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General Information
The republic of Bolivia is situated in the heart of South
America, between 57° 26' and 69° 38' longitude and
west of the Prime Meridian, and 9° 38' and 22° 53'
S latitude, including more than 13 different types of geography.
Brazil borders the north and northeastern part of the country,
Peru in the northwest, Paraguay in the southeast, Argentina
in the south, and Chile to the west and southwest.
Geographically speaking, the Bolivian territory has a total
surface area of 1,098,581 km2 (424,162 sq miles) and boasts
three distinct geographical zones: the mountain ranges, valleys,
and plains.
The constitutional capital of Bolivia is Sucre, however,
the seat of government is located in La Paz.
Politically, the country is divided into 9 regions: Beni,
Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosí,
Tarija and Santa Cruz; 112 provinces, 314 sectors, and 1,384
districts.
The Bolivian population is 8,274,325 inhabitants; 56% are
indigenous, 22% white, and 22% Mestizos (mix of indigenous
and European). According to the State Political Constitution,
Bolivia has been acknowledged as a "Multiethnic and Multicultural"
country, a distinguished recognition throughout the world.
The official languages are: Spanish, Quechua, Aymará
and Tupiguaraní. In addition to this, there are different
linguistic groups throughout the various regions of Bolivia.
The aborigines that inhabit Bolivian territory have different
physical characteristics and other defining traits such as
language structure that have traditionally classified them
into three groups: Andino, Tupí Guaraní, and
Araguaco or Arawacan.
Although the official religion is Roman Catholic, and the
majority of the population claims to be Catholic, freedom
of religion is accepted in Bolivia. Ties with the Catholic
Church have remained strong through agreements and pacts between
Bolivia and the Vatican.
La Paz city
La Paz is considered the highest capital city in the world
since it is located some 3,610 meters (11,844 ft) above sea
level, at the foot of the snow-capped Illimani, on a plateau.
As the seat of government, it is the most important city in
the country, joining a large part of public administration
with the nation's financial and commercial activities at the
same time.
La Paz Map
Spanish Language
Since Spanish is the official language, Bolivia is the perfect country to learn how to speak. You can find Spanish language schools in La Paz and other cities.
You can also learn Spanish on line.
Visit www.spanishprograms.com (Learn Spanish) |
Español
