Bolivia's Landmass: A Country's Surprising Size

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in 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 west. Bolivia is the 27th largest country in the world, the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere, and the seventh largest landlocked country on Earth. It has a land area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles) and a population of approximately 12 million people, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth.

Bolivia is the 27th largest country in the world

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is the 27th largest country in the world, with an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles). To put that into perspective, Bolivia is about twice the size of Spain, or slightly less than three times the size of the U.S. state of Montana.

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 west. The country has a rich history and diverse geography, ranging from the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the eastern lowlands of the Amazon basin.

The country's elevation varies significantly, with one-third of its territory lying in the Andean mountain range. The western region of Bolivia is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world, with the Andes reaching their greatest breadth and complexity. The Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental are two great parallel ranges that dominate the system in Bolivia. The country's highest peak, Mount Sajama, rises to an elevation of 6,542 metres (21,463 feet) in the Cordillera Occidental.

Bolivia has a population of approximately 12 million people, with a high proportion of indigenous inhabitants. Spanish is the official language, but there are also 36 indigenous languages recognised in the country. The country is named after the famous independence fighter Simon Bolivar, who played a significant role in liberating the region from Spanish rule in the 19th century.

Bolivia's economy is largely based on agriculture, mining, and the extraction of natural resources such as natural gas, petroleum, zinc, and lithium. The country has faced challenges related to deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. However, Bolivia has also made significant strides in recent years, with improvements in areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

It is the fifth-largest country in South America

Bolivia is the fifth-largest country in South America, with a land area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles). It is a landlocked country in west-central South America, bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Bolivia lost its coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884) and has been landlocked ever since.

Bolivia's terrain is diverse, with the Andean mountain range covering about one-third of the country. The country has a high average elevation of 1,192 metres above sea level, and its highest mountain peak, Sajama, rises to 6,542 metres. The Andean region in the southwest spans 307,603 square kilometres and includes the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central mountain ranges, as well as the Altiplano high plateau.

The Sub-Andean region in the centre and south of the country makes up 13% of Bolivia's territory and is distinguished by its farming activities and temperate climate. This region includes the Bolivian valleys and the Yungas, a rugged, heavily forested area with a warm climate.

The Llanos region in the northeast comprises 59% of the country's territory and is characterised by flat lands, small plateaus, rainforests, and savannas. This region is home to the Bolivian Chaco, a level area that experiences dramatic seasonal variations, from swampy conditions during the rainy season to a hot and dry semidesert the rest of the year.

Bolivia is the 27th largest country in the world and the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere. With a population of approximately 12 million people, it has a low population density of 11.28 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Bolivia is landlocked

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 west. Bolivia has been landlocked since the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), when it lost its Pacific coastal territory to Chile.

Bolivia is the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere, and the seventh-largest landlocked country in the world. It covers an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles), making it the 27th largest country in the world. It is the fifth-largest country in South America, after Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and Colombia.

Bolivia's landlocked status has had significant impacts on its economic development. The lack of direct access to the sea has increased transport costs for exports and imports, as land transport is typically more expensive than sea transport. Bolivia has had to rely on neighbouring countries for access to ports, which has resulted in higher prices for shipping containers.

Bolivia has been engaged in a long-standing dispute with Chile over sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean and territory lost during the 19th-century war. Bolivia has sought control of the port cities of Arica and Antofagasta, which are crucial for exporting to Asia. Despite several diplomatic exchanges and legal declarations, Bolivia has been unable to regain direct access to the Pacific.

In recent years, Bolivia has focused on diversifying its trade strategy by building better trade relations with South American trade blocs, such as Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance. Additionally, Bolivia has a special economic zone agreement with Peru, which grants it access to a free port near Ilo for 99 years.

The country has a population of 12 million

Bolivia's population is estimated at 12 million. The country is multiethnic, with a mix of Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, and other groups. Spanish is the official language, but 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua. Bolivia has the largest proportion of indigenous people in South America, making up around two-thirds of the population.

The population is fairly evenly split between urban and rural areas, with 70.3% living in urban centres. The median age is 24.9 years, and the gender ratio is close to parity, with 0.99 males per female. The population is dominated by the 15-64 age group, and the average household income was Bs.1,378 ($293) in 1994.

The country's largest city and principal industrial centre is Santa Cruz de la Sierra, located in the eastern lowlands. The administrative capital, La Paz, and the constitutional capital, Sucre, are also major cities.

Bolivia has a rich history, once forming the centre of the ancient Tiwanaku empire and later becoming part of the Inca empire. The country gained independence from Spain in the 19th century and was named after Venezuelan leader Simón Bolívar.

The population of Bolivia has steadily increased since the late 1800s and is currently in the third stage of demographic transition. The country has a positive natural growth rate, with a birth rate higher than the death rate. The overall life expectancy is around 68 years, and the total fertility rate is 2.87 children per mother.

Bolivia is the highest country in South America

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is the fifth-largest country in South America, with an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres. Bolivia is traditionally regarded as a highland country, with one-third of its territory in the Andes Mountains. The Andean region in the southwest of the country spans 28% of the national territory and sits at an elevation of 3,000 metres above sea level. The Andean region is characterised by two great parallel ranges: the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. The Cordillera Real, a spectacular northern section of the Cordillera Oriental, features an impressive line of snow-capped peaks, some exceeding 20,000 feet.

Between the two ranges lies the Altiplano, a relatively flat-floored depression about 500 miles long and 80 miles wide. The Altiplano slopes gently southward, its evenness broken by occasional hills and ridges. The margins of the Altiplano feature 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.

From the high, snow-capped slopes of the Cordillera Real and the Cordillera Oriental, the descent to the eastern plains is extremely precipitous. This rugged terrain is known as the Yungas, a word roughly translated from Aymara as "Warm Lands" or "Warm Valleys". The Yungas form the southern end of a region that extends along the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru and continues southeast through Bolivia as far as Santa Cruz.

Bolivia's mountainous western region, which is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world, constitutes an important economic and political centre. The country's largest cities are located in the highlands, and for centuries the highlands have attracted the nation's largest amount of mining, commercial, and business investment.

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