Amambay () is a department in Paraguay. The capital is Pedro Juan Caballero. The name comes from the name of a part of the Caaguazú Cordillera, "Amambai Mountains". Amambay is the name of a fern, typical of the forest in the region. Districts The department is divided in 6 districts: Bella Vista Capitán Bado Karapaí Pedro Juan Caballero Zanja Pytá Cerro Corá History For a long time, the land was occupied by the natives of the region and suffered the attacks of the Bandeirantes that were looking for the Guaranís, who were able to find refuge in the jungle of the area. After the Paraguayan War, vast expanses of land passed to the hands of foreign businessmen dedicated to exploiting yerba mate and lumber. Pedro Juan Caballero was found in 1893, and Bella Vista, in 1902. The department of Amambay was created in 1945 as the No. 10 department of the country. After some reorganization it was declared as the No. 13 department. The population in the area was consolidated with the establishment of rural colonies dedicated to agriculture and livestock industries. Pedro Juan Caballero, the capital of the department, is still known by its old name, Punta Porá, used by the traveling merchants that transported yerba from Mato Grosso to Concepción. In 2020 Amambay, as an important drug trafficking route, while accounting for just 2.4% of the country’s population, suffered over a quarter of its murders. Limits Amambay is located in the north part of the Oriental Region of Paraguay. The exact geographic location is between the parallels 55° 28′ and 57° 00′ of West longitude and between meridians 22° 05′ and 23° 05′ of South latitude. The limits are: To the North: Brazil, from which is separated by the Apa River and Amambay Cordillera. To the South: Canindeyú Department To the East: Brazil, from which is separated by the Amambay Cordillera To the West: Concepción and San Pedro Departments Climate The average temperature is 21 °C; it reaches 35 °C in summer and drops to −1 °C in winter. The rainy months are January, February and March. Orography and soil In the territory are predominant, from north to south sandstone and rocks. Amambay is the highest of Paraguayan territories, it reaches 300 to 400 meters, and the Punta Porá Hill reaches even 700 meters. The Amambay Cordillera serves as the natural limit with Brazil and from it parts