Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Gran Chaco

GRAN CHACO, an extensive region in the heart of South America, which stretches from 20 to 29 of S. lat., and belongs partly to Bolivia and partly to the Argentine Republic, the boundary between the two states coinciding with the parallel 22. The area is estimated at about 425,000 square miles, or more, than twice the area of France, and the greater portion is still unexplored. It all belongs to the La Plata basin and in general terms may be described as a plain inclining towards the S.E. and watered by the Pilcomayo, the Vermejo, and other tributaries of the Para guay. The northern portion, I/ing within the region of tropical rains, has a profusion of marshes and lakes, while the southern portion is a dry cactus-growing steppe, except in the neighbourhood of the rivers, which annually sub merge large areas with the surplus water they bring from the north. The whole of the Gran Chaco is still in the hands of the Indians, who are just beginning to learn a little agriculture, to grow pumpkins, water melons, and maize ; but the richness and extent of its forests and pas tures will certainly secure the country a prosperous future. It possesses more timber suitable for every purpose than the whole of Europe; it already exports large numbers of cattle to the neighbouring states ; and, according to Major Host, it will be able to furnish abundant supplies of petroleum. "At the foot of the western slope of the Santa Barbara range, 25 leagues from the confluence of the San Francisco O O river and the Vermejo, there is an extensive petroleum basia called the Laguna de la brea de San Miguel del Ristro, capable of yielding 2000 gallons per day."

See Von Reden, " Die Staaten im Strom-Gebiet des La Plata," in Petermann s Mitth., 1856; Petermann and Burmeister, Die Stcd- tonerikaniscken R^publiken, Argentina, &c., 1875 ; Major Host in la Plata Monatschrift, 1873.