Exploring Bolivia's Unique Geography: How Far Inland?

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America, spanning an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres. It is the fifth-largest country in South America and the largest landlocked nation in the Southern Hemisphere. Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the northwest. The country's landscape is defined by the Andes, which runs through its western half, and is characterised by three geographic zones: the mountains and Altiplano in the west, the semitropical Yungas and temperate valleys in the east, and the tropical lowlands in the north and east, known as the Oriente.

Bolivia's three geographic zones: the mountains and Altiplano, the semitropical Yungas, and the tropical lowlands

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the northwest. Bolivia's geography is dominated by the Andes Mountains, which bisect the country from north to south. The country can be divided into three geographic zones: the mountains and Altiplano, the semitropical Yungas, and the tropical lowlands.

The Mountains and Altiplano

The Andes Mountains, which run through western Bolivia, are the country's most prominent geographic feature. The Andes in Bolivia consist of two main ranges: the Cordillera Occidental (Western Cordillera) and the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Cordillera). The Cordillera Occidental forms the border with Chile and is a range of mostly dormant volcanoes, with the republic's highest peak, Mount Sajama, reaching an elevation of 21,463 feet (6,542 meters). The Cordillera Oriental is a massive series of snow-capped granite mountains, with some peaks exceeding 20,000 feet (6,100 meters).

Between these two ranges lies the Altiplano, a high plateau that extends from southern Peru through Bolivia to northern Argentina. The Altiplano is approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers) long and 80 miles (130 kilometers) wide, with elevations between 12,000 and 14,000 feet (3,650 and 3,800 meters). The Altiplano is characterized by valleys, rolling hills, salt flats, volcanoes, rivers, and lakes. Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, is located in the Altiplano and is shared by Bolivia and Peru.

The Semitropical Yungas

The Yungas is the northeastern flank of the Cordillera Real, a region of steep, rugged, and largely undeveloped jungle-covered mountains. The upper reaches of the Yungas consist of cloud forests, and the region is rich in flora and fauna. The climate in the Yungas is hot and humid, with high precipitation. The region experiences heavy rainfall during the wet season (December to March) and less rain during the dry season.

The Tropical Lowlands

The tropical lowlands comprise over two-thirds of Bolivia's territory and include the departments of Beni, Pando, and the northern part of Cochabamba in the north, and Santa Cruz in the central area. The lowlands feature gently rolling hills, forests, savanna, and tropical rainforests. The region is home to most of Bolivia's petroleum and natural gas reserves. The lowlands have a hot and humid climate, with a rainy season from September to May.

The Andes' impact on the country's geography

Bolivia's geography is defined by two major features: the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Jungle. The Eastern Andes Mountain Range (also called the Cordillera Oriental) bisects Bolivia roughly from north to south. To the east of this mountain chain are the lowland plains of the Amazon Basin, and to the west is the Altiplano, a highland plateau where Lake Titicaca is located.

The Altiplano, or high plateau, is sandwiched between the Eastern Andes and the Cordillera Occidental (Western Cordillera). Once deep valleys between the mountain ranges, the Altiplano filled over time with sedimentary debris washed down from the surrounding peaks. The eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental descend gently into rolling hills, and numerous rivers flow eastward, forming long valleys. The Altiplano is the heartland of Bolivia and contains several salt flats, the dried remnants of ancient lakes. The largest of these is the Uyuni Saltpan, which covers almost 3,500 square miles.

The Altiplano extends southward for about 500 miles, with an average width of 50 miles and altitudes varying from 12,000 to 14,000 feet. The plateau floor is made up of sedimentary debris washed down from the adjacent mountains. The margins of the Altiplano are characterised by numerous spurs and interlocking alluvial fans. In the middle of the Altiplano are the Titicaca and Poopó lakes and basins, which have traditionally been important agricultural, economic, and cultural areas.

