Encarnación (Spanish pronunciation: [eŋkaɾnaˈsjon]) is a district and the capital city of Itapúa Department in Paraguay, located at the south-east of the department, on the right-hand (western) shore of the Paraná River, opposite Posadas, Argentina. The city has an area of 274 km2
and a population of 93,497 (2002 Census), and the Greater Encarnacion area has a population of over 220,000 according to a 2020 estimate. Encarnación is the third-largest city of Paraguay. The city was originally named Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación de Itapúa, and is considered the capital of summer by most of its inhabitants.Encarnación is connected to the Argentine city of Posadas by the San Roque González de Santa Cruz Bridge and the International Train. The city is located on Route 1, some 370 km (225 miles) from Asunción, and located on Route 6, some 280 km (175 miles) from Ciudad del Este. Due to its proximity, many Argentines travel to the city.