chapter - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science

SUB-BASIN
COUNTRY
Argentina
Bolivia *
Brazil
4.2. Importance of the basin
La Plata basin is the settlement of most of the agriculture of the Mercosur
countries. Grain production surpasses 100 million tons, which not only constitutes
the alimentary base of the countries of the region, but also an important share of
their exports.
From the perspective of the regional economy, its importance lays on the fact
that in the area is produced close to 70% of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
of the five countries. From the hydrological point of view, the first place in importance
corresponds to agriculture and cattle rising. Other important activity is navigation
along the rivers that are natural channels, which have increased their transported
volume greatly due to the integration of the regional economies in recent years.
The hydroelectric power utilities are also very important, as they provide energy to
the region; in fact, in Brazil 92% of the produced energy depends on the hydroelectric
resources. Finally, the rivers of the basin provide the water for the consumption
of the inhabitants of the region, which is the most populated of South America.
4.3. Ecosystems in the basin
Physiography and Hydrology
Table 4.1. Distribution of the La Plata basin and sub-basins
Paraná Paraguay Uruguay
Surface covered by
the basin in
each country (**)
565.000 km 2 165.000 km 2 60.000 km 2 920.000 km 2
37,5% 15,0% 16,4% 29,7%
205.000 km2 205.000 km
*
2
18,7% 6,6%
890.000 km 2 370.000 km 2 155.000 km 2 1.415.000 km 2
59,0% 33,9% 42,5% 45,7%
Paraguay
55.000 km2 355.000 km2 *
410.000 km2 3,5% 32,4% 13,2%
Uruguay * *
150.000 km2 150.000 km2 41,1% 4,8%
Total
1.510.000 km 2 1.095.000 km 2 365.000 km 2 3.100.000 km 2
48,7% 35,3% 11,8% 100%
(**) The areas in this column do not include La Plata River estuary, of 130.000 km2, which is shared by
Argentina and Uruguay.
La Plata basin contains key ecosystems. The wetland of the Pantanal, located
in the upper part of the basin of the Paraguay River and shared by Brazil, Bolivia
and Paraguay, is a reservoir of enormous biological wealth that also works as regulator
of the hydrological system of the La Plata basin.
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