Bolivia's Unique Geographical Setting Amidst South America

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 and northwest. Bolivia is the fifth-largest country in South America and the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere. The country's capital is La Paz, which is also the seat of government, while the constitutional capital is Sucre.

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east

Bolivia covers an area of 1,098,581 square kilometres (424,164 square miles) and is the 27th largest country in the world. The country is divided into nine departments: Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, and Tarija.

The landscape of Bolivia is dominated by the Andes, with three high mountain chains in the western half of the country. The Cordillera Occidental in the west is a line of mostly dormant volcanoes, while the Cordillera Central stands in the middle, and the Cordillera Oriental in the east is a series of stunning, snow-capped granite mountains.

The Altiplano, a high plateau, is sandwiched between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano was once deep valleys between the mountain ranges, but over time, it filled with sedimentary debris washed down from the surrounding peaks. The eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental descend gently into rolling hills, and numerous rivers flow eastward, forming long valleys.

The highest point in Bolivia is Nevado Sajama, at 21,463 feet (6,542 metres), while the lowest point is the Paraguay River at 230 feet (70 metres). The landscape northeast of La Paz descends into fertile, semi-tropical valleys, drained by narrow rivers, while the southeast is covered by semi-arid plains that become swampy during heavy rains.

It shares a border with Paraguay to the southeast

Bolivia shares a border with Paraguay to the southeast. The border between Bolivia and Paraguay runs for 466 miles along the northwestern edge of Paraguay, separating the Alto Paraguay department from Bolivia. The border, which is the shortest of the three borders Paraguay shares, moves north from the boundary with Argentina and later turns in an eastern direction toward the boundary with Brazil. This region of Paraguay is known as Alto Chaco, where the plains begin to develop hilly terrain. The border between these two countries also holds the northernmost point in Paraguay, known as the Hito VII Fortin Coronel Sanchez pillar.

The border dispute between Paraguay and Bolivia lasted for 74 years. The dispute, which began with the Chaco War (1932-1935), is believed to be related to a large oil reserve that both countries wanted to control. Paraguay eventually won control of approximately 66% of the entire region (about 22,000 square miles of land). The war, supported by two opposing oil companies, is remembered as the deadliest encounter of the 20th century in South America.

In 2009, the presidents of Bolivia and Paraguay came together to sign an agreement that officially ended the ongoing dispute between the two countries. At that time, both leaders expressed interest in developing their natural resource extraction industries so that both countries could reap the benefits.

Argentina is to the south of Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is bordered by five countries: Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the northwest. Bolivia is the fifth-largest country in South America and the largest landlocked country in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bolivia's southern border with Argentina is marked by the Andes mountain range, which spans the length of the country from north to south. The Andes are one of the most prominent geographic features of Bolivia, with one-third of the country lying in the Andes Mountains. The Andes in Bolivia include the Cordillera Occidental in the west, the Cordillera Central in the middle, and the Cordillera Oriental in the east. The Altiplano, a high plateau, sits between the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano is an important economic and political centre, with many of Bolivia's largest cities located there.

The southern region of Bolivia is characterised by the Puna, a high, tilted block of land with west-facing escarpments and gentle eastward slopes down to the plains. The Puna is broken up by the Valles, a system of fertile valleys and mountain basins that are generally larger and less confined than those in the Yungas, a rugged, heavily forested belt of land that descends from the Andes to the east.

The southern tip of Bolivia is located in the Sur Lípez Province, which borders Chile.

Chile borders Bolivia to the southwest

Bolivia has a varied landscape, from the Andes mountains in the west to the Amazon basin lowlands in the east. The Andes, which run through the country, are made up of three ranges: the Cordillera Occidental, the Cordillera Central, and the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano, a high plateau, lies between the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano is an important economic and political centre, and it is where most of the nation's largest cities are located.

The Cordillera Occidental is a line of mostly dormant volcanoes along the border with Chile. The Cordillera Oriental is a massive series of stunning granite mountains with snow-capped peaks. The Cordillera Oriental's northern section, near La Paz, is called the Cordillera Real, and it maintains an average elevation of over 18,000 feet for more than 200 miles.

The highest point in Bolivia is Nevado Sajama, at 21,463 feet, while the lowest point is the Paraguay River at 230 feet. The landscape northeast of La Paz descends into fertile semi-tropical valleys, and the southeast is covered by semi-arid plains that become swampy during heavy rains. Bolivia's Altiplano contains several salt flats, including the Uyuni Saltpan, the largest in the world.

Bolivia is named after Simón Bolívar, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence. The country gained independence from Spain in 1825 and has a long history of coups and countercoups. It has a diverse population, with the largest proportion of indigenous people in the Americas. Spanish is the official language, but there are also 36 indigenous languages with official status.

To the northwest of Bolivia is Peru

Bolivia is bordered by five countries: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Peru. To the northwest of Bolivia is Peru.

Peru shares its border with Bolivia to the west, along with Chile. The two countries share control of Lake Titicaca, the second-largest lake in South America and the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. The lake is sacred to the indigenous people of the Andes, the Indians, who have inhabited the area since ancient times.

The Peruvian region of Tacna is bordered by Bolivia to the southeast. The two countries share a 1,212 km border.

The history of the two countries is intertwined. Both were once part of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire. Later, from the 15th to the early 16th century, the region was part of the Inca empire. The Spanish conquistador Pizarro conquered the Inca empire in the 16th century, and the territory now called Bolivia was known as Charcas.

In modern times, the two countries have had a more fractious relationship. In 1836, Bolivia, under Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz, invaded Peru to reinstall the deposed president, General Luis José de Orbegoso. Peru and Bolivia then formed the Peru-Bolivian Confederation, with de Santa Cruz as the Supreme Protector. However, the Confederation soon found itself at war with Chile, and after Chilean and Argentinian victories, the Peruvian-Bolivian forces were defeated. Santa Cruz resigned and went into exile.

In the late 19th century, Bolivia lost its Pacific coast territory to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), becoming a landlocked country. Bolivia has historically maintained a maritime claim to that part of Chile and has taken the dispute to the International Court of Justice.

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