Which South American country includes the department of Caazapa?

The department of Caazapá is in Paraguay. It lies in the country’s eastern region and takes its name from the city of Caazapá, which serves as the department’s capital.

Caazapá has a varied landscape. Its eastern side contains rolling hills and remaining patches of Brazilian Atlantic interior rainforest, while the western side includes low-lying marshes, wetlands, and tributaries of the Tebicuary River. The area is also known for orange and mandarin groves.

Franciscan missionaries played a major role in the region’s early colonial history. Their missions at Caazapá and Yuty began in the early 17th century, with the city of Caazapá traditionally dated to 1607. The department was formally established as Paraguay’s sixth department in 1906.

A common mix-up is confusing the department with its capital city: both are called Caazapá, but the question asks for the country. The region is also associated with Indigenous Mby’a communities, yerba mate cultivation, forest conservation struggles, and the Tebicuary watershed.