Exploring Bolivia's Daylit Hours

Bolivia is a country in South America that does not observe daylight saving time. The length of daylight in Bolivia varies throughout the year, with the longest days occurring in the months from December to March and the shortest days from June to September. In December, Bolivia experiences up to 13 hours and 20 minutes of daylight, while in June, the days last about 11 hours. The specific times for sunrise and sunset depend on the location within Bolivia, with variations between cities such as Sucre, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and La Paz.

Longest days in December, shortest in June

Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, where the longest days occur in the months of December to March, and the shortest days occur from June to September. This is the opposite of the northern hemisphere, where the longest days occur during the summer months.

In Bolivia, the longest days are in December, with up to about 13 hours and 20 minutes of daylight. On the other hand, the shortest days are in June, with approximately 11 hours of daylight. For example, in the city of Sucre, the sun rises at 6:20 am and sets at 6:15 pm in December, resulting in about 12 hours of sunlight. However, in June, the sun rises at a similar time, starting about 60 minutes later, but sets earlier, creating a shorter day.

The length of daylight in Bolivia is influenced by its proximity to the equator. As it is located at a distance from the equator, the sun's path is more oblique, resulting in shorter sunset and sunrise durations compared to countries farther north or south. For instance, a sunset in the northern USA or central Europe can last almost an hour, while in Bolivia, it averages around 25 minutes.

Additionally, Bolivia's position between the tropics results in the sun shining vertically from above twice a year. In Sucre, this occurs on January 25th and November 17th, while in La Paz, it happens on February 3rd and November 7th. The sun's angle is also larger in Bolivia compared to countries farther from the equator, resulting in the sun appearing much higher in the sky at midday.

No daylight saving time since 1932

Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, where the longest days occur during the months of December to March, and the shortest days occur during June to September. In Bolivia, days can last up to 13 hours and 20 minutes in December, while in June, days last about 11 hours and start about 60 minutes later.

In 2011, Bolivia was set to implement a time change for the first time in its history, advancing the clock by 60 minutes countrywide to address its energy issues. This schedule change was to occur annually between September and March, coinciding with the spring and summer seasons in the South American country. However, on August 31, 2011, the day before the intended time change, the national government indefinitely suspended the adoption of summer time due to opposition from various sectors, including electricity experts, neighbourhood and school leaders, and the general public.

Bolivia has not observed daylight saving time since 1932, and there are no DST-adjustments planned for the year 2024. The country currently maintains Bolivia Time (BOT) throughout the year without any shifts to the clocks. This decision to forgo daylight saving time aligns with Bolivia's previous timekeeping practices, as records since 1970 indicate that the country has consistently refrained from utilising DST.

The absence of daylight saving time in Bolivia means that the country's clocks remain static throughout the year, with no forward or backward adjustments during the spring and autumn seasons, as practised in some other regions. This consistency in timekeeping simplifies time-related calculations and conversions and ensures that the country's time zones remain stable and predictable for both residents and visitors alike.

Although Bolivia has chosen to maintain a constant time without DST adjustments, other countries and regions worldwide continue to employ DST to maximise daylight hours during specific periods. These regions adjust their clocks forward during spring, transitioning to DST, and then revert to standard time in the autumn, known as "falling back."

Time zone: Bolivia Time (BOT)

Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, which means that its longest days occur between December and March, with the shortest days occurring between June and September. In December, Bolivia enjoys up to 13 hours and 20 minutes of daylight, while in June, days are about 11 hours long.

In 2011, Bolivia was set to apply a time change for the first time in its history, advancing the clock by 60 minutes between September and March to offset energy problems. However, this plan was indefinitely suspended by the national government due to opposition from various groups, including electricity experts, neighbourhood and school leaders, and the general public.

Bolivia does not observe Daylight Saving Time and remains on Bolivia Time (BOT) or UTC/GMT -4 hours, all year round. This means that the time in Bolivia is currently four hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). As a result, the current local time in Bolivia is four hours behind the UTC time.

The administrative capital of Bolivia, where the country's government is based, also operates on BOT. This means that the capital city's time is synchronised with the rest of the country, making it convenient for citizens and officials alike to coordinate activities and conduct business across different regions of Bolivia.

Sunset duration: 25 minutes

The duration of sunset in Bolivia is influenced by the country's location in the southern hemisphere. The length of the day in Bolivia varies throughout the year, with the longest days occurring from December to March and the shortest days from June to September.

On average, Bolivia experiences approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes of daylight during the longest days in December. In contrast, June marks the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, resulting in shorter days with around 11 hours of daylight.

The capital city of Sucre, located at 19 degrees south latitude, exemplifies these variations. During the month of June, Sucre experiences a sunset duration of about 25 minutes, while in December, the sunset lasts slightly longer at 26 minutes. This relatively brief sunset duration in Bolivia can be attributed to its proximity to the equator, resulting in a more oblique path of the sun towards the horizon compared to regions farther away from the equator.

The angle of the sun in the sky also plays a role in the sunset duration. In Bolivia, the sun appears much higher in the sky at midday, resulting in intense sunshine. However, during the winter solstice on June 21st, the sun reaches its smallest angle above the horizon, even at midday. This variation in sunset duration and sun angle contributes to the unique daylight characteristics of Bolivia.

It is worth noting that Bolivia had considered implementing daylight saving time in 2011 to address energy concerns. However, due to opposition from various experts and the public, the plan was suspended indefinitely. As a result, Bolivia does not currently observe daylight saving time, and the sunset duration remains consistent throughout the year, averaging around 25 minutes in most regions.

Sun angle: smaller in winter

Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, which means its longest days are in the months from December to March, with up to about 13 hours and 20 minutes of daylight. In June, days are about an hour shorter, lasting around 11 hours.

The sun's angle is quite large in Bolivia, as it is closer to the equator. This means that the sun is much higher in the sky at midday and shines with a high intensity. However, at the winter solstice on June 21st, the sun has the smallest angle above the horizon. Even at midday, it is only 47.5 degrees above the northern horizon at its zenith. This is significantly lower than in cities further from the equator, such as New York, where the sun only reaches an angle of 73 degrees even at the height of summer.

The smaller sun angle in Bolivian winters is due to the country's location in the southern hemisphere. During the winter solstice, the sun appears lower in the sky and casts longer shadows. This is in contrast to the summer solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the days are longer.

The winter solstice in Bolivia occurs around June 21st. On this day, the sun is at its lowest point in the sky, resulting in shorter days and longer nights. The sun rises around 6:20 am and sets around 6:15 pm, providing just under 12 hours of daylight. The exact times may vary slightly depending on the location within Bolivia.

The smaller sun angle during the winter solstice has cultural and historical significance in Bolivia. For example, the ancient Chiripa people, who predated the Incas, constructed a trilithic "sun gate" called the "Horca del Inca" to mark the arrival of the winter solstice and facilitate worship of the Sun God. This site is located at Lake Titicaca and is considered an archeo-astronomical wonder. Even today, locals and tourists gather at this site to welcome the return of the sun during the winter solstice.

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