Bolivia's Right Of Passage: Navigating River Access

Bolivia, a landlocked country in South America, has several rivers that serve as important trade and transportation routes. These rivers flow through diverse landscapes, from the Andean mountains to the Amazon rainforest, and provide a means of passage for people and goods. One example is the Paraguay-Paraná waterway, which offers Bolivian businesses an alternative route to the Atlantic Ocean and facilitates trade with neighbouring countries. The rivers of Bolivia also face various challenges, such as contamination from mining activities and proposed dam construction, which can have significant impacts on the environment and local communities. The country's rivers are an essential part of its geography and play a crucial role in its economic development and connectivity with the rest of the continent.

Bolivia's access to the sea

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America that lost its coastline to Chile after the 19th-century War of the Pacific. However, the country has not lost access to the sea entirely. Several rivers in Bolivia reach the ocean, including the Beni, San Cristóbal, Mamoré, Iténez, Parapetí, and Río Grande rivers. These waterways provide Bolivia with a right of passage to the sea, connecting the landlocked nation to international trade routes and offering alternative routes to the ocean.

The Paraguay-Paraná waterway, in particular, stands out as a crucial route for Bolivia's trade and commerce. This waterway provides Bolivia with access to the Atlantic Ocean and facilitates connections with neighbouring countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The development of river ports along this waterway, such as Port Jennefer, has been instrumental in reducing trade costs for Bolivian businesses. According to Port Jennefer's manager, Bismark Rosales, the Paraguay-Paraná waterway offers significant opportunities for economic development, with the potential to save up to 18-20% in freight costs and 30% in transit time compared to traditional routes.

The rivers of Bolivia belong to three major systems. The first is the Amazon tributaries in the northwest, north, and northeast, including the Beni and Mamoré rivers. These rivers flow into the Madeira River, a major tributary of the Amazon River, which eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The vast Amazon basin covers 722,000 square kilometres (281,580 square miles) of Bolivian territory, or about 66% of the country.

The second system is the Pilcomayo-Paraguay basin in the south and southeast of the country. The Pilcomayo River forms part of the border with Argentina and joins the Paraguay River at Asunción, Paraguay. The Paraguay River then flows into the La Plata basin, the second most important river system in South America. Bolivia has a small share of the La Plata basin, covering 225,000 square kilometres (87,750 square miles), or 21% of the country.

The third system is an enclosed, inland-draining basin centred on Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopó in the Altiplano region of western Bolivia. Lake Titicaca, located on the border with Peru, is the largest inland lake in South America and the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. The Desaguadero River flows from Lake Titicaca and drains into Lake Poopó. However, due to climate change and drought, Lake Poopó disappeared in 2015, causing significant environmental concerns.

The Beni River and its threats

The Beni River, or Río Beni, is a vital waterway in the north of Bolivia. It rises north of La Paz, the country's administrative capital, and flows northeast through a diverse range of landscapes, from highland forests and rainforests to the densely forested Yungas, or northeastern Andean slopes. The Beni River is an essential component of the region's ecosystem and supports a rich array of flora and fauna. However, it is currently facing several significant threats.

One of the primary threats to the Beni River is the Bolivian government's plan to construct mega-dams, specifically the Chepete and Bala projects. These dams would convert parts of the river into vast lagoons, flooding thousands of square kilometres. This would result in the eviction of Indigenous Peoples and peasant communities, disrupting their livelihoods and cultures. The water cycle of the territory would also be drastically altered, impacting the biodiversity of the region. Furthermore, the creation of these mega-dams would likely lead to deforestation and the destruction of natural habitats, opening the area to large-scale mining and logging operations.

Another critical concern for the Beni River is mining contamination, particularly from mercury. Bolivia is one of the top importers of mercury, which is used to amalgamate gold found in the rivers. This mercury contaminates the water and poses severe health risks to both the local population and the Indigenous communities living along the river. High levels of mercury have been detected in the Beni River basin, with reports of constant diarrhoea, deformities, and disabilities among children in these areas. The Bolivian government's lack of regard for the environmental and health impacts of mercury contamination exacerbates the problem.

In addition to these immediate threats, the Bolivian government's recent decree to promote oil palm production has caused anxiety among the peoples of the Beni River. Experiences from other countries indicate that oil palm production often leads to negative consequences such as deforestation, water scarcity, and contamination. The cumulative impact of these threats could have far-reaching consequences for the Beni River and the diverse life it supports.

