Gran Chaco, << grahn CHAH koh, >> is a great, low-lying plain in South America. It covers more than 200,000 square miles (520,000 square kilometers) west of the Paraguay and Parana rivers. Most of the Chaco lies in northern Argentina and western Paraguay, but it also extends into southern Bolivia. Over half of the Chaco is in Paraguay.
The Chaco has a tropical climate with alternate wet and dry seasons. Large areas are flooded during the rainy season. Chief rivers of the Chaco are the Pilcomayo and Bermejo, which flow into the Paraguay River. The land is characterized by grasslands and scrub forests.
The Chaco is sparsely settled and largely underdeveloped. Regional products include cattle and cotton. The quebracho tree also yields fuel, tannin (a chemical used to make leather), and timber.
See also Argentina (The land) ; Bolivia (Territorial losses) ; Paraguay (Land regions) (Military ruin) .
