Paraná River

{{short description|River in South America}} {{About|the second-longest river in South America|the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil|Paranã River}} {{Infobox river | name = Paraná River | native_name = {{native name|gn|Parana}} | name_other = Rio Paraná, Río Paraná | name_etymology =  | image = Paraná.jpg | image_size = 300 | image_caption = Paraná River seen from [[Zárate, Buenos Aires Province]], [[Argentina]] | map = Cuenca Paraná.png | map_size = 300 | map_caption = Map of the Paraná River Basin, showing the Paraná River in highlight | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = 300 | pushpin_map_caption =  | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = {{ubl|[[Argentina]]|[[Brazil]]|[[Paraguay]]}} | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = [[South America]] | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 =  | length ={{cvt|2,546|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Principales campañas">{{cite web|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/prefecturanaval/buque-cientifico-spa-1-dr-luis-federico-leloir/principales-campanas|title=Principales campañas |date=31 March 2023 }}</ref> (''Paraná with [[Paranaíba River|Paranaíba]] 3,740 km'', ''Paraná with [[Rio Grande (Paraná River)|Rio Grande]] 4,001 km''<ref name="Contrasting the Middle Paraná and Mississippi Rivers to develop a template for restoring large floodplain river ecosystems">{{cite journal|journal=River Basin Management|title=Contrasting the Middle Paraná and Mississippi Rivers to develop a template for restoring large floodplain river ecosystems|last1=John|first1=M. Nestler|last2=Claudio|first2=R.M. Baigún|last3=Noberto|first3=Oldani|last4=Larry|first4=J. Weber|url=https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/bitstream/11336/22815/2/CONICET_Digital_Nro.f47de066-c520-44fe-acf2-ddca974c3259_A.pdf|volume=5|page=305-319|date=2007 |issue=4 |doi=10.1080/15715124.2007.9635329 |bibcode=2007IJRBM...5..305N }}</ref>) (''Río de la Plata–Paraná–Rio Grande 4,880 km''<ref name=britannica/>) | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = [[Paraná Delta]] | discharge1_min = {{cvt|2,450|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = (Period 1971–2010){{cvt|19,706|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref> ({{cvt|17,290|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=britannica/>–{{cvt|21,100|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary River Basin Overview–La Plata">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/ca2141en/CA2141EN.pdf|title=Transboundary River Basin Overview–La Plata}}</ref>) | discharge1_max = {{cvt|65,000|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}  | source1 = [[Paranaíba River|Paranaíba]] | source1_location = [[Rio Paranaíba]], [[Minas Gerais]], [[Brazil]] | source1_coordinates = {{coord|19|13|21|S|46|10|28|W|display=inline}}<ref>{{cite web |format=PDF in ZIP |title=Monitoramento da Qualidade das Águas Superficiais da Bacia do Río Paranaíba: Relatório Annual 2007 |url=http://aguas.igam.mg.gov.br/aguas/downloads/relatorios/2007/Rel_Paranaiba_07.zip |url-status=dead |publisher=Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais, Instituto Mineiro de Gestão das Águas |date=2008 |access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706155757/http://aguas.igam.mg.gov.br/aguas/downloads/relatorios/2007/Rel_Paranaiba_07.zip |archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref> | source1_elevation = {{convert|1,148|m|abbr=on}} | source2 = [[Rio Grande (Paraná River)|Rio