BOQUERóN DEPARTMENT

Statistics
Capital:	Filadelfia
Area:	91,669 km²
Inhabitants:	45,617 ''(2002)''
Pop. density:	0.5 inh./km²
ISO 3166-2:	PY-19
Map
Map of Paraguay highlighting the department

'Boquerón' is a department in the western region of Paraguay. It is the country's largest department, with an area of 91,669 km², but its population is only 45,617 (2002 census). The department includes the Russian Mennonite colonies of Fernheim, Menno and its administrative center Loma Plata and Neuland. The capital is Filadelfia. Other towns are General Eugenio A. Garay, Doctor Pedro P. Peña and Mariscal Estigarribia.
Despite the "Occidental" Region—as it is called—having only 2% of the Paraguayan population, using advanced technology, the Mennonite colonies produce nearly the 65% of the milk and meat production of the country.
In 1992 the departement Nueva Asunción was merged with Boquerón, effectively recreating the departement as of 1945 when it was split. Also in 1992 the capital was moved from Doctor Pedro P. Peña to the current one.
The department is divided in 3 districts:
# Doctor Pedro P. Peña
# General Eugenio A. Garay
# Mariscal José Félix Estigarribia