Bolivia's Northern Border: Where Does It Meet?

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east. The Bolivia-Brazil border is approximately 2,127 miles long and passes through diverse terrain, from urban centres to desert landscapes and tropical forests. Bolivia and Brazil have had a strained relationship in the past, fighting over a piece of fertile land in the Amazon basin in the early 20th century. More recently, in 2006, the two countries were engaged in a dispute over Bolivia's plan to nationalise its energy sector.

Bolivia borders Peru to the northwest

Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America. It is bordered by five countries: Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Chile, and Argentina. Bolivia's border with Peru is on the northwestern side of the country and is approximately 668 miles long. Bolivia and Peru share Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America.

Bolivia and Peru have a similar geography, with both countries bisected from north to south by the Eastern Andes Mountains. The two countries fought together in the Pacific War against Chile in the late 19th century, which resulted in Bolivia losing its coastline. Bolivia has since been a landlocked country.

The Bolivia-Peru border has several crossing points where customs officials check travellers' documents. In 2010, Peru signed an agreement with Bolivia, granting the landlocked country a piece of land along the Pacific coast. Bolivia plans to build a port and a beach resort on this land.

Bolivia shares Lake Titicaca with Peru

Lake Titicaca is made up of two nearly separate subbasins connected by the Strait of Tiquina, which is 800m across at its narrowest point. The larger subbasin, Lago Grande (also called Lago Chucuito), has a mean depth of 135m and a maximum depth of 284m. The smaller subbasin, Wiñaymarka (also Lago Pequeño, or "little lake"), has an average depth of 9m and a maximum depth of 40m. The lake's overall average depth is 107m.

Five major river systems feed into Lake Titicaca: Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, and Suchez. More than 20 other smaller streams also empty into the lake. It has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated. The lake is monomictic, with water passing through Lago Huiñaimarca and flowing out the single outlet at the Río Desaguadero, which then flows south through Bolivia to Lake Poopó.

The lake is home to more than 530 aquatic species, and holds large populations of water birds. It was designated a Ramsar Site in 1998. Some of the threatened species that are largely or entirely restricted to the lake include the Titicaca water frog and the flightless Titicaca grebe.

The lake is also of archaeological interest. In 2000, ruins of a temple were discovered on the lake's bottom. Ruins have also been found on the shore and on the islands, attesting to the previous existence of one of the oldest civilisations in the Americas. The chief site is at Tiwanaku, Bolivia, at the southern end of the lake. On Titicaca Island, ruins of a temple mark the spot where, according to Inca tradition, the legendary founders of the Inca dynasty, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, were sent down to Earth by the Sun.

Bolivia's border with Brazil is over 2,000 miles long

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to its north and east. The Bolivia-Brazil border is over 2,000 miles long and passes through a variety of terrains, from large urban areas to inhospitable deserts and forests. The border begins in the Pantanal, the largest wetlands in the world, and ends in the Amazon rainforest.

The first treaty of limits between Brazil and Bolivia was signed in 1867, without a proper understanding of the geographical location of rivers in the Amazon Basin. This treaty established the boundary line out of the Madeira River, a parallel west to the headwaters of the Javari River. However, it was later found that, according to the 1867 Treaty, the Acre region originally belonged to Bolivia, but the region had a sizeable population of Brazilian origin. This caused clashes as the population did not want to submit to the Bolivian government, and several riots emerged. The situation lasted until 1903, when Brazil militarily occupied the territory.

The Bolivia-Brazil border is fairly straightforward and similar to other South American borders. Travellers need to get their exit stamp, walk a couple of hundred meters, and then get their entry stamp. The entry part on the Bolivian side can be quite slow, so travellers are advised to bring their patience and water for standing in the heat for hours.

The Bolivia-Brazil border is the second-longest land border of Brazil, after its border with Bolivia. Brazil has land borders with nine countries in South America and the French Department of Guiana, totalling 16,885 kilometres (10,492 miles). Brazil has the world's third-longest land border, after China and Russia.

Bolivia and Paraguay fought the Chaco War over the Gran Chaco area

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. Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America.