Grande]] | source2_location = [[Bocaina de Minas]], [[Minas Gerais]], [[Brazil]] | source2_coordinates = {{coord|22|9|56|S|44|23|38|W|display=inline}} | source2_elevation = | source_confluence = [[Paranaíba River|Paranaíba]] and [[Rio Grande (Paraná River)|Rio Grande]] | source_confluence_location = | source_confluence_coordinates = {{coord|20|5|12|S|51|0|2|W|display=inline}} | source_confluence_elevation = | mouth = [[Rio de la Plata]] | mouth_location = Atlantic Ocean, Argentina, Uruguay | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|34|0|5|S|58|23|37|W|type:_river}}<ref>{{GEOnet2|32FA87C246353774E0440003BA962ED3|Río Paraná Guazú}} (main distributary)</ref> | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}} | progression =[[Río de la Plata]] → [[Atlantic Ocean]] | river_system = '''[[Río de la Plata]]''' | basin_size = {{cvt|2,630,667|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref> | tributaries_left = [[Gualeguay River|Gualeguay]], [[Iguaçu River|Iguaçu]], [[Piquiri River (Paraná)|Piquiri]], [[Ivaí River|Ivaí]], [[Paranapanema River|Paranapanema]], [[Tietê River|Tietê]], [[Rio Grande (Paraná River)|Rio Grande]] | tributaries_right = [[Carcarañá River|Carcarañá]], [[Salado River (Argentina)|Salado]], [[Paraguay River|Paraguay]], [[Ivinhema River|Ivinhema]], [[Pardo River (Mato Grosso do Sul)|Pardo]], [[Rio Verde (Mato Grosso do Sul)|Verde]], [[Sucuriú River|Sucuriú]], [[Paranaiba River|Paranaiba]] | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = |discharge2_location =[[Corrientes]] |discharge2_avg= (Period 1971–2010){{cvt|18,979|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref> (Period: 1904–2022){{cvt|17,179.11|m3/s|cuft/s}}<ref name="Characterization of the recent (2019–2022) La Plata Basin hydrological drought from a centennial-scale perspective">{{cite journal|journal=HydroResearch|last=Juan|first=A. Rivera|doi=10.1016/j.hydres.2024.02.002|volume=7|page=140-153|date=2024|title=Characterization of the recent (2019–2022) La Plata Basin hydrological drought from a centennial-scale perspective|doi-access=free |bibcode=2024HydRe...7..140R }}</ref> |discharge3_location = [[Itatí, Corrientes|Itatí]] |discharge3_avg =(Period 1971–2010){{cvt|13,916|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref> |discharge4_location = [[Itaipu Dam|Itaipú]] |discharge4_avg =(Period 1971–2010){{cvt|11,746|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref> (Period: 1981–2022) {{cvt|10,284|m3/s|cuft/s}}<ref name="Hydrometeorological drought analysis through Two-variate Standardized Index for the Paraná River Basin, Brazil">{{cite journal|journal=Regional Studies|title=Hydrometeorological drought analysis through Two-variate Standardized Index for the Paraná River Basin, Brazil|volume=54|date=2024|last1=Luz Adriana|first1=Cuartas|last2=Thais|first2=Fujita|last3=Juliana|first3=Andrade Campos|last4=Cintia|first4=Bertacchi Uvo|last5=Gholamreza|first5=Nikravesh|last6=Jonas|first6=Olsson|last7=Johanna|first7=Sörensen|last8=José Antonio|first8=Marengo|last9=Diogo|first9=Amore|last10=Elisangela|first10=Broedel|last11=Jerusa|first11=Peixoto|article-number=101886 |doi=10.1016/j.ejrh.2024.101886|bibcode=2024JHyRS..5401886C |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581824002350 }}</ref> |discharge5_location = [[Eng Sérgio Motta Dam|Porto Primavera]] |discharge5_avg =(Period 1971–2010){{cvt|7,938|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin">{{cite web|url=https://iwlearn.net/resolveuid/92c8003b-1b64-424e-b251-602185ffa061|title=Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the La Plata Basin}}</ref>}}

