Bolivia Facts...
Perhaps the most important of all Bolivia facts is that the country epitomize the authentic South America, more than any other country in the fourth continent.
One of the poorest and under-developed countries in the region, it has all the ingredients that define South America as a whole: rugged mountain terrain (Andes mountains), the supreme beauty of the Altiplano and the much venerated lake Tititcaca - shared with Peru.
It was here where the Andean culture flourished, first through the Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) culture and, much later, the Inca civilization.
It has one of the purest Amazon rainforest environments and the majority of its population represents the true blood of South America: Quechua, Aymara and Guarani.
Portrait of a young child wih the Bolivian flag painted - © Duncan Walker / Istockphoto
In fact, out of the total 9,775,246 inhabitants (July 2009 estimate), 30% are of Quechua ancestry, 30% mestizo, 25 % Aymara and 15% of white or European extraction.
Bolivia is one of the two landlocked countries in South America - together with Paraguay - comprising a total area of 1,098,580 square km. (424,164 square miles).
It has borders with Argentina (832 km), Brazil (3,423 km), Chile (860 km), Paraguay (750 km) and Peru (1,075 km).
The name, Bolivia, comes from Simon Bolivar, the independence soldier who helped to achieve the country's liberation from the Spanish crown in 1825.
Bolivia Geography:
Bolivia's geographical zone is defined by the Andes mountains. The cordillera occidental runs along the border with Chile and Peru while cordillera Oriental or eastern range stretches from Peru to Argentina.
On the eastern mountain slopes, the Yungas, semi tropical transitional zone between the highlands and the tropical lowlands.
The high plains between the two ranges is known as Altiplano, with semi arid and steppe-like climate and temperature changes that can differ dramatically between day and night.
The wettest period is summer (November to March)
Bolivia's most important rivers are Mamoré, Beni and Madre de Dios.
Other important Bolivia facts is the impressive number of geographical landmarks and world records that holds between its borders...
- highest capital city: La Paz (administrative capital)
- highest city: Potosi
- highest ski resort: Chacaltaya
- highest golf course: Mallasa
- highest commercially navigable lake: Titicaca
- largest salt flat: Salar de Uyuni
Bolivia's highest elevation is Nevado Sajama (6,542 meters above sea level) and lowest elevation: Paraguay river (90 meters).
Main cities include: Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Tarija, Trinidad and Tupiza.
Bolivia Facts:
- Area: 1,098,580 square km (424,164 square miles)
- Population: 9,775,246 (July 2009 estimate)
- Capital: La Paz (administrative) and Sucre (constitutional)
- Religion: Roman Catholic (95%), Protestant (5%) and indigenous beliefs
- Language: Spanish (majority), plus Quechua, Aymara and Guarani
- Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
- Exchange Rate: 1 Boliviano = 0.14232 of a dollar (June 2009)
- Time Zone: GMT - 4
- Electricity: 110/220 volts AC in La Paz. 220 volts AC 50Hz in the rest of the country
- Telphone Country Code: 591
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