Bolivia's Northern Treasures: Exploring The Unique Upper Lands

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 shares Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America, with Peru. The country's constitutional capital is Sucre, while La Paz is the seat of government.

Bolivia's northern neighbour

Brazil is a country of diverse landscapes, from the famous Amazon rainforest in the north, which also extends into Bolivia, to beaches, driest deserts, and the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, where jaguars roam. Brazil also encompasses hills, mountains, and plains. The country's most populous city is also the most populous city in the Southern Hemisphere: São Paulo. Brazil's population is estimated to be 215 million, while Bolivia's is 12 million.

Brazil is a federative republic led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is serving his third term as of 2023. On the other hand, Bolivia is a unitary multiparty republic with legislative and executive branches. Bolivia's current president is Luis Arce.

The climate of the north

The Andean area in the north of Bolivia is characterised by the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges. The Cordillera Occidental is a chain of dormant volcanoes and volcanic vents, with the Cordillera Oriental featuring numerous snow-capped peaks. The Altiplano, a highland plateau, sits between these two ranges. The Altiplano has a subtropical highland climate with strong, cold winds. The average temperature ranges from 15 to 20°C, with temperatures at night falling drastically above 0°C. Ground frosts occur every month, and snow is frequent.

The sub-Andean valleys in the north of Bolivia have a temperate climate. The humid northeastern winds are pushed towards the mountains, making this region very humid and rainy. Temperatures are cooler at higher elevations, with snow occurring at altitudes of 2,000m.

The tropical lowlands of the east in the north of Bolivia are characterised by the Oriente region, an extension of the Amazon River Basin. The Oriente region has a humid tropical climate with an average temperature of 25°C. The wind coming from the Amazon rainforest causes significant rainfall. In May, there is low precipitation due to dry winds, and most days are clear. However, winds from the south, called surazos, can bring cooler temperatures that last several days.

Overall, the climate of the north of Bolivia varies depending on the specific region and elevation. The Andean area has a subtropical highland climate, the sub-Andean valleys have a temperate climate, and the tropical lowlands of the east have a humid tropical climate.

The geography of the north

The northeastern flank of the Cordillera Real is known as the Yungas, a semitropical valley area northeast of La Paz. The Yungas is characterised by steep, almost inaccessible slopes and peaks, with lush vegetation clinging to the sides of narrow river valleys. The Yungas is one of the most fertile areas in Bolivia, but poor transport has hindered its agricultural development.

The northern lowlands of Bolivia are made up of Beni and Pando Departments and the northern part of Cochabamba Department. This area consists of rainforest, with much of the topsoil underlain by claypan, resulting in poor drainage. Heavy rainfall periodically converts large parts of the region to swamp.

The northeastern part of Bolivia is also home to the Moxos Plains (Llanos de Moxos), a 120,000 sq km tropical savanna and wetland ecosystem in the southwestern Amazon basin. This area is a confluence zone of four South American biogeographic regions: the Amazon, the Cerrado, the Chiquitanía and the Chaco.

The northern part of the country is also known as the Bolivian Amazon, a rainforest-covered area that is home to abundant wildlife.

The history of the north

Ancient Times to Colonial Era

The northern regions of Bolivia were once inhabited by independent non-Andean Amazonian tribes with their own unique civilizations, languages, and cultures that still prevail today. The area was also home to the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire, which flourished in the region. Later, from the 15th to the early 16th century, the Inca empire expanded its control over the northern territories of present-day Bolivia.

In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadores arrived and took control of the region. During the subsequent colonial period, Bolivia became a vital source of wealth for the Spanish Empire due to its abundant silver deposits in Potosí. The region was administered as part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and played a significant role in the economic development of the empire.

Independence and Republic

The struggle for independence from Spanish rule began in the city of Sucre in 1809, marking the First Libertarian Cry of Latin America. After years of fighting, Bolivia finally gained its independence in 1825 and was named after the renowned independence fighter Simón Bolívar. The country's early years as a republic were marked by territorial losses to neighbouring countries, such as the loss of its Pacific coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884).

20th Century and Beyond

Bolivia experienced political instability and a series of military and civilian governments throughout the 20th century. In the late 20th century, the country began transitioning to democratic civilian rule, but social unrest, poverty, and illegal drug production remained significant challenges.

In recent decades, Bolivia has made notable strides in economic growth and political stability, particularly under the presidency of Evo Morales from 2006 to 2019. However, accusations of democratic backsliding and concerns about authoritarianism have also arisen during this period.

The northern regions of Bolivia, including the Amazonian lowlands and the Andean highlands, continue to play a crucial role in the country's economy, culture, and political landscape. The diverse geography and natural resources of the north have shaped the history and development of Bolivia as a nation.

The people of the north

The Altiplano is a high plain that is not very flat, made up of valleys, small hills, rolling areas, salt flats, volcanoes, rivers and lakes. It is generally cold and windy, with sparse vegetation. The Altiplano has the world's biggest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni, and various others, including the Red and Green lagoons in the south. The Altiplano is home to the largest lake in South America, Lake Titicaca, which is shared with Peru. The lake is sacred to the indigenous people and is an important economic and cultural area. The Altiplano is also where the seat of government, La Paz, is located.

The people of the Yungas have a hot and humid climate, with a lot of rain, especially in the summer. The Yungas is the region where the ancient coca plant is cultivated and is one of the major regions for trekking, rafting and nature tours. The Yungas is a transition zone between the high mountains of the Andes and the lowlands of the Amazon basin. The steep, almost inaccessible slopes and peaks of this mainly semitropical valley area northeast of La Paz offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Bolivia. The Yungas is also criss-crossed with Inca trails and was the only access into the lowlands for thousands of years.

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