The '''Paraná River''' ({{langx|pt|Rio Paraná}} {{IPA|pt|ˈʁi.u paɾaˈna||Pt-br Paraná.ogg}}; {{langx|es|Río Paraná|links=no}} {{IPA|es|ˈri.o paɾaˈna||ES-pe - Río Paraná.ogg}}; {{langx|gn|Ysyry Parana}}) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some {{convert|4880|km|mi}}.<ref name=britannica>"Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 26 May. 2012 https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/443063/Parana-River {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428130909/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/443063/Parana-River |date=2012-04-28}}. "Rio de la Plata". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 26 May. 2012 https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/463804/Rio-de-la-Plata {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509112732/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/463804/Rio-de-la-Plata |date=2015-05-09}}</ref> Among South American rivers, it is second in length only to the [[Amazon River]]. It merges with the [[Paraguay River]] and then farther downstream with the [[Uruguay River]] to form the [[Río de la Plata]] and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

The first European to go up the Paraná River was the Venetian explorer [[Sebastian Cabot (explorer)|Sebastian Cabot]], in 1526, while working for Spain.

A drought hit the river in 2021, causing a 77-year low.<ref>{{cite news |title=South America's drought-hit Paraná river at 77-year low |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58408791 |publisher=BBC News |date=2021-09-01 |access-date=2021-09-04 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Down river |url=https://graphics.reuters.com/CLIMATE-UN/ARGENTINA-RIVER/zdpxoreykvx/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2021-11-06}}</ref>

== Etymology == In eastern South America there are "an immense number of river names containing the element ''para-'' or ''parana-''", from [[Guarani language]] words meaning "river" or "sea"; attempts to derive a more precise meaning for the name of this, the largest of them, e.g. "kin of the sea", have been discounted.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Holmer|first=Nils m.|year=1960|title=Indian Place Names in South America and the Antilles. I.|journal=Names: A Journal of Onomastics|volume=8|issue=3|pages=133–148|doi=10.1179/nam.1960.8.3.133|url=http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/308|access-date=20 September 2021|doi-access=free}}, pp=139-141.</ref>

== Course == {{unreferenced|section|date=July 2024}} The course is formed at the confluence of the [[Paranaiba river|Paranaiba]] and [[Rio Grande (Paraná River)|Rio Grande]] rivers in southern Brazil. From the confluence the river flows in a generally southwestern direction for about {{convert|619|km|mi|abbr=on}} before encountering the city of [[Saltos del Guaira]], Paraguay. This was once the location of the [[Guaíra Falls]] (Sete Quedas waterfalls, where the Paraná fell over a series of seven cascades. This natural feature was said to rival the world-famous [[Iguazu Falls]] to the south. The falls were flooded, however, by the construction of the [[Itaipu Dam]], which began operating in 1984. For approximately the next {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the Paraná flows southward and forms a natural boundary between Paraguay and Brazil until the confluence with the [[Iguazu River]]. Further upstream from this confluence, however, the river is dammed by the Itaipu Dam, the third largest [[hydroelectric power plant]] in the world (following the [[Three Gorges Dam]] and the [[Baihetan Dam]], both in the [[People's Republic of China]]), creating a massive, shallow reservoir behind it.

After merging with the Iguazu, the Paraná becomes the natural border between Paraguay and Argentina. Overlooking the Paraná River from [[Encarnación, Paraguay]], across the river, is downtown Posadas, Argentina. The river continues its general southward course for about {{convert|468|km|mi|abbr=on}} before making a gradual turn to the west for another {{convert|820|km|mi|abbr=on}}, and then encounters the [[Paraguay River]], the largest tributary along the course of the river. Before this confluence, the river passes through a second major hydroelectric project, the [[Yacyretá Dam]], a joint project between Paraguay and Argentina. The massive reservoir formed by the project has been the source of a number of problems for people living along the river, most notably the poorer merchants and residents in the low-lying areas of Encarnación, a major city on the southern border of Paraguay. River levels rose dramatically upon completion of the dam, flooding out large sections of the city's lower areas.

From the confluence with the Paraguay River, the Paraná again turns to the south for another approximately {{convert|820|km|mi|abbr=on}} through Argentina, making a slow turn back to the east near the city of [[Rosario]] for the final stretch of less than {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}} before merging with the [[Uruguay River]] to form the [[Río de la Plata]]. This flows into the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. During the part of its course downstream from the city of [[Diamante, Entre Ríos]], it splits into several arms and it forms the [[Paraná Delta]]. {{main|Paraná Delta}}