The Altiplano is bordered on the west by the Cordillera Occidental, a chain of dormant volcanoes and solfataras (volcanic vents emitting sulfurous gases). Bolivia's highest peak, the snow-capped Nevado Sajama, is located here. The entire Cordillera is of volcanic origin and is an extension of the volcanic region found in southern Peru. Most of the northern part of this range has an elevation of about 13,000 feet, while the southern part is somewhat lower. Rainfall, although scarce, is greater in the northern half, where the land is covered with scrub vegetation. The southern area receives almost no precipitation, and the landscape consists mostly of barren rocks. All regions of the Cordillera Occidental are sparsely populated, and the south is virtually uninhabited.

The Eastern Andes Mountain Range, or Cordillera Oriental, enters Bolivia on the north side of Lake Titicaca and extends southeastward to approximately 17 degrees south latitude. The northernmost part of the Cordillera Oriental, the Cordillera Real, is an impressive snow-capped series of granite mountains. Some of these peaks exceed 19,600 feet, and two—Illimani and Illampu, which overlook the city of La Paz—have large glaciers on their upper slopes.

The eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental descend gradually in a series of complex north-south ranges and hills. Rivers draining eastward have cut long, narrow valleys, and these valleys and basins are favourable areas for crops and settlement. Rich alluvial soils fill the low areas, but erosion has followed the removal of vegetation in some places. The valley floors range from 6,500 to 9,800 feet above sea level, and this lower elevation means milder temperatures than those of the Altiplano. The cities of Sucre, Cochabamba, and the upper area of the Tarija department are located in basins of this vast region.

The Andes Mountains reach their greatest average elevation and width in Bolivia. The Bolivian Andes contain two mountain ranges separated by the Altiplano. On the west, the Cordillera Occidental forms the border with Chile and rises above 19,000 feet. The chain includes Mount Sajama, Bolivia's highest peak at 21,463 feet. The eastern arm of the Bolivian Andes is called the Cordillera Oriental or Cordillera Real. The capital city of La Paz is located in this range, which includes the country's most dramatic peaks with average heights of over 18,000 feet.

The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world and form a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range extends through seven South American countries and has an average height of about 13,000 feet. The Andes are the location of several high plateaus, some of which host major cities. The Altiplano Plateau is the world's second-highest plateau after the Tibetan Plateau.

The Altiplano: a high plateau sandwiched between the Cordilleras

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. Covering an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles), it is the 5th largest country in South America and the largest landlocked nation in the Southern Hemisphere. The country is traditionally regarded as a highland country, with the Andes Mountains dominating its landscape.

The Altiplano, meaning 'high plain' in Spanish, is a high plateau sandwiched between the Cordillera Occidental (Western Cordillera) and the Cordillera Oriental (Eastern Cordillera), two mountain ranges of the Andes. The Altiplano extends from southern Peru through Bolivia to northern Argentina. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, with its northern parts in Peru and its southwestern fringes in Chile.

The Altiplano is a vast, windswept plateau that stretches more than 900 kilometres, with an average elevation of about 3,750 metres. The plateau is dotted with stunning natural attractions, including the world's largest salt flats, flocks of flamingos, and Lake Titicaca, the planet's highest navigable lake. The Altiplano's formation is a subject of vigorous debate among geologists, with hypotheses attributing its uplift to various mechanisms, including crustal flow and the detachment of a dense mantle lithosphere from the bottom of the South American Plate.

The Altiplano is an important economic and cultural centre for Bolivia. Major economic activities in the region include mining, llama and vicuña herding, and tourism. The area is known for its challenging climate, with hypoxic air due to the high elevation. The communities that inhabit the Altiplano include Qulla, Uros, Quechua, and Aymara.

The Altiplano's vegetation consists mainly of grass and shrubs. While the northern half receives adequate rainfall for crop cultivation, the southern half falls within a zone of deficient moisture. The region's wildlife originally included alpacas and llamas, which are now bred for wool and used as pack animals.

