History of Modern Latin America

History of Latin America - Bolivia

The South American republic of Bolivia has great natural wealth. Its riches, however, are hard to obtain and harder still to get to world markets. Mountains and tropical forests make transportation difficult, and the country has no seacoast for ships. The mountains hold rich deposits of minerals, but they must be mined at altitudes of 13,000 to 15,000 feet (4,000 to 4,550 meters) where physical labor is extremely difficult. Mahogany, rubber, cinchona, and other valuable trees are abundant, but they grow in highly inaccessible tropical rain forests.
Bolivia looks small on a map of South America, but it has an area of 424,165 square miles (1,098,582 square kilometers). It has a population of 5,718,000 (1981 estimate), with the majority of its people living at an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 meters) or more.

Official Name. Republic of Bolivia.
Capitals. La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (judicial capital).
NATURAL FEATURES
Mountain Ranges. Cordillera Occidental, Cordillera Real.
Highest Peaks. Sajama, 21,464 feet (6,542 meters); Illampu, 21,066 feet (6,421 meters); Ancohuma, 20,931 feet (6,380 meters).
Largest Lakes. Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopo.
Major Rivers. Abuna, Beni, Desaguadero, Grande, Itenez, Madre de Dios, Mamore, Pilcomayo.
PEOPLE
Population (1992 estimate). 7,739,000; 17.0 persons per square mile (6.5 persons per square kilometer); 49 percent urban, 51 percent rural.
Major Cities (1990 estimate). La Paz (2,409,000), Santa Cruz (529,200), Cochabamba (403,600), El Alto (307,400), Oruro (176,700), Potosi (110,700), Sucre (88,800).
Major Religion. Roman Catholicism (official).
Major Languages. Spanish, Aymara, Quechua (all official).
Literacy. 77 percent.
Leading Universities and Colleges. Universities at Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Sucre, Tarija, Trinidad.
GOVERNMENT
Form of Government. Republic.
Head of Government and Chief of State. President.
Legislature. National Congress; consists of Chamber of Deputies and Chamber of Senators; four-year terms.
Voting Qualifications. Compulsory and universal at age 18 if married; 21 if single.
Political Divisions. 9 departments:
Beni
Chuquisaca
Cochabamba
La Potosia
Oruro
Pando
Paz
Santa Cruz
Tarija

ECONOMY
Chief Agricultural Products. Crops bananas, barley, cassavas, coffee, corn (maize), cotton, oranges, potatoes, rice, rubber, sugarcane, wheat. Livestock cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, llamas, pigs, sheep.
Chief Mined Products. Antimony, bismuth, copper, crude petroleum, gold, lead, natural gas, silver, tin, tungsten, zinc.
Chief Manufactured Products. Beer, cement, ceramics, cigarettes, cotton fabrics, plastics, refined sugar.
Chief Exports. Antimony, bismuth, cattle, chestnuts, coffee, copper, cotton, crude petroleum, hides, lead, natural gas, rubber, silver, sugar, tin, tungsten, wood, zinc.
Chief Imports. Cereals, chemicals, crude petroleum and petroleum products; machinery (electrical and nonelectrical), vehicles, textile yarns and fabrics.
Monetary Unit. 1 boliviano = 100 centavos.