The Bolivian plateau, also known as the Altiplano, is a highland plateau in western Bolivia. It originates northwest of Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and extends about 600 miles (965 km) southeast to the southwestern corner of Bolivia. The Altiplano is characterised by a series of intermontane basins lying at about 12,000 feet (3,650 metres) above sea level. The region's dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs, and its wildlife includes alpacas and llamas. The northern half of the Altiplano receives rainfall adequate for the cultivation of crops without irrigation, while the southern half falls within a zone of deficient moisture.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Location | Western Bolivia |
Other names | Collao, Andean Plateau, High Andes, High Plateau |
Altitude | 3,650m (12,000ft)-3,811m (12,503ft) above sea level |
Size | 600 miles (965km) long |
Bordering countries | Peru, Chile, Argentina |
Major cities | El Alto, Oruro, Juliaca, Puno, La Paz |
Natural resources | Tin, silver, tungsten, llama, vicuña |
Lake | Lake Titicaca |
Rivers | Desaguadero River |
Salt flats | Salar de Uyuni, Coipasa Lake |
What You'll Learn
The Bolivian plateau is also known as the Altiplano
The Bolivian plateau, or the Altiplano, is a vast flat area in the center of the Andes at altitudes of over 3,600 meters. The Altiplano is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, but its northern parts lie in Peru, and its southwestern fringes lie in Chile. The average elevation of the Altiplano is about 3,750 meters, slightly less than that of the Tibetan Plateau.
The Altiplano is located at the latitude of the widest part of the north-south-trending Andes. It is a series of intermontane basins lying at about 3,650 to 4,000 meters above sea level. The basins are separated by spurs reaching eastward from the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes Mountains. The Cordillera Oriental of the Andes forms the eastern boundary of the Altiplano.
The Altiplano is known for its hypoxic air caused by very high elevation. The communities that inhabit the Altiplano include Qulla, Uros, Quechua, and Aymara. The dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs, and the region's wildlife originally included the alpaca and the llama, which are now bred for wool and used as pack animals.
The Altiplano was the site of several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Chiripa, Tiawanaku, and the Inca Empire. Spain conquered the region in the 16th century. Today, major economic activities in the Altiplano include mining, llama and vicuña herding, and services in its cities, and the area attracts some international tourism.
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The Altiplano is a highland plateau
The Altiplano, or 'high plain' in Spanish, is a highland plateau in west-central South America. It is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, with its northern parts in Peru and its southwestern fringes in Chile. The Altiplano is located at the latitude of the widest part of the north-south-trending Andes.
The Altiplano is a series of intermontane basins lying at about 12,000 feet (3,650 metres) above sea level. It is a region of southeastern Peru and western Bolivia, extending about 600 miles (965 km) from southern Peru to the southwestern corner of Bolivia. The basins are separated by spurs reaching eastward from the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes Mountains. On the eastern side of the Altiplano, there is a continuous passageway of gentle gradient extending southward across Bolivia. The Cordillera Oriental of the Andes forms the eastern boundary of the Altiplano.
The Altiplano is noted for its hypoxic air caused by very high elevation. The dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs. The region's wildlife originally included the alpaca and the llama, which are now bred for wool and used as pack animals. The southern half of the Altiplano is much less hospitable to settlement than the north, although its desolate expanses of desert contain important mineral resources. The northeastern part of the Altiplano is more humid than the southwestern part, which has several salt flats due to its aridity.
The Altiplano was the site of several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Chiripa, Tiawanaku, and the Inca Empire. Spain conquered the region in the 16th century. Today, major economic activities in the Altiplano include mining, llama and vicuña herding, and services in its cities. The area also attracts international tourism.
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The Altiplano is located in western Bolivia
The Altiplano, also known as the High Andes, High Plateau, or Puna, is a region in western Bolivia and southeastern Peru. It is a highland plateau that extends about 600 miles (965 km) from southern Peru to the southwestern corner of Bolivia. The Altiplano is located at about 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) above sea level and is characterised by a series of intermontane basins.
The Altiplano is bordered by two great parallel ranges: the Cordillera Occidental to the west and the Cordillera Oriental to the east. The Cordillera Occidental, or Western Range, is a chain of dormant volcanoes and volcanic vents in western Bolivia. It includes Bolivia's highest peak, the snow-capped Nevado Sajama, which rises to 6,542 m (21,463 ft) above sea level. The Cordillera Oriental, or Eastern Range, forms the eastern boundary of the Altiplano and is part of the Andes Mountains, which dominate the geography of Bolivia.
