Lyla Lindsey
Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre and La Paz. Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia, while La Paz is the seat of government and is considered the de facto capital. La Paz is the world's highest administrative capital city, at an elevation of roughly 3,650m (11,975 ft) above sea level. Sucre, meanwhile, is located at 9,153 ft above sea level.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 755,732 residents as of 2024 |
| Population rank | Third-most populous city in Bolivia |
| Metropolitan population | 2.2 million |
| Elevation | 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level |
| Elevation rank | Highest capital city in the world |
What You'll Learn
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia
La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia, with 755,732 residents as of 2024. Its metropolitan area, which includes El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million. La Paz is also the capital of the La Paz Department.
La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by the Spanish conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza, at the site of the Inca settlement of Laja. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka. La Paz was under Spanish colonial rule as part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata before Bolivia gained independence.
La Paz is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports centre of Bolivia. It generates 24% of the nation's gross domestic product and is home to numerous Bolivian companies and industries. It is also a significant cultural centre, hosting several landmarks from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Plaza Murillo. La Paz is renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and for its nightlife.
The city is also known for its unique topography, offering views of the surrounding mountains from numerous natural viewing points. La Paz is home to the largest urban cable car network in the world, with eight lines in operation.
The Long Journey: US Wheat Reaches Bolivia
You may want to see also
Sucre is the constitutional capital
Sucre was chosen as the provisional capital of Bolivia in 1826, a year after the country gained independence from Spain. The independence movement against the Spanish began in Sucre in 1809, and the city was deemed important economically due to its proximity to silver mines in the nearby mountains. Sucre's status as the capital was made official in 1839.
Today, Sucre is home to the Supreme Court of Bolivia. The city is recognised for its well-preserved colonial architecture, including buildings like the National Library, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Supreme Court of Justice. Sucre has a population of approximately 300,000, making it the sixth-most populous city in Bolivia.
While Sucre is the constitutional capital, La Paz is considered the administrative or de facto capital of Bolivia. It is the seat of government and houses the executive and legislative branches of the Bolivian government. La Paz is also the location of the central bank, government ministries, and foreign embassies. With a population of over 2.3 million in its metropolitan area, La Paz is the most populous city in the country.
Visa-Free Border Crossing into Bolivia: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
La Paz is the seat of government
La Paz is the site of the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace. It is also the seat of the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and numerous government departments and agencies. The city hosts all the foreign embassies as well as international missions in the country. La Paz is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports centre of Bolivia. It is the headquarters for numerous Bolivian companies and industries and generates 24% of the nation's gross domestic product.
La Paz is also an important cultural centre of South America. The city hosts several landmarks dating from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Plaza Murillo, and Jaén Street. La Paz is renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and for its nightlife. Its topography offers views of the city and the surrounding mountains of the Cordillera Real from numerous natural viewing points.
Bolivia's Vastness: Exploring a Country's Immensity
You may want to see also
Sucre is the judicial capital
Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital of Bolivia, with a population of approximately 300,000 people. It is located in the south-central region of the country, in the Andes mountains of the Chuquisaca Department, at an elevation of 2,790 to 2,890 metres (9,150 to 9,480 feet). The city was founded in the first half of the 16th century by the Spanish, and was originally called La Plata (meaning "Silver Town" or "City of Silver"). Sucre's name was changed in 1839 to honour the revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre.
Sucre holds major national importance in Bolivia. It is an educational and government centre, and is the location of the Bolivian Supreme Court. The city has a pleasant climate and low crime rates, which have made it popular among foreigners and Bolivians alike. Sucre's well-preserved colonial architecture has led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sucre has been an important centre in Bolivian history. The Bolivian independence movement against the Spanish began in Sucre in 1809, and the city was the first capital of Bolivia before the fall of silver's importance as a global mineral commodity. Sucre is also the location of the House of Freedom, where Simón Bolívar wrote the Bolivian Constitution, and where the Bolivian Declaration of Independence is displayed.
Despite Sucre's status as the constitutional and judicial capital of Bolivia, all governmental activity is carried out in La Paz, which is considered the seat of government. La Paz became the de facto seat of government in 1898 after the economy near Sucre lost its stability.
Child Labor in Bolivia: A Sad Reality
You may want to see also
La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia
La Paz, officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the administrative capital of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, it is the third-most populous city in the country. Its metropolitan area, which includes the cities of El Alto, Achocalla, Viacha, and Mecapaca, is the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million. The largest city in Bolivia is Santa Cruz de la Sierra, with a population of 2.3 million.
La Paz is the seat of the government of Bolivia and is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports centre of the country. It is home to the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace, as well as the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and numerous government departments and agencies. The city is also a significant cultural centre of South America, hosting several landmarks from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Plaza Murillo. La Paz is renowned for its markets, particularly the Witches' Market, and for its nightlife.
La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by the Spanish conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza, at the site of the Inca settlement of Laja. The full name of the city was originally Nuestra Señora de La Paz (meaning Our Lady of Peace) in commemoration of the restoration of peace following the insurrection of Gonzalo Pizarro and other conquistadors against the first viceroy of Peru. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka. La Paz was under Spanish colonial rule as part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata before Bolivia gained independence.
La Paz is located in west-central Bolivia, 68 kilometres southeast of Lake Titicaca. It is set in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River and is surrounded by the high mountains of the Altiplano. At an elevation of roughly 3,650 metres above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. Due to its high altitude, La Paz has a unique subtropical highland climate, with rainy summers and dry winters.
Brits in Bolivia: Visa Requirements and Rules
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The capital city of Bolivia, Sucre, is located at an elevation of 9,153 feet above sea level. The administrative capital, La Paz, is even higher, at over 13,000 feet above sea level.
During the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, the continent was divided into viceroyalties, or large territories, each governed by a viceroy. The region of present-day Bolivia was part of the Viceroyalty of Alto Peru, along with what are now Peru and parts of Chile.
Sucre was established as the capital of Bolivia when the country gained independence in 1825.
Sucre was chosen as the capital due to its economic importance and involvement in the independence movement against the Spanish, which began in the city in 1809.
La Paz became the seat of the executive and legislative branches of the Bolivian government in 1898, after the economy near Sucre lost its stability. The judicial branch remains in Sucre.