Bolivia and Paraguay fought the Chaco War from 1932 to 1935 over the control of the northern part of the Gran Chaco region, which was thought to be rich in oil. The war was also referred to as "La Guerra de la Sed" ("The War of Thirst") because it was fought in the semi-arid Chaco. The Chaco War was the bloodiest interstate military conflict fought in South America in the 20th century, fought between two of its poorest countries. Both Bolivia and Paraguay were landlocked and had previously lost territory to neighbouring countries in 19th-century wars. Control of the Paraguay River, which ran through the 600,000 km2 Chaco, would provide access to the Atlantic Ocean. This was especially important for Bolivia, which had lost its Pacific coast to Chile during the 1879 War of the Pacific.

The Chaco War was sparked by a long-standing territorial dispute and the discovery of oil deposits on the eastern Andes range. In 1929, the Treaty of Lima ended the hopes of the Bolivian government to recover a land corridor to the Pacific Ocean, which was thought to be imperative for further development and trade. Both countries had built a double line of forts across the Chaco, and clashes at these border posts were a regular occurrence. In June 1932, a Bolivian patrol captured a Paraguayan fort, triggering a military escalation that culminated in full-scale conflict.

During the war, both landlocked countries faced difficulties shipping arms and supplies through neighbouring countries. Bolivia, in particular, faced external trade problems and poor internal communications. Although Bolivia had lucrative mining income and a larger and better-equipped army, a series of factors turned the tide against it. Paraguay's innovative style of fighting, centred on rapid marches and flanking encirclements, gave it the upper hand over Bolivia's more conventional strategy. Additionally, the Paraguayan Army was mostly made up of European-Guaraní mestizos, while Bolivia's army was mostly descended from the Altiplano's aboriginals of Quechua or Aymará, and the Quechua and Aymara peasant conscripts were accustomed to life in the high Andes Mountains rather than the low-lying, hot, and humid land of the Chaco.

The peace treaties ultimately granted two-thirds of the disputed territories to Paraguay. About 100,000 men lost their lives in the war, and a peace treaty was signed in Buenos Aires on July 21, 1938. Paraguay gained clear title to most of the disputed region, but Bolivia was given a corridor to the Paraguay River and a port (Puerto Casado).

Bolivia and Chile have had a hostile relationship since the early 19th century

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. Bolivia has had a hostile relationship with Chile since the early 19th century, owing to a border dispute over the Atacama Desert.

When Chile and Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1818 and 1825 respectively, both countries established their borders using the uti possidetis principle. The origins of the dispute came from the borders established in the Spanish Empire, which defined the Atacama Desert as the northern border of the Captaincy General of Chile. However, Bolivian historians claim that the territory of Charcas, originally part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and later of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata and Bolivia, included access to the sea. Chile, on the other hand, claims that it bordered Peru at the Loa River, making Bolivia landlocked.

The dispute escalated when Simón Bolívar established Bolivia as a nation in 1825 and claimed access to the sea at the port of Cobija, disregarding Chile's overlapping claims. The Atacama Desert was also rich in natural resources, including vast deposits of guano and saltpeter, which both countries sought to exploit. In 1866, the two countries negotiated a treaty that established the 24th parallel south as their boundary and entitled them to share tax revenue on mineral exports from the territory. However, Bolivia became dissatisfied with the arrangement due to its negative financial situation and the earthquakes that struck the coastal town of Cobija in 1868 and 1877.

In 1879, Bolivian dictator General Hilarión Daza increased taxes on the exportation of saltpeter in violation of the 1866 treaty, leading to a conflict that became known as the War of the Pacific (1879-1883). Chile declared war on Bolivia and occupied its coast, ultimately annexing the disputed territory. This loss of coastline left Bolivia landlocked and resulted in strained relations between the two countries that persist to the present day.

Despite the tensions, Chile and Bolivia have maintained economic treaties supporting tourism and cooperation, and trade between the two nations has not been affected by the dispute. In recent years, there have been attempts to improve relations and resolve the longstanding conflict, but progress has been slow due to the complexity of the issue and strong nationalistic sentiments on both sides.

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