==Tributaries== The main tributaries from the mouth:<ref name="Rivers Network–Parana (La Plata)">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=174&catid=336&Itemid=179|title=Rivers Network–Parana (La Plata)|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! Left tributary ! Right tributary ! Length (km) ! Basin size (km2) ! Average discharge (m3/s)* |- | colspan="5" |'''[[Paraná Delta]]''' |- | rowspan="4" | |[[Luján River|Luján]] |100 |5,065.6 |60.5 |- |Arroyo de La Cruz | |1,057.2 |12.9 |- |Areco |124 |4,149.8 |51.6 |- |[[Arrecifes River|Arrecifes]] |255 |11,304.4 |114.4 |- |[[Gualeguay River|Gualeguay]] | rowspan="3" | |375 |22,716 |237.9 |- |[[Nogoyá River|Nogoyá]] |164 |9,334.5 |120 |- |Arroyo Tiestos Grandes |210 |2,070.6 |12.2 |- | rowspan="6" | |Arroyo Ramallo | |1,175.2 |10.6 |- |Arroyo Yaquarón | |1,825.5 |15.8 |- |Arroyo Pavón |90 |2,611.7 |21.2 |- |Arroyo Saladillo |145 |3,144 |20.6 |- |[[Carcarañá River|Carcaraña]] |240 |48,746.5 |81 |- |[[Salado River (Argentina)|Río Salado del Norte]] |2,355 |225,844.4 |170 |- | colspan="5" |'''Lower Paraná''' |- |Arroyo de las Conchas | rowspan="4" | |50 |2,184 |14.2 |- |[[Feliciano River|Arroyo Feliciano]] |198 |8,341 |76.9 |- |[[Guayquiraró River|Guayquiraró]] |158 |9,701 |90 |- |[[Corriente River|Corriente]] (Aruhary) |500 |26,872.9 |336.2 |- | rowspan="3" | |[[San Javier River (Santa Fe)|San Javier]] |250 |2,948.4 |16.4 |- |Arroyo El Rey | |6,346.4 |40 |- |Río Los Amores (São Jerônimo) |177 |17,440.7 |69.7 |- |[[Santa Lucía River (Argentina)|Santa Lucia]] | |190 |6,963.4 |85.6 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[Paraná Miní River|Paraná Miní]]–[[Tapenagá River|Tapenaga]] |300 |12,072.7 |53.5 |- |Tacuari | |7,034.6 |39.1 |- |Arroyo San Lourenzo | rowspan="3" | | |1,411.4 |12.4 |- |Empedrado | |2,002.2 |18.3 |- |Riachuelo | |2,921.9 |26.2 |- | rowspan="6" | |[[Río Negro (Chaco Province)|Negro]] (Chaco) |410 |21,121.4 |58.5 |- |Guaycurú |446 |21,656.6 |33.9 |- |[[Paraguay River|Paraguay]] |2,695 |1,137,190.9 |5,070.2 |- |Yabebyry | |1,955 |30.31 |- |Arroyo Aguapey |60 |1,809 |35.06 |- |Tacuary | |1,010 |20.54 |- |Arroyo Garupá | rowspan="2" | |62 |1,416 |38.1 |- |Arroyo Yabebiry |130.1 |1,889.3 |46.9 |- | rowspan="2" | |Capiibari | |978 |12.2 |- |Pirapó | |952 |20.5 |- |Arroyo Cuñapirú | |67.6 |525 |11.3 |- | |Pirajui |97 |1,221 |26.6 |- |Arroyo Garuhapé | | |527.9 |11.7 |- | |Tembey |95 |1,243 |28.8 |- |Arroyo Paranay Guazú | rowspan="3" | |114.2 |1,319.5 |30.7 |- |Arroyo Piray Guazú |69.5 |2,141.5 |63.9 |- |Arroyo Piray Mini |88.5 |1,476.6 |50.7 |- | |Yacuy Guazú | |788 |23.77 |- |Arroyo Aguaray Guazú | | |873 |27.8 |- | |[[Nacunday National Park|Ñacunday]] |150 |2,541 |82.74 |- |[[Urugua-í River|Arroyo]] [[Urugua-í River|Urugua-i]] | |150.5 |2,533.7 |96.3 |- | |[[Monday River|Monday]] |150 |6,693 |164.7 |- |[[Iguazu River|Iguaçu]] | |1,320 |67,537.3 |1,836 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[Acaray River|Acaray]] |160 |9,681 |233.7 |- |Limay | |1,099.8 |27.4 |- |[[São Francisco Falso Braço Sul River|São]] [[São Francisco Falso Braço Sul River|Francisco Falço Braço Sul]] | |73 |1,706.3 |53.7 |- | |Itambey |115 |1,805.3 |39.5 |- |São Francisco Verdadeiro | |152 |2,210.2 |64.2 |- | rowspan="2" | |Arroyo Pozuelo | |572.2 |15 |- |Carapa |150 |2,678 |44 |- |[[Arroio Guaçu River|Arroyo]] [[Arroio Guaçu River|Guaçu]] | | |1,222.3 |26.6 |- | |Piratiy |80 |1,545.6 |22.4 |- | colspan="5" |'''Upper Paraná''' |- |[[Piquiri River (Paraná)|Piquiri]] | |665 |24,156 |606.5 |- | rowspan="3" | |[[Iguatemi River|Iguatemi]] |300 |8,409.3 |99.2 |- |[[Maracaí River|Maracaí]] | |1,831.2 |18.3 |- |[[Amambaí River|Amambaí]] |340 |10,094.6 |101.6 |- |[[Ivaí River|Ivaí]] | |798 |36,587 |733.4 |- | rowspan="3" | |Laranjal | |1,782 |14.9 |- |[[Ivinhema River|Ivinheima]] |595 |38,200 |544.5 |- |Bahia | |1,344 |10.2 |- |[[Paranapanema River|Paranapanema]] | |929 |101,738.7 |1,198.4 |- | |[[Samambaia River|Samambaia]] | |1,379.7 |12.3 |- |Santo Anastácio | |102 |2,132.4 |15 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[Pardo River (Mato Grosso do Sul)|Pardo]] |600 |39,419.4 |529 |- |[[Taquaruçu River|Taquaruçu]] | |2,615.3 |17.9 |- |[[Rio do Peixe (Paraná River tributary)|Rio do Peixe]] | rowspan="3" | |380 |10,195.4 |84 |- |[[Rio Verde (Mato Grosso do Sul)|Verde]] |500 |22,470.7 |185 |- |[[Aguapeí River (Mato Grosso)|Aguapeí]] |420 |12,026.4 |85.3 |- | |[[Sucuriú River|Sucuriú]] |450 |25,220 |353.7 |- |[[Tietê River|Tietê]] | rowspan="2" | |1,150 |72,168 |937.2 |- |[[São José dos Dourados River|São José dos Dourados]] |334.5 |6,783 |52.3 |- | |[[Quitéria River|Quiteria]] | |2,384.9 |29.2 |- |[[Rio Grande (Paraná River tributary)|Rio Grande]] | |1,455 |143,484 |2,279 |- | colspan="5" |'''[[Paranaíba River|Paranaíba]]''' |- | |[[Aporé River|Aporé]] |200 |6,965.3 |109 |- |[[Corrente River (Paranaíba River tributary)|Corrente]] | rowspan="2" | | |7,323.5 |119 |- |[[São Domingos River (Minas Gerais)|São Domingos]] (Arantes) | |3,589.7 |39.2 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[Rio Verde (lower Paranaíba River tributary)|Verde]] | |11,768.2 |192.1 |- |[[Claro River (Paranaíba River tributary)|Claro]] |495.2 |13,684.2 |205.4 |- |Ribeiro dos Patos | | |1,073.1 |10.8 |- | rowspan="3" | |[[Alegre River (Goiás)|Alegre]] | |1,406.1 |17.3 |- |[[Preto River (Paranaíba River tributary)|Preto]] |127.3 |2,302.6 |29.9 |- |[[São Francisco River (Paraná)|São Francisco]] | |1,337.9 |15.7 |- |[[Tijuco River|Tijuco]] | |355 |14,284 |170.2 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[Rio dos Bois (Paranaíba River tributary)|Dos Bois]] |528 |34,759 |334 |- |[[Meia Ponte River|Meia Ponte]] |471.6 |12,370.5 |154.8 |- |Piedade | | |1,777.3 |19.6 |- | rowspan="2" | |Ribeiro Santa Maria | |1,287.4 |13.4 |- |[[Corumbá River|Corumbá]] |567.5 |34,071.4 |417 |- |[[Araguari River (Minas Gerais)|Araguari]] | |475 |22,091 |284 |- | |[[Veríssimo River|Veríssimo]] |200 |4,533.7 |48.8 |- |Jordão | rowspan="4" | | |921.8 |10.6 |- |[[Bagagem River (Minas Gerais)|Bagagem]] | |1,375.4 |15.9 |- |Perdizes | |1,265.4 |14.7 |- |[[Dourados River (Minas Gerais)|Dourados]] | |2,451.6 |30.3 |- | rowspan="2" | |[[São Marcos River|São Marcos]] |466.7 |12,049.7 |141.4 |- |[[Rio Verde (upper Paranaíba River tributary)|Verde]] | |1,337.1 |15.8 |- |Ribeiro das Minas Vermelhas | rowspan="2" | | |889.1 |12.1 |- |Espirito Santo | |1,035.1 |13.7 |} *Period: 1971–2000

