Asunción

Asunción (pop. 456,000), capital and largest city of Paraguay. Situated on the Paraguay River, Asunción is the main port and the industrial, transportation, and administrative center of the country. Founded in 1537 by Spanish explorers searching for a short route to Peru, Asunción was the rival of Buenos Aires until the 18th century when it was weakened by conflict between the Jesuits and their enemies.