Immigration to Paraguay to the 2002 census, 84,2% of immigrants in Paraguay come from Brazil and Argentina. The first Europeans to arrive in what is now Paraguayan territory were Spaniards who left a palpable cultural heritage even today. The government of Carlos Antonio López was marked by a period of international openness including immigration and attracting settlers to populate the country. Geographically, Paraguay can be divided into two parts: The Chaco or Western Region, and the Eastern Region, where Asunción is located, as well as the other main cities of the country. The Chaco is the largest region by area with about 60%
Alto Paraguay Department Chaco at over 200.000 hectare for 2008 alone The department's most important activity by far is cattle ranching, both extensive in the savannas of the east and intensive on the planted pastures of cleared land. Cultivation of sorghum, sugar cane and (in planning stage as of January 2009, for the arid west) jatropha are very recent developments. The department is divided into five districts: Alto Paraguay Department Alto Paraguay (; "Upper Paraguay") is a sparsely populated department of Paraguay. The capital is the town of Fuerte Olimpo. In 1992 the Chaco Department was merged with Alto Paraguay, effectively recreating the