==Uses== Together with its tributaries, the Rio Paraná forms a massive [[drainage basin]] that encompasses much of the south-central part of South America, essentially including all of Paraguay, much of southern Brazil, northern Argentina, and the south-eastern part of [[Bolivia]]. If the [[Uruguay River]] is counted as a tributary to the Paraná, this watershed extends to cover most of [[Uruguay]] as well. The volume of water flowing into the Atlantic Ocean through the Río de la Plata roughly equals the volume at the [[Mississippi River]] [[River delta|delta]]. This watershed contains a number of large cities, including [[São Paulo]], [[Buenos Aires]], [[Rosario]], [[Asunción]], [[Brasília]], and [[La Plata]].

The Paraná and its tributaries provide a source of income and daily sustenance for fishermen who live along its banks. Some of the species of fish (such as the [[surubí]] and the [[Prochilodus lineatus|sábalo]]) are commercially important, and they are exploited for heavy internal consumption or for export. The Paraná River delta ranks as one of the world's greatest bird-watching destinations.<ref>Iriondo, Martín H., Juan César Paggi, and María Julieta Parma, eds. The Middle Paraná River: Limnology of a subtropical wetland. Chapter "Birds." Springer Science & Business Media, 2007.</ref>

Much of the length of the Paraná is [[navigable]], as part of the [[Paraná–Paraguay Waterway]] and the {{ill|Tietê–Paraná Waterway|es|Hidrovía Paraná-Tieté|pt|Hidrovia Tietê-Paraná}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/paraguay-paraguay-parana-waterway-system |title=Paraguay—Country Commercial Guide: Paraguay–Parana Waterway System |author=United States International Trade Administration |date=5 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.datamarnews.com/noticias/tiete-parana-waterway-sees-5-8-surge-in-cargo-transport-amid-infrastructure-upgrades/ |title=Tietê–Paraná waterway sees 5.8% surge in cargo transport amid infrastructure upgrades |last=Malheiros |first=Gabriel |date=1 August 2024 |work=Datamar News}}</ref> The river serves as an important waterway linking inland cities in Argentina and Paraguay with the ocean, providing deepwater ports in some of these cities. The construction of enormous hydroelectric dams along the river's length has blocked its use as a shipping corridor to cities further upstream, but the economic impact of those dams offsets this. The [[Yacyretá Dam]] and the [[Itaipu Dam]] on the Paraguay border have made the small, largely undeveloped nation of Paraguay the world's largest exporter of [[hydroelectric power]].

Due to its use for oceangoing ships, measurements of the water tables extend back to 1904. The data correlates with the Sun's [[solar cycle]].<ref>Pablo J.D. Mauas & Andrea P. Buccino. "[https://arxiv.org/abs/1003.0414 Long-term solar activity influences on South American rivers]" page 5. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics on Space Climate, March 2010. Accessed: 20 September 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Antico |first1=A. |last2=Kröhling |first2=D. M. |title=Solar motion and discharge of Paraná River, South America: Evidence for a link |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |date=October 2011 |volume=38 |issue=19 |pages=n/a |doi=10.1029/2011GL048851|bibcode=2011GeoRL..3819401A |hdl=11336/72975 |s2cid=130181708 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

== Navigation rights == The immediate background to the 1966 dispute over navigation rights<ref>Memo to Department of State from American Embassy Ascuncion dated February 2, 1966 SUBJECT : Navigation Rights on the Parané River; Paraguayan- Argentine Dispute [https://www.cia.gov/CIA-RDP08C01297R000800100003-2 PDF]{{dead link|date=January 2026}}</ref> included the fact that [[Argentina]] wanted to build a bridge across the Paraná River, either near [[Asunción]] or at some point further south. [[Paraguay]] were not in favour and would do nothing to facilitate it unless the navigation issue was resolved. Argentina was also actively seeking an agreement to develop a major [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] facility at the Apipé Rapids. Paraguay, meanwhile, had already implemented the [[Acaray Dam]] project, whose output was sufficient to meet Paraguay's energy requirements for the next ten to fifteen years, with a surplus available for export to [[Brazil]] and Argentina. The bilateral agreement between Argentina and Paraguay for the construction of a bridge over the river was signed in October 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Republic of Paraguay Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilateral Treaties (until 1976) |url=http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/seree/ditra/py1.html}}</ref>

