Exploring The Unique Beauty Of Bolivia's Nic

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is a culturally diverse country with a growing economy and is home to some of the world's highest cities, the largest salt flats, and part of the Amazon rainforest. Bolivia has a rich history, having once been the centre of the ancient Tiwanaku empire and later a part of the Inca empire. The country is named after freedom fighter Simón Bolívar, who led Bolivia to independence from Spanish rule in 1825.

Geography and Climate

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 is a country of varying geography and climate, with the world's largest geographic extension of Amazonian plains and lowlands, mountains, Chaco, valleys, and high plateau areas.

Geography

Bolivia can be divided into three physiographic regions: the Andean region, the Sub-Andean region, and the Llanos region.

Andean Region

The Andean region in the southwest of Bolivia spans 28% of the country's territory and is located above 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) in altitude. This area includes two great Andean mountain ranges: the Cordillera Occidental ("Western Range") and the Cordillera Central ("Central Range"). The Cordillera Occidental, along the border with Chile, contains numerous active volcanoes and the Uyuni Salt Flat. The Cordillera Central includes the republic's highest peak, Mount Sajama, at 6,542 meters (21,463 ft). Located between these two ranges is the Altiplano ("High Plateau"), a relatively flat depression about 500 miles (800 km) long and 80 miles (130 km) wide, with elevations between 12,000 and 12,500 feet (3,650 and 3,800 meters). The Altiplano includes Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America, which is shared with Peru.

Sub-Andean Region

The Sub-Andean region, located in the center and south of the country, makes up 13% of Bolivia's territory. This intermediate region between the Altiplano and the eastern lowlands is distinguished by its farming activities and temperate climate.

Llanos Region

The Llanos region in the northeast comprises 59% of the country's territory. This region of flat land and small plateaus is covered by extensive rainforests and contains a vast array of biodiversity. The region is located below 400 meters (1,300 ft) above sea level.

Climate

The climate of Bolivia varies significantly across its different eco-regions. The summers are generally warm and humid in the east, while the west experiences dry summers with occasional rainfall. Winters are cold in the western Andes, with snowfall in the mountain ranges. The autumn is typically dry in the non-tropical regions.

Llanos

The Llanos region has a humid tropical climate with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F). The winds coming from the Amazon rainforest bring significant rainfall. However, in May, dry winds lead to lower precipitation and mostly clear skies.

Altiplano

The Altiplano experiences desert-polar climates, with strong and cold winds. The average temperature ranges from 15 to 20 °C. Nights can be chilly, with temperatures just above 0 °C, while days are dry and sunny with high solar radiation. Frosts are common throughout the year, and snowfall is frequent.

Valleys and Yungas

The valleys and Yungas region has a temperate climate. The northeastern winds are pushed towards the mountains, making this area very humid and rainy. Temperatures decrease with higher elevations, and snowfall can occur at altitudes above 2,000 meters (6,600 ft).

Chaco

The Chaco region has a subtropical semi-arid climate. It is rainy and humid in January, while the rest of the year is characterized by warm days and cold nights.

History

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the fifth-largest country in South America and the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere. Bolivia has a rich history, from its time as the centre of the ancient Tiwanaku empire to its role in the Spanish colonisation of the Americas.

Ancient History

The region now known as Bolivia was occupied for over 2,500 years before the Aymara arrived. The Aymara people associate themselves with the ancient Tiwanaku Empire, which had its capital at Tiwanaku, in Western Bolivia. The capital city of Tiwanaku dates back to 1500 BC, when it was a small, agriculturally-based village. The Aymara community grew to urban proportions between AD 600 and AD 800, becoming a significant regional power in the southern Andes.

Around AD 400, Tiwanaku began to aggressively expand its reach into the Yungas, bringing its culture to new peoples in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. However, Tiwanaku was not a violent culture, and instead expanded through political astuteness, trade agreements, colonies, and state cults. Tiwanaku disappeared around AD 1000, and the area remained uninhabited for centuries.

The Inca Empire

Between 1438 and 1527, the Inca Empire expanded from its capital at Cusco, gaining control over much of what is now the Bolivian Andes and extending into the fringes of the Amazon basin. The largest territory of Bolivia, on the eastern side of the lowlands, was inhabited by independent non-Andean Amazonian tribes with their own distinct civilisations, cultures, and ethnicities that prevail to this day.

Spanish Colonisation

The Spanish conquest of the Inca empire began in 1524 and was mostly completed by 1533. The territory now called Bolivia was known as Charcas, and was under the authority of Spain. Local government came from the Audiencia de Charcas located in Chuquisaca (La Plata—modern Sucre). The Spanish built their empire on the silver that was extracted from Potosí Bolivia's mines, and the first silver coins, stamped with the "$" sign, were inspired by Potosí and Spanish royalty.

During the subsequent Spanish colonial period, Bolivia was administered by the Real Audiencia of Charcas. In the 16th century, the Spanish forcibly took control of the region, and the first Bolivian website and email address appeared in 1993. In 1996, Bolnet registered the domain that identifies Bolivia, and the following year, control was passed to the Agencia para el Desarrollo de la Sociedad de la Información en Bolivia (ADSIB).

Independence

The struggle for independence began in the city of Sucre on 25 May 1809, and the Chuquisaca Revolution is known as the first cry of Freedom in Latin America. The La Paz revolution followed on 16 July 1809, marking a complete split with the Spanish government. Bolivia was captured and recaptured many times during the war by the royalists and patriots, and after 16 years of fighting, the Republic was proclaimed on 6 August 1825. The country was named after Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan leader in the Spanish American wars of independence.

