Bolivia

The Country and Environment

Bolivia, located in South America, is a landlocked country. Its neighbouring countries are Chile, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. It has three distinctive geographic regions: the Altiplano (high plateau) of the Andes mountain range - between 3,700 and 4,500 metres above sea level; the steep sided valleys of the south (1,500 - 3,000 metres above sea level) and the subtropical lowlands/rainforests (400-500 metres above sea level).

Llamas; Silvia Barone

Each area has its distinct resources. The Altiplano is rich in mineral resources like tin, silver, zinc, lead and copper. Its farming products are mainly the potato, with more than 200 varieties, and quinoa - a type of cereal used in many soups. Livestock consists mostly of llamas, cows and sheep.

In the valley region, the main export crop is soya bean, but a number of other crops are also grown including maize, citric fruits, bananas, coffee, cocoa and the coca leaf.

In the lowlands, farming is concentrated on cattle production, rice, sugarcane and wine. This area is also rich in natural gas.

Tropical lowlands of Bolivia; Adele Pander

Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia, although La Paz is the seat of government, and so it is often considered the country’s capital; in which case it can be termed as the world’s highest capital city at 3,600 meters above sea level! Other major cities include Santa Cruz de la Sierra (the main area for large businesses), Cochabamba and recently El Alto which began as an extension of La Paz, but now has its own identity.

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View of Andes from plane; Zoe Hopkins