Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is the highest and most isolated country on the continent, with a diverse geography that includes the Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, and the world's largest salt flat. Bolivia has a rich history, having once been part of the ancient Inca Empire. It gained independence from Spain in 1825 and was named after South American freedom fighter Simón Bolívar. Today, Bolivia is known for its large indigenous population, who make up about two-thirds of the country's 11-12 million people.
What You'll Learn
Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America
Bolivia has a diverse geography, from the high peaks of the Andes in the west to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin in the east. The country has two capital cities: Sucre, the constitutional and judicial capital, and La Paz, the administrative capital and the seat of the government. La Paz is the world's highest administrative capital, located at an elevation of over 3,500 meters.
Bolivia has a rich history, dating back to ancient times. The region was once part of the Inca Empire before being colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century. The country gained its independence from Spain in 1825 and was named after the South American freedom fighter Simón Bolívar.
Bolivia is known for its natural landscapes, such as the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountain Range. It is also home to the world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, and the highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca, which it shares with Peru. The country has a varied climate due to its geographical diversity, with colder temperatures in the west and warmer, more humid weather in the east.
The country has a diverse economy, with agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining as its main economic activities. Bolivia is also a major producer of natural gas, silver, and zinc, and manufactures goods such as textiles, clothing, refined metals, and petroleum. Additionally, Bolivia has a large indigenous population, comprising around two-thirds of the total population.
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It is the highest and most isolated country on the continent
Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. It is the highest and most isolated country on the continent. With a population of around 12 million, Bolivia is home to the largest proportion of indigenous people in South America, making up around two-thirds of the population. The country is named after Venezuelan patriot and statesman Simón Bolívar, who led the fight for independence from Spanish rule in 1825.
Bolivia's administrative capital, La Paz, is the highest administrative capital in the world at more than 3,500 metres above sea level. The city is located in the Andes Mountains, which cover about one-third of the country. The Andean region of Bolivia includes the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges, as well as the Altiplano, a high plateau that extends from southern Peru through Bolivia to northern Argentina. The Altiplano is characterised by a relatively flat-floored depression, with numerous spurs and interlocking alluvial fans along its margins.
The highest peak in Bolivia is Nevado Sajama, which reaches an elevation of 6,542 metres (21,463 feet). This mountain is an extinct volcano and is located in the Cordillera Occidental range. Bolivia also boasts the world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, which sits at an elevation of 3,656 metres (11,995 feet).
In addition to its highland regions, Bolivia also includes lowland areas in the east, such as the Amazon Rainforest and the Oriente region, an extension of the Amazon River basin. The country's diverse geography results in varying climates, with the western regions generally colder due to their high altitude, while the eastern regions are warmer and more humid.
Bolivia's isolation is partly due to its landlocked position, as well as its diverse and challenging geography. The country has a rich history, having once been part of the ancient Tiwanaku and Inca empires. Today, it continues to be a culturally diverse nation, with Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani recognised as official languages, and a variety of landscapes, climates, and ecosystems.
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Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre and La Paz
Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. It is the highest and most isolated country on the continent, and is home to the largest proportion of indigenous people, who make up around two-thirds of the population. Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre and La Paz.
Sucre, the constitutional and legal capital, is the official national capital. It is located in the southern highlands of Bolivia and has a population of about 300,000. Sucre was the first capital of Bolivia, founded by the Spanish in the first half of the 16th century. The city's name was originally Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo. It was in Sucre that independence from Spain was proclaimed. The city is home to many beautiful churches, including the Templo de San Felipe Neri, a masterpiece completed in 1800.
La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia and the seat of the government. It is the highest administrative capital in the world, sitting at an altitude of 3,650 metres. La Paz has a population of about 800,000 and is the country's largest city. The city is known for its scenic location in the Andes mountains and attractions such as the Old Town and Murillo Square. La Paz also boasts the world's highest urban cable car, connecting the city with El Alto.
Bolivia's interesting geography is characterised by the high peaks of the Andes in the west and lowland in the east. The country's climate varies greatly due to these altitudinal differences. From November to March, Bolivia experiences a warmer summer season, which becomes wet due to rainfall. From April to October, the country has a colder and drier winter season.