In late 1965, Paraguay had offered a draft treaty to Argentina. According to the US ambassador of the time, Wiliam P Snow, the Paraguayan proposal, although short on detail, would be well received by Argentina who would be pleased to see Paraguay directing its aggression mainly towards Brazil as a result.

The agreement on navigation rights, endorsing free navigation on the river and requiring that each nation treat the other's vessels as its own, was signed in January 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Treaty on Navigation of the Paraná, Paraguay and Plata Rivers Signed: Buenos Aires, January 23, 1967 |url=http://www.mrecic.gov.ar/portal/seree/ditra/py1.html}}</ref> Construction began on the [[Itaipú Dam]] in 1973.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Rio Parana SPOT 1033.jpg|Paraná River source at the border of the states of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], [[Mato Grosso do Sul]] and [[Minas Gerais]], in [[Brazil]]. File:Confluence of the Iguazu and Parana rivers, Puerto Iguazu, Misiones, Argentina, 6th. Jan. 2011 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|Confluence of the Iguazu and Parana rivers. The Triple frontier is a bit further in the background center: On the left is Paraguay, on the right Brazil, taken from Argentina. File:Amanecer en las Dunas de San Cosme y Damián.jpg|Sunrise over the Paraná River at [[San Cosme y Damián]] [[Dunes]], [[Paraguay]] File:CPonte Parana1.jpg|[[Container ship]], traveling downstream by the city of Ramallo, Argentina File:Puente Rosario-Victoria 2.jpg|The [[Rosario-Victoria Bridge]] File:Ship in the Paraná River at Itá Corá.jpg|Ship docked at Itá Corá, Paraguay File:Paraná River Floodplain, Northern Argentina.jpg|Astronaut's photo showing a {{convert|29|km|mi|adj=on}} stretch of the Paraná, just downstream from [[Goya, Corrientes|Goya]], Argentina File:Vistaaereadeposadas.jpg|Parana river in [[Posadas, Misiones|Posadas]], Argentina File:Paraná River, Rosario (2).jpg|The sun rising over the Paraná River, from northeast of [[Rosario]], Argentina File:Riodelaplatabasinmap.png|Map of the [[Rio de la Plata Basin]] showing the Paraná River and its major tributaries </gallery>

==Links across the Paraná== The course of the Paraná is crossed by the following bridges, beginning upstream:

