Энкарнасьон: Жемчужина юга Парагвая

District and city in Itapúa, Paraguay

Encarnación (eŋkaɾnaˈsjon) is a district and the capital city of Itapúa Department in Paraguay, located at the south east of the department, on the right hand (western) shore of the Paraná River, opposite Posadas, Argentina. The city has an area of 274 km2
and a population of 93,497 (2002 Census), and the Greater Encarnacion area has a population of over 225,000 according to a 2020 estimate. Encarnación is the third largest city of Paraguay. The city was originally named Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación de Itapúa, and is considered the capital of summer by most of its inhabitants. Encarnación is connected to the Argentine city of Posadas by the San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge and the International Train. The city is located on Route 1, some 370 km (225 miles) from Asunción, and located on Route 6, some 280 km (175 miles) from Ciudad del Este. Due to its proximity, many Argentines travel to the city. The Teniente Amin Ayub Gonzalez Airport (IATA: ENO, ICAO: SGEN), at coordinates 27°13′23″S 55°50′03″W, is 12 kilometres from the city, is the third most important airport of the country. Encarnación was a host city for the 2003 Futsal Men's World Cup.

Encarnación is the capital of the department of Itapúa and has a total population of 93,497 and an urban population of 67,173 according to the 2002 National Census. Most of the inhabitants are of mixed Spanish and Amerindian descent as in the rest of Paraguay but there are also minorities of Germans, Ukrainians and Poles. The city has the largest settlement of Ukrainians in Paraguay.

The mission called Anunciación de Itapua was founded by the Paraguayan Jesuit San Roque González de Santa Cruz on 25 March 1615, on the southern side of the Paraná river. That mission was relocated to the north side in the current location of the city in 1703 under the name Encarncación de Itapua. It gained in importance after the coming of the railway in 1894. In 1926, the city suffered a destructive F4 tornado that killed around 300 and injured around 700. In 1957, the city was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Encarnación. Because of its mild climate Encarnación is often called "The Pearl of the South". Encarnación was the birthplace of Alfredo Stroessner, general and head of state of Paraguay from 1954 to 1989. Lately, the city experienced a radical change, with the loss of the "Zona Baja" because the "Plan de Terminación Yacyretá" (Termination plan of Yacyretá) giving way to a renewed modern city with wide avenues and bridges. In 2015, Encarnación was Paraguay's third city with a growing economy and a multicultural and cosmopolitan population. In December 2011 the Costanera Avenue was inaugurated and with it three beaches were opened to the public. These three beaches were the Mbói Ka’e Beach, the Pacu Cuá Beach, and the San José Beach. From the three beaches the San José Beach is the most visited by tourists and has several restaurants at the tourists disposal. In January 2013, ABC Color reported that tourism in Encarnación moved at least USD $10 million in the month, more than the USD $5 million to USD $6 million of the anterior year. Prior to this, the city converted into a destination for thousands of tourists from all parts of the country, including tourists from other countries of the region. Given this, the city prepared its protocols for 9 months to be a safe destination for tourists.

The city is located at the south east of the department, on the right hand (western) shore of the Paraná River, opposite Posadas, Argentina.

Encarnación has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). The summers are hot and humid, and winters are temperate and cool. Due to its geographical position in the extreme south of the country Encarnación is the coldest city in Paraguay. Encarnación registered snowfall in the winter of 1975, the first time in the history of Paraguay. The annual mean temperature is 20.4 °C (68.7 °F). The annual mean relative humidity is 73%.

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches, (Catholic and Orthodox).