Boquerón () is a department in the western region of Paraguay. It is the country's largest department, with an area of , but, according to the statistics for 2021 by INE, its population is only 68,080, being the second least populated department. The department includes the Russian Mennonite colonies of Fernheim, Menno and its administrative center Loma Plata and Neuland. The capital is Filadelfia. Other towns are General Eugenio A. Garay, Doctor Pedro P. Peña and Mariscal Estigarribia.
In 1945 Boquerón was split, with the northern portion separated off being renamed "Chaco". The reduced remaining area continued to be called "Boquerón", and the department's capital was moved to Filadelfia (the previous capital had been Doctor Pedro P. Peña). However, in 1992 the previous department Chaco was re-integrated into Boquerón, effectively re-forming the department as of 1945 when it was split, except that after 1992 the enlarged department's capital remained at Filadelfia.
Geography
Boquerón Department is located in the Occidental Region of Paraguay, between the southern parallels 20° 06' and 23° 50' of latitude, and the western meridians 50° 20' and 62° 40' of longitude. It is the largest department of Paraguay, with an area of , slightly larger than Hungary or the province of South Sumatra.
Adjacent territories
North: Alto Paraguay Department, separated by an arbitrary straight line that goes from Hito IV Fort Tte. G. Mendoza to Fort Madrejón; and also by a railway from "km 220" to "km 160".
South: Argentina, separated by the Pilcomayo River, from Misión San Lorenzo to Hito I Esmeralda.
East: Presidente Hayes Department, separated by the road that connects Misión San Lorenzo with Fort Gral. Díaz, Ávalos Sánchez, Zenteno, Dr. Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, Boquerón, Isla Po'í and Casanillo; and from this point, by an imaginary straight line until "km 160". It also borders Alto Paraguay Department, separated from it by a straight imaginary line from Fort Madrejón to Fort Carlos Antonio López and from there by another line to Fort Montanía.
West: Bolivia, separated by an imaginary line from Hito I Esmeralda until Hito IV Fort Tte. Gabino Mendoza.
Natural environment and climate
This is the most arid region of Paraguay; it has some small streams, but with dry riverbeds. The climate is in the transition between a warm semi-arid climate, a tropical savanna climate and a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification BSh, Aw and Cfa) The rain is scarce during the dry season, but during the wet season it can cause flash floods. The average annual rainfall is about a year in the north of the department and a year in the south. On 14 November 2009, Pratts Gill, a small town in the Boquerón Department, recorded a temperature of . This is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Paraguay.
The trees in the area are short and thorny; there are brushwood and cactus, dunes and small hills, especially in the north of the department. Some species of trees in this region are endangered: the urunde'y, white and red quebracho, samu'u also known as palo borracho and palo santo.
Demographics
Boquerón presently has the fastest rate of population growth, about 12.4% annually. This department is characterized by its native population, the Mennonites, the Paraguayans, the Brazilians and other foreign residents in the country.
The National Census in 2002 registered 45,617 people living in Boquerón, mostly Native Americans (19,945, or 43.7%, distributed in the following ethnic groups: Nivaclé, Manjui, Guarayos, Angaité, Ayoreos, Guaraní-Ñandéva, Tapieté and Toba-Maskóy). The majority of Paraguay's native population lives in this department.
Population
The total Native population of the country is 87,099. The quantity in Chaco is 42,939. The total Boquerón population is 45,617, 19,945 of which are natives. Growth of the total population in Boquerón is 4.6% and in the Urban area alone is 12.4%. Filadelfia: 7,750 Loma Plata: 6,500 Yalve Sanga: 4,200 Mariscal Estigarribia: 2,000 Neu-Halbstadt: 720 Choferes del Chaco: 600
District and departmental governments
The department is divided in 6 districts: Filadelfia Loma Plata Mariscal Estigarribia General Eugenio A. Garay Doctor Pedro P. Peña Neuland