Modern History

Bolivia has experienced a succession of military and civilian governments, coups, counter-coups, and caretaker governments. In 1971, Hugo Banzer led a CIA-supported coup d'état, replacing the socialist government of Juan José Torres with a military dictatorship. Banzer returned as the democratically elected President of Bolivia from 1997-2001. Under the presidency of Evo Morales from 2006-2019, the country saw significant economic growth and political stability, but was also accused of democratic backsliding.

In 2019, Morales resigned following allegations of fraud in the election, and interim president Jeanine Áñez declared herself acting President of Bolivia. Protests to reinstate Morales as president continued, and in 2020, new elections were scheduled. Luis Arce was elected as President of Bolivia in October 2020 and took office in November of that year.

Demographics

Bolivia is a culturally diverse country in the middle of South America. It is landlocked and shares borders with Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Bolivia has a population of around 12 million people, making it the fifth-largest country in South America by area and the 27th largest in the world. The population is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, and Jews, among other groups.

The country is divided into three physiographic regions: the Andean region, the Sub-Andean region, and the Llanos region. The Andean region, which includes the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges, covers 28% of the country's territory and is located in the southwest. The Sub-Andean region, which makes up 13% of the territory, is an intermediate area between the Andean region and the eastern lowlands. Finally, the Llanos region covers 59% of the country and is characterized by flat land and small plateaus.

The population of Bolivia is concentrated in the departments of La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba. About 67% of Bolivians live in urban areas, with the remaining 32.51% in rural areas. The country has a young population, with 59% of its people between the ages of 15 and 59. The official language of Bolivia is Spanish, although there are also 36 recognized indigenous languages. The country has a rich cultural heritage, influenced by Spanish, Aymara, Quechua, and popular Latin American cultures.

The country's three largest cities are Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, and La Paz, which is also the seat of government. Bolivia has a growing economy and is known for its agriculture, mining, and natural resources. It is a developing country and the second-poorest in South America, but it has made significant progress in reducing poverty rates and now boasts one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent.

Culture

Bolivia is a culturally diverse country with a rich history. It was once the centre of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire, and from the 15th to the early 16th century, it was part of the Inca empire. The country is named after freedom fighter Simón Bolívar, who led Bolivia to independence from Spanish rule in 1825.

The country's mountainous western region is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world and constitutes an important economic and political centre. The Andes reach their greatest breadth and complexity in Bolivia, with two great parallel ranges: the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. Between these ranges lies the Altiplano, a relatively flat-floored depression about 500 miles long and 80 miles wide, lying at elevations between 12,000 and 12,500 feet. The Altiplano is a dry area, with its margins characterised by 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 Apolobamba range, the descent to the eastern plains is extremely precipitous, plunging through a rainy and heavily forested belt of rugged terrain known as the Yungas. In Bolivia, the name Yungas often refers to a smaller region northeast of La Paz, which, like the neighbouring region of Alto Beni, is part of the larger Yungas region.

In southern Bolivia, the Andes become much wider and are formed by a high, tilted block called the Puna, with west-facing escarpments and more gentle eastward slopes down to the plains. The Puna is broken up by the Valles, a system of fertile valleys and mountain basins noted for their rich, varied agriculture and the so-called garden cities of Cochabamba, Sucre, and Tarija.

North and east of the Andes and Yungas is the Oriente region, an extension of the Amazon River basin that covers more than two-thirds of Bolivia. The vast area of the Oriente is composed of low alluvial plains (llanos), great swamps, flooded bottomlands, open savannas, and tropical forests. It supports the greatest variety of wildlife in the nation, as well as the largest population centre, Santa Cruz. In the extreme south is the Bolivian Chaco, which forms part of the Gran Chaco; it is a level area that varies strikingly with the seasons, becoming a veritable swamp during the rainy season and a hot semidesert during the remaining months of the year.

Bolivia has a rich folklore. Its regional folk music is distinctive and varied, and the country celebrates many national, regional, and local fiestas, especially during the Carnaval season in late February to early March. La Gran Poder is La Paz's largest fiesta, with a vibrant parade of 30,000 dancers and 4,000 musicians taking place in late May or early June. It is one of the most important traditions and religious celebrations in Bolivia, with many dances celebrating the history of this cultural country.

Economy

Bolivia is a developing country and the second-poorest in South America. However, it has one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent in terms of GDP. The country's main economic resources include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and goods such as textiles and clothing, refined metals, and refined petroleum.

Agriculture

Bolivia's agricultural sector is less relevant to the country's GDP compared to the rest of Latin America. The country produces close to 10 million tons of sugarcane per year and is the 10th largest producer of soybeans in the world. Bolivia also has considerable yields of maize, potatoes, sorghum, bananas, rice, and wheat.

Mining

Mining is a major sector of the Bolivian economy, with most of the country's exports being dependent on it. The country is rich in mineral and natural resources and has the world's largest lithium reserves, the second-largest antimony reserves, the third-largest iron ore reserves, the sixth-largest tin reserves, and the ninth-largest lead, silver, and copper reserves. Additionally, there are believed to be productive reserves of gold, tungsten, uranium, and nickel present in the country's largely under-explored eastern regions.

Manufacturing

Bolivia's manufacturing sector produces textiles and clothing, refined metals, and refined petroleum.

Tourism

The income from tourism has become increasingly important to the Bolivian economy. The country's unique cultural and natural attractions, such as the Salar de Uyuni (the world's largest salt flat) and the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku, have made it a popular destination for travellers.

Frequently asked questions