The Altiplano is a relatively flat depression, about 500 miles (800 km) long and 80 miles (130 km) wide. It is known for its large lakes, including Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopó, and the Coipasa and Uyuni salt flats. Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in the Altiplano, is located at 3,811 m (12,503 ft) above sea level and has a surface area of 9,064 km2 (3,500 sq mi). The climate in the Altiplano is influenced by the high elevation, with strong and cold winds, drastic temperature drops at night, and high solar radiation during the day.
The Altiplano has been an important economic and cultural centre for Bolivia. It has served as the country's principal north-south transport corridor since colonial times. The region's dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs, and it is home to various wildlife species, including alpacas and llamas. The northern half of the Altiplano receives adequate rainfall for crop cultivation, while the southern half falls within a zone of deficient moisture.
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The Altiplano is about 600 miles long
The Altiplano, or Andean Plateau, is a high-elevation plateau that stretches across southern Peru and western Bolivia, with small areas in Chile and Argentina. It is the widest part of the Andes mountain range, consisting of several mountain basins that are connected together. The Altiplano is about 600 miles long and covers an area of 40,000 square miles, making it the largest and highest plateau in the world outside of Tibet. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, but its northern parts lie in Peru, and its southwestern fringes lie in Chile.
The Altiplano has an average elevation of 12,000 feet above sea level, though it can reach over 13,000 feet in some places. This high elevation results in a cold and dry climate, with an average annual temperature between 37.4° and 53.6° Fahrenheit. The moisture in the air varies from humid in the northeastern region to arid in the southwestern region. The southwestern area of the Altiplano is the coldest and driest region, especially during the winter months of June and July.
The Altiplano is home to several towns and cities, including El Alto and Oruro in Bolivia, and Puno and Juliaca in Peru. The region's dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs, and its wildlife includes llamas and alpacas, which are now bred for wool and used as pack animals. The southern half of the Altiplano is less hospitable to settlement, but is rich in mineral resources such as copper, silver, tungsten, and tin.
The Altiplano is also known for its lakes and salt flats. Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America, is located at the northernmost basin of the Altiplano. To the south are Lake Poopó and the Coipasa and Uyuni salt flats. These salt flats are the dried remnants of ancient lakes, and the Uyuni Saltpan is the world's largest salt concentration.
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The Altiplano is bordered by the Eastern Andes Mountain Range to the east
The Altiplano, or Andean Plateau, is a high plateau in west-central South America. It is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet. The bulk of the Altiplano lies in Bolivia, but its northern parts lie in Peru and its southwestern fringes lie in Chile. The Altiplano is bordered by the Eastern Andes Mountain Range to the east, also known as the Cordillera Oriental.
The Altiplano is a series of intermontane basins lying at about 12,000 feet (3,650 metres) above sea level. The basins are separated by spurs reaching eastward from the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes Mountains. On the eastern side of the Altiplano, there is a continuous passageway of gentle gradient extending southward across Bolivia. The Cordillera Oriental forms the eastern boundary of the Altiplano.
The Altiplano is located at the latitude of the widest part of the north–south-trending Andes. The average height of the Altiplano is about 3,750 meters (12,300 feet), slightly less than that of the Tibetan Plateau. The Altiplano is dominated by massive active volcanoes of the Central Volcanic Zone to the west, such as Ampato, Tutupaca, Parinacota, Guallatiri, Paruma, Uturunku, and Licancabur. The Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas on the planet, lies to the southwest of the Altiplano.
The Altiplano is noted for its hypoxic air caused by very high elevation. The communities that inhabit the Altiplano include Qulla, Uros, Quechua, and Aymara. The Altiplano was also the site of several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Chiripa, Tiawanaku, and the Inca Empire. Today, major economic activities in the Altiplano include mining, llama and vicuña herding, and services in its cities. The area also attracts international tourism.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bolivian Plateau, also known as the Altiplano, is a highland plateau in western Bolivia. It originates northwest of Lake Titicaca in southern Peru and extends about 600 miles (965 km) southeast to the southwestern corner of Bolivia.
The Bolivian Plateau is characterised by a series of intermontane basins lying at about 12,000 feet (3,650 metres) above sea level. The dominant vegetation consists of grass and shrubs, and the region’s wildlife originally included the alpaca and the llama. The northern half of the plateau receives rainfall adequate for the cultivation of crops without irrigation, while the southern half falls within a zone of deficient moisture.
The Bolivian Plateau is known for its large lakes, including Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopó, and the Coipasa and Uyuni salt flats. The largest of these lakes, Lake Titicaca, is the highest navigable lake on Earth, shared between Bolivia and Peru.