PILAR

capital, eembuc department, southwestern Paraguay. It lies on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River across from the mouth of the Arrogo Bermejo (Bermejo Stream). Founded in 1779, the settlement was originally known as eembuc. The city is now an important river port handling the agricultural products of the fertile area between the Paraguay and Paran rivers; it is also a manufacturing centre, with textile mills, sawmills, and distilleries. The city has a teachers college, church, hospital, and a branch of the Bank of Paraguay. A road leads eastward from Pilar to the AsuncinEncarnacin highway, and there is a small airport. Pop. (1982 prelim.) 13,135.