Ypacaraí Ypakarai
District
Clockwise from top: the inside of the Mother of Good Counsel Church, a view of the lake, a train departing from the city's station and the city hall building.
Flag Coat of arms
Etymology: Blessed lake
Nickname(s):  City of Folklore
Ypacaraí
Government
• Mayor	Raúl Fernando Negrete Caballero (PLRA)[1]
Area
• Total	111 km2 (43 sq mi)
Elevation	64.1 m (210.3 ft)
Population
• 2023 estimate	29,578[2]
• Density	16.12/km2 (41.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-4
Calling code	513
Website	https://www.municipalidaddeypacarai.gov.py

Ypacaraí (Guarani: Ypakarai) is a town in the Central Department of Paraguay on the Lake Ypacarai. On the Paraguayan highway system, it is located between Asunción and Caacupé, near Areguá and San Bernardino. Known as the "City of Folklore" after the Ypacaraí Festival, it is located on the Ybytypanemá mountain range, which is in the Los Altos mountain range, near the Ypacaraí Lake. In 2020, the village had a population of 28,283,^[3] and is 64.1 m above sea level. Notable agricultural crops of the area include tobacco and cotton. Lake Ypacaraí is popular with tourists and locals in the landlocked nation of Paraguay.

Paraguayan footballer Carlos Gamarra is from Ypacaraí.

Etymology

The city was named after its lake, which got its name from Classical Guarani Ĭpacarai, a compound of ĭpa·b and carai·b meaning "blessed lake," due to missionary Luis de Bolaños' 1603 blessing of the lake to contain its waters, since they flooded all the way to the Valley of Pirayú.

History

The city that already existed at the end of the 17th century – was one of the Itauguá companies, with the name of «Guazú Virá», later changed to «Tacuaral».

On 27 March 1864, the extension of the railway line to the Guazú Virá station was inaugurated, called "Estación Tacuaral" (from there it takes the name of "Tacuaral"), around said station the community grew due to the movement that this generated. Over the years the idea of separating from Itauguá arose and a commission was formed to take the request to the President of the Paraguayan Republic, General Patricio Escobar. This commission was made up of: Lytton Snead, José Galo Guanes, Higinio Escobar, Eustaquio Feliú, David Baruch, Ramón Negrete, Dionisio Pérez and Eliseo Patiño, thus initiating the corresponding procedures.

On 13 September of the year 1887 the creation of "Ypacaraí" was established. The first people to lead the town were Mr. Higinio Escobar as police chief and justice of the peace and Father Adolfo Valenzuela, in charge of religious services. The district was very marginalized during the Stroessner dictatorship, which is why it came to be known as "the capital of folklore and democracy".

Geography

Ypacaraí limits to the west with the departmental capital Areguá, to the south with Itá, to the north with Ypacaraí Lake and to the east with the department of Cordillera . Belonging to the central part and the metropolitan region of the Greater Asunción Area.

Hydrography

Several streams flow into the lake and they are: Pirayú, Paso Puente, Estrella, Jukury, in turn the waters of the lake flow into the Paraguay River, through the Salado River .

Panoramic view of Ypacaraí Lake, Paraguay.

The Ypacaraí Lake has been an inspiration for locals and others, and as a result of this the song known worldwide as "Memories of Ypacaraí" was born, composed by Zulema de Mirkin and Demetrio Ortiz . This lake has an extension of 22 km from north to south, between 5 and 6 km wide and a depth of 3m, surrounded by lush vegetation.

Economy

The main activity is the manufacture of guitars and handicrafts in saddlery, and everything related to leather, blankets, bedspreads and hammocks. There are also several chipa home-made factories.

It has a rich agricultural and industrial activity. Of the latter, the majority is found in Ypacaraí, such as cotton gins, textile and logging industries, and vegetable oil refineries. The already famous Ypacaraí Lake festival, known worldwide, is another economic entry to the city and the expo fair held every year in the historic center of the city.

Culture

In this city we can visit the monument to music, symbol and trophy of the Ypacaraí Festival. Upon entering the city, we come across the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, also the "House of Culture: Teodoro S. Mongelós", in which there is a mausoleum, the mortal remains of Teodoro S. Mongelós and Demetrio Ortiz, creator of "Memories of Ypacaraí", also in this Cultural Center is the Museum "Memoria Ypacaraiense" where objects from the war of 70 are exhibited, and also of contemporary people, illustrious men and women.

Francisco Gaona, educator, social activist, trade unionist and historian, author of the book called "Introduction to the Guild and Social History of Paraguay", was born in this city in 1901.

It is worth highlighting the history of Luisón de Tacuaral, a legend that originated in Cerrito, a place adjacent to the city.

The Paraguayan rock bands of Salamandra and Bohemia Urbana, of great national and international diffusion, are originally from this city, where they also usually record takes for their video clips.

The public square; considered as the main axis of the cultural and historical heritage of the city, it is connected to the Station and the House of Culture.

Sister cities

Ypacaraí is twinned with:

• Santa Fe, Argentina (1978)^[4]
• San Gregorio de Polanco, Uruguay

Gallery

• 
  The entrance to the city of Ypacaraí, Paraguay
• 
  The Heralds of the Gospel Church in Ypacaraí
• 
  Bicentennial Stadium of Ypacaraí, Paraguay
• 
  Ypacaraí Lake, Ypacaraí, Paraguay

References