Misiones

Province in northeast Argentina, bordered by Paraguay to the west and Brazil to the east; area 29,801 sq km/11,506 sq mi; population (1996) 788,915. Misiones is a densely forested tropical region. The capital is Posadas. It lies between two major rivers, the Alto Paraná in the west and the Uruguay in the east, with each river forming a national frontier. Timber and tung oil are important products, together with tobacco, citrus fruits, rice, sugar cane, tea, and maté. There is some mining of basalt and sandstone. The spectacular Iguaçu Falls are located in the far north of the province, on the border with Brazil.

The province takes its name from the missions set up among the Guaraní inhabitants of the region by Jesuits in the 17th century.

Most of the province of Misiones stands on fairly high ground (maximum height 600 m/c.2,000 ft) and is densely forested. The rainfall is plentiful, with no dry season, and the climate is hot and humid. About 90% of Argentina's crop of yerba maté (‘Paraguay tea’) is grown here.