With the shifting levels of the Paraguay River and the water receding, remnants of the War of the Triple Alliance can emerge from beneath its waters, exposing vessels that played a role in one of the country’s most consequential conflicts. Some wrecks have become visible during exceptional droughts. Others have remained submerged for decades. Paraguay’s hidden shipwrecks changing visibility reflects the river’s fluctuating conditions.
Three vessels in particular are closely tied with Paraguay’s legacy: the Brazilian hospital ship Eponina, the Paraguayan steamer Paraguarí, and the naval flagship Tacuarí.
Eponina: A hospital ship engulfed in flames
The Eponina sank during the War of the Triple Alliance, fought between Paraguay and the allied forces of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay from 1864 to 1870. The ship was originally an Argentine passenger vessel named Porteña. However, it was purchased by the Brazilian community in Buenos Aires, donated to the Brazilian Navy, and renamed Eponina.
The ship was converted into a floating Brazilian military hospital to treat wounded and sick personnel during the conflict. On 6 January 1867, while anchored in Riacho Kurusú near Humaitá, the vessel caught fire. More than 200 ailing soldiers and medical staff were reportedly aboard, with many unable to escape.
For decades, the wreck suffered a case of mistaken identity. A boiler protruding from the sediment was believed to belong to a different Brazilian ship, the ironclad Rio de Janeiro, which sank after striking a Paraguayan mine during the war. Subsequent historical research and naval investigations established that the remains instead belonged to the Eponina. The wreck now lies in Riacho Kurusú, in the district of Humaitá, Ñeembucú Department.
Paraguarí: A warship stranded near Asunción
The Paraguarí began its service as a passenger and commercial steamer after being built in Great Britain and acquired by Paraguay in 1862. It was regarded as one of the most luxurious vessels in the country’s fleet, with 28 private cabins intended to provide comfortable transport between Asunción and Montevideo.
The outbreak of war transformed its purpose. The vessel was adapted for military service, and it took part in the Battle of Riachuelo on 11 June 1865, when Paraguayan and Brazilian naval forces clashed.
During the battle, the Brazilian steamer Paranahiba rammed the Paraguarí, severely damaging it. So, the Paraguayan crew deliberately ran the vessel aground and set it on fire to prevent enemy capture. It was strategically scuttled (deliberately sunk) near the mouth of the Manduvirá River to obstruct the advance of allied warships.
Decades later, an Argentine salvage company acquired the wreck for its metal. During an attempt to tow it along the Paraguay River, the vessel broke free and ran aground near the Remanso Bridge, downstream from Asunción. The wreck remained largely submerged until an exceptional decline in river levels exposed its iron framework in November 2019.
Tacuarí: The flagship that disappeared beneath the water
The Tacuarí was acquired by Paraguay under President Carlos Antonio López. Built in London between 1853 and 1854 at the Blyth Brothers shipyards, it cost £29,850 and arrived in Asunción on 21 January 1855. It had two steam engines and six Whitworth cannons. Beyond its military equipment, the steamer carried industrial machinery that contributed to Paraguay’s efforts to develop its own manufacturing capabilities.
The Tacuarí became central to the opening stages of the War of the Triple Alliance. On 12 November 1864, under orders from Francisco Solano López, it intercepted and captured the Brazilian merchant steamer Marqués de Olinda on the Paraguay River. The vessel carried the governor of Mato Grosso, and its capture marked an escalation in hostilities between Paraguay and Brazil.
The ship fought at Riachuelo in June 1865. Despite surviving the battle, it was forced into a more defensive role as Paraguay’s naval position deteriorated, transporting troops, artillery, and supplies along the river.
By March 1868, Brazilian ironclads had broken through the river defences near Humaitá. The Tacuarí and its companion vessel, the Ygurey, were trapped near Timbó while attempting to evacuate Paraguayan personnel and equipment. On 22 March 1868, the crew deliberately scuttled the Tacuarí near Riacho Guaycurú to prevent its capture. The crew removed military equipment and evacuated personnel before opening the vessel’s valves and setting fire.
Paraguay’s hidden shipwrecks
The Tacuarí wreck remained a visible feature of the river during periods of low water for decades, reportedly appearing above the surface as late as the 1940s. However, it is no longer visible today, leaving its final resting place as a reminder of the destruction of Paraguay’s wartime fleet.
In October 2022, the UNESCO Scientific and Technical Advisory Body (STAB) worked with Paraguayan specialists to document three of Paraguay’s hidden shipwrecks exposed during the 2019 decline in river levels: the Vapor Paraguarí, the Eponina, and an unidentified wooden vessel in the Yhaguy River. The mission focused on recording the sites, assessing their condition, and recommending safeguards against further damage or unauthorised removal.
As weather patterns and river levels continue to fluctuate, the remains of Paraguay’s historic fleet may become accessible again. Their preservation will depend on careful archaeological investigation and conservation, ensuring that changes in the river reveal historical evidence without putting it at further risk.
