Bolivia's Motto: Understanding The Country's Spirit And Identity

Bolivia's motto is La Unión es la Fuerza, which means Unity is Strength in English. The country's anthem, Himno Nacional de Bolivia, also features the phrase in its lyrics.

The meaning of the motto

Bolivia's motto, "¡La union es la fuerza!", means "Unity is (the) strength!" in English. The country's motto reflects the importance of unity and strength in the face of adversity, and it is a call for Bolivians to come together as a nation.

Bolivia's flag also reflects this message of unity and strength. The three equal horizontal bands of red, yellow, and green represent the bravery of those who fought for the country's independence, the country's wealth and mineral deposits, and the richness of its agricultural and natural areas, respectively. The current flag was officially adopted on October 31, 1851, and it is flown alongside the Wiphala, an emblem representing the natives of the Andes and the four regions of the Incan Empire, which was adopted as an alternative flag in 2009.

The country's national anthem, "Himno Nacional de Bolivia" ("Bolivians, a most favorable destiny"), also echoes the sentiment of the motto, with lyrics that speak of the nation's freedom and unity, and the willingness to defend it:

> "Let us keep the lofty name of our Fatherland

> in glorious splendor.

> And, on its altars, once more we must swear:

> to die before we would live as slaves!

> To die before we would live as slaves!

> To die before we would live as slaves!"

The anthem

The national anthem of Bolivia is "Himno Nacional de Bolivia" ("Bolivianos, a most favorable destiny"). The music was composed by an Italian, Leopoldo Benedetto Vincenti, and the lyrics were written by Jose Ignacio de Sanjines, a passionate patriot and singer of the Bolivian declaration of independence and the country's first constitution. The anthem was adopted in 1851.

The flag

The colours of the flag are symbolic. The red epitomises the bravery and bloodshed of the soldiers who fought for Bolivia's independence. The yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, particularly its rich deposits of gold and tin. The lower stripe of green celebrates the country's fertile lands and diverse ecosystems, spanning the Andes Mountains to the Amazon rainforest.

The Bolivian flag has undergone several changes since its introduction in 1851. The original design featured horizontal stripes of yellow, red, and green, with the red line being double the width of the other stripes. This was changed in 1888 to equal-width stripes, and the national coat of arms was added. In 2004, the government returned to the 1851 design, but altered the proportions to emphasise the country's historical roots and the significance of its journey towards independence.

In 2009, Bolivia adopted the Wiphala as its alternative flag. The Wiphala is a 7x7 square emblem made up of seven colours arranged diagonally from left to right. The emblem represents the natives of the Andes and the four regions of the Incan Empire.

The country's two capital cities

Bolivia has two capital cities: Sucre and La Paz. Sucre is the constitutional capital and the seat of the judiciary, while La Paz is the seat of the executive and legislative branches of government. La Paz is also the country's largest city and principal financial centre. It is located in an altiplano canyon riverbed at 3,810m (12,500ft) above sea level, making it the world's highest capital. The snow-capped peak of Mount Illimani (6,458m or 21,184ft) dominates the city.

Sucre, meanwhile, is the capital of the Chuquisaca Department and the sixth most populated city in Bolivia. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre sits at a height of 2,810m (9,214ft). This relatively high elevation gives the city a cool, calm climate all year round.

The country's two national flowers

Bolivia is one of the few countries in the world with two national flowers: the Kantuta (Cantua buxifolia) and the Patujú (Heliconia rostrata).

The Kantuta is a flowering plant found in the high valleys of the Andes mountains in western South America. It is an evergreen bush that grows up to 4 metres (13 feet) tall and 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) wide, with small leaves and clusters of pink, tight cylindrical blossoms in late winter. The Latin explicit sobriquet "buxifolia" means "with leaves like Buxus (box)". This plant requires protected conditions where the temperature does not fall below -5°C (23°F).

The Patujú, on the other hand, is a herbaceous perennial native to Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, and naturalized in Puerto Rico. It has descending-facing blooms, and the flowers are a source of nectar for birds. The Patujú is often referred to as a host flower to many birds, particularly the hummingbird. Due to its remarkable qualities, it is usually used as an example for tropical greenhouses.

Bolivia is also unique in that it has two capital cities. Sucre is the constitutional capital, while La Paz is the seat of the executive and legislative branches of government.

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