of Paraguay, and who brought to the country the first grains of soy. M. D. Pedro Duarte Ortellado, creator of the Ministry of Health and its first minister. Félix Paiva, lawyer and President of the Republic between 1937 and 1939. Maria Concepción Leyes de Chávez, writer. Miguel Ángel Pangrazio, lawyer and writer. Ana Iris Chávez de Ferreiro, poet and writer. Felipe Sosa, guitar player. Father José de Jesús Aguirre, writer and psychologist. Monsignor Saro Vera, writer. Limits Located south-east in the Oriental Región of Paraguay, between parallels 25° 30' and 26° 45' of latitude South, and between the meridians 55° 15' and 56° 45' of longitude West. To the North, it limits with the Guairá and Caaguazú departments To the South with Itapúa, To the East with Alto Paraná and To the West with Misiones and Paraguarí. Climate The highest temperatures reach 37 °C and the lowest drop to 1 °C, the average is 21 °C. It is one of the departments with more quantity of precipitation. Orography and soil The soil is composed by sandstone from the Carboniferous period, of fluvial and glacial origin. The land form low hills with no more than 200 meters in height and rise towards the Ybyturuzú Cordillera. The Caazapá Cordillera, Monte Rosario and San Rafael chain of mountains cross throughout the department from East to West, with some hills of medium high such as Mbatovi, Ñú Cañy, Pacurí and Morotí. This cordillera separates the land in two different regions, to the north-east, there are meadows, lagoons, swamps and fields for agriculture; to the south-east there are hills and forests. Hydrography The Tebicuary River crosses the department from East to West, also the South of the department and serves as limit with Itapúa department. The Tebicuary-mi River serves as limit with Paraguarí. The Pirapó River flows into the Tebiacuary River, in the center area of the department. In Caazapá are the sources of two streams, Capiíbary and Ypety. The streams Iñaro, Guazú and Charará are located in the territory of Caazapá as well. Natural environment and vegetation The natural environment of the region and all along the Caaguazú Cordillera is great example of the vast vegetation in the country. The whole department is in the Central Forest Region. The wooded landscape has suffered the consequences of being used for breeding cattle and the abused of technology that affects the soil, being both situations a