A landlocked nation surrounded by its South American neighbors, the Republic of Paraguay has been isolated throughout much of its history. After achieving independence from Spain in 1811, the country suffered through decades of dictatorships and political strife before implementing a democratic system toward the end of the 20th century. Today, most of Paraguay's approximately 7 million citizens are descended from the Guaraní Amerindian tribe, and many people speak both Spanish and Guaraní. The country experienced a constitutional crisis in 2012, when the elected president, Fernando Lugo, was controversially impeached and removed from office by his political opponents. However, a presidential election in 2013 resulted in a peaceful transfer of power. Paraguay remains one of the most isolated and least industrialized nations of South America. There's a lot to discover about Paraguay!