Which South American capital was founded by Juan de Salazar de Espinosa in 1537? Asuncion, formally Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción, is the capital of Paraguay and was founded by Juan de Salazar de Espinosa on August 15, 1537.
Salazar established the settlement near the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, at a location that became an important link between Spanish colonial communities in the Río de la Plata region. The site was chosen partly because of its river access and its relationship with existing Indigenous settlements. Asuncion later earned the nickname “Mother of Cities” because expeditions departing from it helped establish other Spanish settlements in the region.
The city became a major colonial center and served as an important base for Spanish activity in what is now Paraguay and parts of neighboring countries. Its position on the Paraguay River remains central to its geography and economy.
A common mistake is confusing Asuncion with Buenos Aires, which was founded earlier in 1536 and refounded in 1580. Asuncion is also distinct from Montevideo, founded much later in the eighteenth century. The stored answer is correct; the missing accent in “Asuncion” does not change the answer.