{| class=wikitable ! Crossing ! Location ! Built ! Carries ! Coordinates |- !colspan=6|Brazil |- |[[Rollemberg–Vuolo Road–Railway Bridge]] |[[Aparecida do Taboado]]-[[Rubineia]] |1998 | |{{coord|20|06|17.9|S|51|00|32.4|W}} |- |[[Ilha Solteira Dam]] |[[Selvíria]]-[[Ilha Solteira]] |1973 | |{{coord|20|22|54.2|S|51|21|59.7|W}} |- |[[Engineer Souza Dias Dam]] |[[Três Lagoas]]-[[Castilho, São Paulo|Castilho]] |1968 |[[BR-262]] |{{coord|20|46|44.7|S|51|37|49.3|W}} |- |[[Paulicéia-Brasilândia Bridge]] |[[Brasilândia]]-[[Pauliceia]] |2009 |[[BR-158]] |{{coord|21|16|08.4|S|51|51|18.8|W}} |- |[[Hélio Serejo (Maurício Joppert) Bridge]] |[[Bataguassu]]-[[Presidente Epitácio]] |1964 |[[BR-267]] |{{coord|21|45|12.1|S|52|11|05.6|W}} |- |[[Eng Sérgio Motta Dam|Sérgio Motta (Porto Primavera) Dam]] |[[Rosana, São Paulo|Rosana]] |1999 | |{{coord|22|28|30.5|S|52|57|29.6|W}} |- |[[Porto Camargo Bridge]] |[[Alto Paraíso, Paraná|Alto Paraíso]] | |[[BR-487]] |{{coord|23|22|24.5|S|53|46|08.3|W}} |- |[[Ayrton Senna Bridge]] |[[Mundo Novo, Mato Grosso do Sul|Mundo Novo]]-[[Guaíra, Paraná|Guaíra]] |1998 |[[BR-163]] |{{coord|24|03|31|S|54|15|28.6|W}} |- !colspan=6|Brazil-Paraguay |- |[[Friendship Bridge (Brazil–Paraguay)|Friendship Bridge]] |[[Ciudad del Este]]-[[Foz do Iguaçu]] |1965 |[[Route 2 (Paraguay)|PY02]]-[[BR-277]] |{{coord|25|30|33.5|S|54|36|03.3|W}} |- |[[Integration Bridge (Paraguay-Brazil)|Integration Bridge]] |[[Presidente Franco District|Presidente Franco]]-[[Foz do Iguaçu]] |2023 | |{{coord|25|35|19|S|54|35|37|W}} |- !colspan=6|Paraguay-Argentina |- |[[San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge]] |[[Encarnación, Paraguay|Encarnación]]-[[Posadas, Misiones|Posadas]] |1990 | |{{coord|27|22|09.3|S|55|51|43.3|W}} |- |[[Yacyretá Dam]] |[[Ayolas, Paraguay|Ayolas]]-[[Ituzaingó, Corrientes|Ituzaingó]] |1994 | |{{coord|27|28|58.5|S|56|44|19.5|W}} |- !colspan=6|Argentina |- |[[General Manuel Belgrano Bridge]] |[[Resistencia, Chaco|Resistencia]]-[[Corrientes]] |1973 |[[National Route 16 (Argentina)|National Route 16]] |{{coord|27|28|12.3|S|58|51|35.1|W}} |- |Second Resistencia-Corrientes Bridge |Resistencia-Corrientes |''Planned'' | | |- |Reconquista-Goya Bridge |[[Reconquista, Santa Fe|Reconquista]]-[[Goya, Argentina|Goya]] |''Planned'' | | |- |[[Raúl Uranga - Carlos Sylvestre Begnis Subfluvial Tunnel]] |[[Santa Fe, Argentina|Santa Fe]]-[[Paraná, Entre Ríos|Paraná]] |1969 |[[National Route 168 (Argentina)|National Route 168]] |{{coord|31|42|08.7|S|60|30|12.6|W}} |- |Second Santa Fe-Paraná Bridge |Santa Fe-Paraná |''Planned'' | | |- |[[Rosario-Victoria Bridge]] |[[Rosario]]-[[Victoria, Entre Ríos|Victoria]] |2003 |[[National Route 174 (Argentina)|National Route 174]] |{{coord|32|52|11.4|S|60|41|07.9|W}} |- |[[Zárate-Brazo Largo Bridge|Bartolomé Mitre Bridge]] |[[Zárate, Buenos Aires|Zárate]]-[[Ceibas]] |1977 |[[National Route 12 (Argentina)|National Route 12]] |{{coord|34|06|10.9|S|59|00|10|W}} |- |[[Zárate-Brazo Largo Bridge|Justo José de Urquiza Bridge]] |Zárate-Ceibas |1977 |National Route 12 |{{coord|33|54|37.1|S|58|53|06.9|W}} |}

==See also== * [[Tributaries of the Río de la Plata]] *Paraná River steamers

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commonscat|Paraná River}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041027213108/http://www.earthtrends.wri.org/maps_spatial/maps_detail_static.cfm?map_select=425&theme=2 Information and a map of the Paraná's watershed] * {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Paraná|year=1905 |short=x}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parana River}} [[Category:Paraná River| ]] [[Category:Rivers of Argentina]] [[Category:Rivers of São Paulo (state)]] [[Category:Rivers of Mato Grosso do Sul]] [[Category:Rivers of Paraná (state)]] [[Category:Rivers of Paraguay]] [[Category:Argentina–Paraguay border]] [[Category:Brazil–Paraguay border]] [[Category:International rivers of South America]] [[Category:Alto Paraná Department]] [[Category:Border rivers]]