco Boreal.12
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ArgentinaThe Gran Chaco…River is known as the Chaco Central. Argentines have named the area southward to latitude 30° S, where the Pampas begin, the Chaco Austral (“Southern Chaco”). The Gran Chaco in Argentina descends in flat steps from west to east, but it is poorly drained and has such a challenging combination…
Read More…River is known as the Chaco Central. Argentines have named the area southward to latitude 30° S, where the Pampas begin, the Chaco Austral (“Southern Chaco”). The Gran Chaco in Argentina descends in flat steps from west to east, but it is poorly drained and has such a challenging combination…
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Gran Chaco… north of the Pilcomayo, the Chaco Central between the two rivers, and the Chaco Austral south of the Bermejo; the portion of the Chaco in Bolivia commonly is called the Bolivian Chaco.
Read More… north of the Pilcomayo, the Chaco Central between the two rivers, and the Chaco Austral south of the Bermejo; the portion of the Chaco in Bolivia commonly is called the Bolivian Chaco.
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