The Beni River is a lifeline for many communities and ecosystems in Bolivia. However, the combination of government infrastructure projects, mining contamination, and expanding agricultural industries poses a significant danger to the river's health and the well-being of the people who depend on it. It is crucial that steps are taken to address these threats and protect this vital natural resource.

The Mamoré River and its tributaries

The Mamoré River is a large river in Bolivia and Brazil. It rises on the northern slope of the Sierra de Cochabamba, east of the city of Cochabamba, and is known as the Chimoré down to its junction with the Chapare. The river is around 1,200 miles long and flows through the Andes Mountains into the Bolivian lowlands and then into Brazil. It is considered a "wild" or "untamed" river, as it is uninterrupted by obstacles such as dams or levees. The Mamoré River also changes its course to suit its flow, creating several lagoons.

The Mamoré's larger tributaries include the Chapare, Secure, Apere, and Yacuma from the west, and the Ichilo, Guapay, Ivari, Manique, and Guapore from the east. The Guapore, or Itenez, rivals the Mamoré in length and volume, with its source in the Parecis plateau in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The Guapore flows north-westward to the Tapajos and Amazon rivers and southward to the Paraguay and Paraná rivers.

The Mamoré joins with the Beni River to form the Madeira River, one of the largest tributaries of the Amazon. The Madeira River is interrupted by rapids a few miles above the junction, but a 300-kilometre railway has been constructed below the rapids. Above the rapids, the Mamoré and most of its tributaries are navigable for long distances.

The Mamoré and Itenez Rivers combine to form the Itenez-Mamore Binational Corridor along the Bolivia-Brazil border. This corridor is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including numerous fish species, the Giant River otter, River dolphins, and South American birds. The area also supports the vast Itenez Protected Area, which encompasses various ecosystems such as humid forests, savannahs, river forests, and lakes.

The Paraguay-Paraná waterway

The waterway is also crucial for Paraguay, as it provides the country's only access to the Atlantic Ocean. It serves as a major transportation route, carrying nearly 80% of Paraguay's trade, including manufactured products, grains, oilseeds, oils, minerals, steel, and petroleum. Paraguay recognises the importance of improving its portion of the waterway to better leverage its strategic location and is seeking infrastructure investments to enhance its waterway infrastructure.

The waterway has been the focus of commercial and industrial development, with plans to develop it into an industrial waterway system to reduce the costs of exporting goods, particularly soybeans. However, there are environmental concerns about the potential impact of such projects on the Pantanal wetlands, a vast tropical floodplain that relies on the waters provided by the Paraguay River. The future of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway and its impact on the region remains a subject of ongoing discussion and negotiation among the affected countries.

The La Quiaca River and its contamination

The La Quiaca River, also known as the Villazón River, is a river that flows between Argentina and Bolivia. It originates in Toquero and runs from west to east, passing through the cities of La Quiaca in Argentina and Villazón in Bolivia, before heading north towards Bolivia.

The river is known for its high levels of contamination, particularly as it passes through the cities of La Quiaca and Villazón. The contamination affects the water quality and poses potential risks to the health and well-being of the residents and visitors to these areas.

La Quiaca is a small city in the northern province of Jujuy, Argentina, located on the southern bank of the La Quiaca River. It has a population of over 13,000 inhabitants and serves as the head town of the Yaví Department. Despite being located within the tropics, La Quiaca has a cold semi-arid climate due to its high altitude. The city experiences cool days and very cold nights during the winter, with temperatures dropping below freezing. In contrast, the summer months have mild to warm days, but nighttime temperatures can still remain cool.

Villazón is a town in Bolivia, located on the northern bank of the La Quiaca River, directly across from La Quiaca. The two cities are connected by the Horacio Guzmán International Bridge, which is the only enabled step between the Argentine province of Jujuy and the Potosí Department in Bolivia.

The contamination of the La Quiaca River has attracted the attention of authorities and environmental organizations. The Argentine National Gendarmerie, through the Environmental Patrol of the La Quiaca Squadron, has dedicated efforts to a river cleaning project. However, the specific details of the project and its effectiveness in mitigating the contamination are not mentioned in the sources provided.

The contamination of the La Quiaca River is a cause for concern, especially given the river's importance as a border between Argentina and Bolivia. The potential health risks associated with the high levels of contamination can impact the residents and visitors of both La Quiaca and Villazón. Therefore, it is crucial to address this issue and explore effective solutions to reduce the contamination and improve the water quality.

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