¡Mba’éichapa! Welcome to the heart of South America—Paraguay, one of only two landlocked countries in South America. There are around 7 million people living here, and the capital is Asunción, one of the oldest cities in South America. It is a uniquely bilingual nation where Spanish and the indigenous language Guaraní are both official and spoken by the vast majority of the population.

Paraguay covers about 406,752 square kilometers (157,048 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of California in the U.S., or approximately the same size as Norway. The country is split by the Paraguay River into two distinct regions: the lush, rolling hills of the east and the vast, arid plains of the Gran Chaco in the west.

The most popular sport is Football, and the national team has a long-standing reputation for being “giant killers” in South American competitions. Their national animal is the Pampas Fox, and the Bare-throated Bellbird is the national bird, known for its loud, metallic call.

The flag is unique because it is the only national flag in the world with different emblems on each side, where the front side shows the national coat of arms and the back side shows the seal of the treasury, all set against horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue.

The food is hearty and focuses on corn, cassava, and cheese. You must try Sopa Paraguaya, which, despite its name (which means “Paraguayan soup”), is actually a delicious, moist cornbread made with cheese and onions. Another favorite is Chipa, a bagel-like bread made from cassava flour and cheese. To drink, everyone carries a thermos for Tereré, a cold-brewed herbal tea (Yerba Mate) that is a vital part of social life.

Paraguay is home to the Itaipu Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world, which provides almost all of the country’s electricity. The country features the Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná, a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of stunning 17th-century stone ruins. You can visit the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland area, which extends into northern Paraguay and is a haven for jaguars and caimans. Interestingly, Paraguay is the world’s largest exporter of organic sugar and has no mountains—its highest point is just 842 meters above sea level.

From the lace-making artisans of Itauguá (who create the famous Nandutí) to the wild frontiers of the Chaco, Paraguay is a land of hidden gems and deep-rooted traditions. ¡Aguije! (Guaraní). That means “Thank you!”