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The country has the largest proportion of indigenous people in South America
Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is the highest and most isolated country on the continent. Bolivia has a rich history and was once part of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire and the Inca empire. The country has a population of around 11.8 million people, of which it is estimated that 41% to 62% are indigenous. This gives Bolivia the largest proportion of indigenous people in South America.
The indigenous peoples of Bolivia, or Native Bolivians, are those with predominantly or totally Amerindian ancestry. There are 36 recognised indigenous groups in Bolivia, with the largest being the Aymara and Quechua communities. Together, these two groups make up around half of the country's indigenous population. The remaining groups include the Chiquitano, Guaraní, Moxeño, Ese Eja, and Ayoreo peoples.
The indigenous peoples of Bolivia have a long and complex history. Before the arrival of Spanish forces in the early 16th century, indigenous peoples inhabited territories spanning what is now Bolivia for thousands of years. During the colonial period and for centuries after independence, the indigenous population remained marginalised and exploited for labour in mines and plantations.
Despite this, indigenous peoples in Bolivia have fought for their rights and representation. The 1952 Bolivian National Revolution, led by the Movimiento Nacional Revolucionario (MNR), ushered in political change, including land reforms and greater inclusion of indigenous Aymara and Quechua farmers. In 1993, the Law of Constitutional Reform recognised indigenous rights, and in 2005, Evo Morales became the country's first indigenous president. Morales worked to establish a plurinational and postcolonial state, expanding the collective rights of the indigenous community.
However, despite these advances, many indigenous communities in Bolivia continue to face challenges and threats to their culture, land, and way of life. As many as 15 of the country's 36 indigenous communities are at risk of extinction due to systematic neglect, social exclusion, and geographic isolation. Additionally, issues such as environmental injustice and the government's promotion of mining and resource extraction have negatively impacted indigenous communities.
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Bolivia is named after Venezuelan freedom fighter Simón Bolívar
Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is named after Venezuelan freedom fighter Simón Bolívar, who played a central role in the South American independence movement. Simón Bolívar was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1783 and is known colloquially as El Libertador, or the Liberator of America.
Bolívar was a wealthy, upper-class, Venezuelan statesman and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. He began his military career in 1810 as a militia officer in the Venezuelan War of Independence, fighting Royalist forces for the first and second Venezuelan republics and the United Provinces of New Granada.
In 1813, Bolívar entered Caracas and was given the title of Liberator. He assumed political dictatorship, but the war of independence was just beginning. Bolívar resorted to extreme measures, such as the shooting of prisoners, and in 1814 he was once more defeated by the Spanish. Bolívar fled to New Granada, where he was commissioned to oust a separatist faction from Bogotá and succeeded. He then laid siege to Cartagena but failed to unite the revolutionary forces and fled to Jamaica.
In exile, Bolívar turned his energies toward gaining support from Great Britain. He wrote the greatest document of his career: La carta de Jamaica (“The Letter from Jamaica”), in which he outlined a grandiose panorama from Chile and Argentina to Mexico. “The bonds,” wrote Bolívar, “that united us to Spain have been severed.” He proposed constitutional republics throughout Hispanic America and envisioned a government modelled on that of Great Britain for the former Viceroyalty of New Granada.
By 1815, Spain had sent to its seditious colonies the strongest expeditionary force that had ever crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Bolívar turned to Haiti, which had recently freed itself from French rule, and was given a friendly reception as well as money and weapons. Returning to Venezuela, Bolívar established a third republic in 1817 and then crossed the Andes to liberate New Granada in 1819. Bolívar and his allies defeated the Spanish in New Granada in 1819, Venezuela and Panama in 1821, Ecuador in 1822, Peru in 1824, and Bolivia in 1825. Venezuela, New Granada, Ecuador, and Panama were merged into the Republic of Colombia (Gran Colombia), with Bolívar as president.
In early 1825, Bolívar resigned from his offices in Colombia and Peru, but neither nation's congress accepted his resignation. In April 1825, a congress gathered in the city of Chuquisaca (now Sucre); it declared the region to be the nation of Bolivia, named Bolívar President, and asked him to write a constitution for Bolivia. Bolívar arrived in Potosí in October and met with two Argentine agents, but he departed for Peru on 1 January 1826.
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Frequently asked questions
Bolivia is located in South America.
Yes, Bolivia is landlocked and does not share a border with an ocean.
Bolivia shares borders with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Peru.