The Altiplano is accessible from the eastern side by a continuous passageway of gentle gradient extending southward across Bolivia. The Cordillera Oriental forms the eastern boundary of the Altiplano, with its eastern slopes descending gently into rolling hills and valleys formed by numerous rivers flowing eastward.

The Yungas: semi-tropical valleys with spectacular scenery

Bolivia is a landlocked nation in west-central South America. Covering an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles), it is the fifth-largest country in South America and the largest landlocked nation in the Southern Hemisphere.

Northeast of La Paz, the landscape descends into the Yungas: a region of semi-tropical valleys with spectacular scenery. The Yungas is an Aymara word meaning "Warm Lands". It is a bioregion of a narrow band of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from Peru and Bolivia, extending into Northwest Argentina at the slope of the Andes pre-cordillera.

The eastern slopes of the northern Cordillera Oriental, called the Yungas, are rugged, steep, and densely forested; they descend swiftly to the eastern plains. The region is watered by plentiful rains and has a warm, pleasantly humid climate. The Yungas is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the eastern forests. The Yungas forests are extremely diverse, ranging from moist lowland forest to evergreen montane forest and cloud forests. The terrain, formed by valleys, fluvial mountain trails and streams, is extremely rugged and varied, contributing to the ecological diversity and richness.

The original road from La Paz to Coroico, a town in the Yungas, is widely considered the most dangerous road in the world. It hugs the forest-covered mountain slopes as it winds above fearsome precipices. However, it is also among the most scenic and dramatic routes and is popular with mountain bikers.

The Choro Trail, one of a trio of so-called "Inca" trails in the region, passes through the pristine cloud forests of the Parque Nacional Cotapata. The Yunga Cruz Trail, connecting Chuñavi with Chulumani, is the toughest, most scenic, and most pristine of the three Inca trails. It offers a condor's-eye view of the dramatic landscape.

The Oriente: the tropical lowlands or plains in the east of Bolivia

Bolivia is divided into three geographic zones: the Western zone, the Central zone, and the Eastern zone. The Eastern zone, also known as the Oriente, is a tropical lowland region in the east of Bolivia. Covering more than two-thirds of the country's territory, the Oriente is an extension of the Amazon River basin and is characterised by low alluvial plains, swamps, flooded bottomlands, open savannahs, and tropical forests.

The Oriente is a biodiverse region, home to the greatest variety of wildlife in Bolivia. The area is also a significant economic zone, with the largest population centre, Santa Cruz city, and the fastest-growing regional economy in the country. The Oriente's vast expanse includes the northern departments of Beni and Pando, as well as the eastern parts of the country, north and east of the Andes.

The Oriente's landscape is diverse, with differences in topography and climate separating the lowlands into three distinct areas. The flat northern area, encompassing the Beni and Pando departments, and the northern portion of the Cochabamba department, is dominated by tropical rainforests. The heavy rainfall in this region periodically transforms large swaths into swampland due to poor drainage caused by underlying claypan soil.

The central area, including the northern half of Santa Cruz, features gently rolling hills and a drier climate. Forests and savannahs alternate across the landscape, and much of the land has been cleared for agricultural cultivation. Santa Cruz, the largest city in the lowlands, is situated in this central area, along with most of Bolivia's petroleum and natural gas reserves.

The southeastern area of the lowlands is part of the Gran Chaco, a continuation of the Paraguayan Chaco. This semi-arid region remains virtually rainless for about nine months of the year, but during the rainy season, it becomes inundated with floodwaters. The extreme variation in rainfall only supports thorny scrub vegetation and cattle grazing. However, recent discoveries of natural gas and petroleum near the foothills of the Andes have attracted some settlers to the area.

The Oriente, with its varied ecosystems, plays a crucial role in Bolivia's biodiversity and conservation efforts. The region faces challenges such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the international demand for natural resources. Nevertheless, Bolivia remains committed to sustainability and has implemented robust legal frameworks and strategic collaborations to protect its extraordinary natural heritage.

Frequently asked questions