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Asunción

Capital of ParaguayAsunción grew up on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, just north of where the Pilcomayo River joins it. Across the water lie Argentina to the south-west and the western part of Paraguay to the north-west.

Why it's the capital

In 1537 Juan de Salazar built a fort here, at a bay where he stopped to resupply his ships. When the Spanish settlers of Buenos Aires fled here in 1542, Asunción became the centre of a large Spanish colonial province. In May 1811 rebels in the city forced the Spanish governor to surrender, and Paraguay became independent.

Fun facts

  1. The fort was founded on 15 August, the feast of the Assumption of Mary, so it was named Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción, 'Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption'.
  2. It is called the 'Mother of Cities' because Spanish expeditions left from here to found other cities, including Buenos Aires for the second time, Corrientes and Santa Fe.
  3. The independence leaders met in secret at the home of Juana María de Lara, which is now a museum called the House of Independence.

Finding it on the globe

Follow the Paraguay River to the point where it forms the border with Argentina and the Pilcomayo River flows in. Asunción is on the east bank, just upstream of that meeting point.

Sources: Wikipedia: Asunción