Humaitá

For the city in the Amazonas state in Brazil, see Humaitá, Amazonas.

Humaitá
Country	Paraguay
Department	Ñeembucú
Population  (2008)
• Total	1,709

Humaitá is a town in southern Paraguay, lying on the Paraguay River. It is best known for its role as the major Paraguayan stronghold in the War of the Triple Alliance, when it was home to up to 24,000 troops from 1866 until its fall in August 1868. Until March of that year, it was the de facto home of the Paraguayan government.

File:Parag.697.Humaita ruins.jpeg

Humaitá ruins

Parts of the fortifications, including large earthworks, are still visible. The other main attraction is the remains of a Jesuit church and reductions, dating from the 18th century.

Toponymy

Its name comes from the Guaraní word “yma” which means antique and the word “itá” which means stone. Humaitá would mean then, Old Stone.

Geography

The predominant geography in the zone is of a sheet of low areas, of whitish land, without prominent waviness. Due to the proximity of the river, the increase of the waves overwhelms the whole bordering zone, therefore the geopolitical importance that the city had in the past.

Weather

It’s a tropical weather that can reach 0 ºC in the winter and a 40 ºC in the summer.

History

The old fortress of Humaitá is located on the left side of the Paraguay River, approximately 430 km to the south of Asunción. During the Triple Alliance War (1864-1870) this fortress controlled the fluvial access to the capital, Asunción. Due to the control of this route, it became the stronger and more feared Paraguayan city. The defensive system of Humaitá was initiated by Carlos Antonio López (1790-1862). Strategically dominating a closed curve of the course of the river, it was constituted in a series of defenses, both fluvial and by land. In addition of the two walls with bunkers heavily armed, it relies on barracks of troops of officials, ammunition stores, offices, church, cemeteries and swamps in the area where there's more traffic, protected by kilometers of trenches. Some mines and three big rows of chains they were preventing the navigation in the part of the river dominated by the fortress.

Economy

The inhabitants devote themselves to the (cattle), there are also agriculturers in a minor scale and an important part of the population is devoted on the fishing.

Arts and crafts

Among other productive activities, the inhabitants of Humaitá fabricate pictures in burlaps, vases, gauntlets; articles in vegetable sponge. They devote themselves to make also carpets and rustic tapestries, tablecloths and apparels in crochet.

Transportation

To this city one can arrive, from Asuncion thru the route 1, and in the city of San Ignacio, the detour leads to Pilar. When one arrives to Pilar, one must cross towards the south, going 40 more km in an embanked route, without asphalt. There is a bus that exits the Bus Terminal in Asunción and goes to Pilar. From there, one can take an interurban bus that goes to the city of Humaitá.

Patrimony

The city has a rich historical patrimony. Humaitá was more involved than any other city in the Triple Alliance War. The Paraguayan army used this city to contain the invasion of the Alliance. When the city had been totally wrecked by the enemy’s troops, the war was over, Paraguay had lost what was probably the greatest genocide that occurred in Latin-America.

Tourism

Many people go to Humaitá with tourist intentions. Student delegations of the whole Paraguay, Brazilian, Paraguayan and Argentine military men and civil Americans and Europeans go to Humaitá, anxious to know the vestiges of the War of the Triple Alliance.

File:Parag.697.Humaita ruins.jpeg

Humaitá's ruin.

• Humaitá's ruin: it is practically the last vestige standing of the bombardments of the enemy cannons of the war. It was San Carlos Borromeo's church. Carlos Antonio López ordered its construction and the church was inaugurated on January 1, 1861. At the time, it was considered to be one of the most beautiful of America.
• Museum of the former barrack of Lopez: it has 3 rooms where the relics found in the battlefields are exposed; bullets of gun, cannon, stirrups, spurs, swords and other chattels.
• Itapunta
• Curupayty
• Estero Bellaco

The city has some hotels, like the Municipal hotel, which has an architecture italianizante, constructed at the end of the 19th century. Many historians say that the gral Stroessner stayed there during the revolution of 1947.

Gastronomy

The new gastronomic complex called The Terrace is located in the middle of the town square full of tajys and eucalyptuses. The restaurant opens from Monday to Monday and offers the three daily meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Fishing

Because of its privileged location, on the banks of the Paraguay River, Humaitá is also a great place to fish. There is great variety of fish as vogue such as Mandi'i, catfish, piranha, armado, duck, Dorado, surubí, pacú, carimbatá and other species that are the main income of many fishing men. The Milanese of surubí is the most wanted plate in the bars and local restaurants.

Sources

• World Gazeteer: Paraguay – World-Gazetteer.com

27°03′S 58°33′W