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Paraná River Facts & Worksheets

The Paraná River, located in South America, is the 14th longest river in the world.

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The Paraná River, located in South America, is the 14th longest river in the world. It has a total length of 4,880 kilometers and passes through Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

See the fact file below for more information on the Paraná River or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Paraná River worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DESCRIPTION

  • “Parana” is an abbreviation of “para rehe onáva”, derived from the Tupi language meaning “like the sea”.
  • The river’s primary source is the Paranaiba River and its secondary source is the Rio Grande.
  • The river starts in Brazil and continues southwest until it joins the Paraguay River. It flows further south and continues through Argentina, until it meets the Uruguay River and then drains into the Río de la Plata that ultimately ends in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • The Paraná River basin covers approximately 2,800,000 square kilometers.
  • The hydroelectric power plant Itaipú Dam, one of the biggest in the world, is built on the river along the border of Brazil and Paraguay.

ROLE AND USES

  • The discovery of stone tools near the Paraná River serves as evidence that large settlements may have been built around it before European explorers came to South America.
  • Sebastian Cabot began the first exploration of the Paraná River Basin in 1526.
  • At the height of exploration in South America, the river was an important route that gave access to the regions inside the continent from the coast, linking the ocean with the inland cities of Argentina and Paraguay.
  • Today, the river provides the fishermen living near its basin with rich aquatic fauna that is sold to and consumed by the local population and the export industry. Large-scale cattle ranching and agriculture activities also thrive because of the river.
  • Massive hydroelectric dams constructed on the river enable the area to generate vast amounts of electricity that sustains the electrical needs of the region’s population.
  • The natural resources supplied by the river provide the people with materials to use for making consumable goods.
  • Tourism in the region significantly helps the livelihood of the locals and the economy of the area as thousands of tourists visit the river for its beauty and abundant natural wealth.

BIODIVERSITY IN AND ALONG THE RIVER

  • A unique and diverse variety of flowers and animals can be found in the sultry climate of the Paraná River ecosystem.
  • The Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest, the forested region in the upper Paraná region, is home to many plants and animals. 90% of the amphibians and 50% of the plants living in the forest are native to the area.
  • The forest is also home to a large number of endangered species like the seven-colored tanager and the jaguar.
  • The Paraná River also supports many species of aquatic animal including migratory fishes like the Atlantic saber-tooth anchovy, as well as other fish like catfish and piranhas. A variety of phytoplankton and macrophytes also thrive in the river.
  • Although most of the wetland ecosystem formed by the river’s delta has been damaged by humans, species like capybaras, marsh deer, and Pampas cat, still live in the surviving habitats in the delta region.
  • The Predelta National Park and Paraná Delta Biosphere Reserve located in the Paraná Delta make sure the endemic animals and plants of the region are safe from illegal sellers and hunters.

THREATS TO THE RIVER

  • The ecosystem of the Paraná River suffers from damage caused by indiscriminate exploitation activities by humans.
  • The fauna and flora of the forests of the river diminished gradually in diversity, number, and size. This is due to the human settlements near the river basin that grew and developed fishing, agriculture, and navigation methods and practices.
  • The construction of dams and other artificial impediments caused damage to the ecosystems that cannot be repaired.
  • Guairá Falls were completely submerged in 1979 during the construction of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam.
  • These waterways and dams also jeopardized the routes of migratory fish and made local people move out of their home.
  • The quality of Paraná’s aquatic resources has been affected by the rapid deforestation along the riverbanks. The deforestation for the expansion of agricultural land has contributed to land erosion, causing vast amounts of eroded debris and sediment in the river.
  • The Atlantic Forest has lost about 88% of its original area, endangering the existence of the native animals and flowers found in the region.
  • According to a scientific report, approximately 50% of the Paraná’s fish species were depleted for only 20 years.
  • Many fishermen in the area exploit fishing and do not realize that they are not only damaging the river’s ecosystem but also depleting the fisheries of the field for the future generations of their people.

Paraná River Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Paraná River across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Paraná River worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Paraná River, located in South America, which is the 14th longest river in the world. It has a total length of 4,880 kilometers and passes through Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Paraná River Facts
  • River Cruise
  • Cultural Flow
  • Endangered Spot
  • Rivers Alike
  • Across the River
  • Fishing Names
  • River Danger
  • River Caress
  • Itaipu Dam News
  • Tour with Me!

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Link will appear as Paraná River Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 4, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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