The Republic of Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America. It is bordered by Brazil on the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina on the south, and Chile and Peru on the west. A landlocked country is one that has no coastline. ... This article describes a type of political entity. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked republic in South America. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Republic of Chile is a country located on the southwestern coast of South America. ... The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Firme y Feliz por la Unión
Official languages	Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Other languages	Guarani, various indigenous dialects
Capital	La Paz, Sucre1
Largest City	La Paz
President	Carlos Mesa
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 27th 1,098,580 km² 1.4%
Population  - Total (July 2000)  - Density	Ranked 85th 8,586,443 8/km²
Independence  - Date	From Spain August 6, 1825
Currency	boliviano
Time zone	UTC –4
National anthem	Bolivianos, el hado propicio
Internet TLD	.bo
Calling Code	591
1 La Paz is the seat of government; Sucre, the legal capital

History

Main article: History of Bolivia This is the history of Bolivia. ...

Precolonial period

The Andean region probably has been inhabited for some 20,000 years. Beginning about the 2nd century B.C., the Tiwanaku culture developed at the southern end of Lake Titikaka. This culture, centered around and named for the great city of Tiwanaku, developed advanced architectural and agricultural techniques before it disappeared around 1200 A.D., probably because of extended drought. Roughly contemporaneous with the Tiwanakan culture, the Moxos in the eastern lowlands and the Mollos north of present-day La Paz also developed advanced agricultural societies that had dissipated by the 13th century A.D. In about 1450, the Quechua-speaking Incas entered the area of modern highland Bolivia and added it to their empire. They controlled the area until the Spanish conquest in 1525. See also architecture with non-sequential dynamic execution scheduling (ANDES). ... A boat made of reeds on Lake Titicaca. ... Architecture (in Greek αρχή = first and τέχνη = craftsmanship) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ... Events University of Paris receives charter from Philip II of France Births Matthew Paris, English Benedictine monk and chronicler (approximate date). ... A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a region. ... Moxos (or the Llanos de Moxos) is a seasonally flooded tropical savanna located in the Bolivian Amazon. ... La Paz (Spanish: The Peace) is the name for: Capital city of Bolivia; see La Paz, Bolivia A deparment of Bolivia, La Paz Department State capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico; see La Paz, Baja California Sur Municipality in México state, Mexico; see La Paz, Mexico State City in Honduras... Events March - French troops under Guy de Richemont besiege the English commander in France, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, in Caen April 15 - Battle of Formigny. ... Quechua (Quechua, Runa Simi) is an American Indian language native to South America and related to Aymará, both members of the Quechumaran linguistic stock. ... For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... Events January 21 - The Swiss Anabaptist Movement was born when Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, George Blaurock, and about a dozen others baptized each other in the home of Manzs mother on Neustadt-Gasse, Zurich, breaking a thousand-year tradition of church-state union. ...

Colonial period

During most of the Spanish colonial period, this territory was called "Upper Peru" or "Charcas" and was under the authority of the Viceroy of Lima. Local government came from the Audiencia de Charcas located in Chuquisaca (La Plata — modern Sucre). Bolivian silver mines produced much of the Spanish empire's wealth, and Potosí, site of the famed Cerro Rico — "Rich Mountain" — was, for many years, the largest city in the Western Hemisphere. A steady stream of enslaved Indians served as labor force. As Spanish royal authority weakened during the Napoleonic wars, sentiment against colonial rule grew. This article is about Lima, Peru. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5 , d Density, Hardness 10490 kg/m3, 2. ... The Napoleonic Wars lasted from 1804 until 1815. ...

The Republic and economic instability (1809)

Independence was proclaimed in 1809, but 16 years of struggle followed before the establishment of the republic, named for Simón Bolívar, on August 6, 1825 (see Bolivian War of Independence). 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios ( July 24, 1783 – December 17, 1830) was a South American revolutionary leader. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... Events January 4 - King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies dies and is succeeded by his son Francis I of the Two Sicilies. ...

Independence did not bring stability. For nearly 60 years, coups and short-lived constitutions dominated Bolivian politics. Bolivia's weakness was demonstrated during the War of the Pacific (1879–83), when it lost its seacoast, and the adjoining rich nitrate fields, together with the port of Antofagasta, to Chile. A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... The War of the Pacific was fought between Chile and the joint forces of Bolivia and Peru, from 1879 to 1884. ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Events January January 16 - The United States Civil service, is passed January 19 - The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service (Roselle, New Jersey) It was built by Thomas Edison. ... Nitrates are the salts of nitric acid. ... For the copper-mining company named after the region, see Antofagasta plc. ... The Republic of Chile is a country located on the southwestern coast of South America. ...

An increase in the world price of silver brought Bolivia a measure of relative prosperity and political stability in the late 1800s. During the early part of the 20th century, tin replaced silver as the country's most important source of wealth. A succession of governments controlled by the economic and social elites followed laissez-faire capitalist policies through the first third of the century. General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series Transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5 , d Density, Hardness 10490 kg/m3, 2. ... Events and Trends Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815). ... The word tin is often used to mean a can, even if it does not contain any tin metal. ... Laissez-faire is short for laissez faire, laissez passer, a French phrase meaning to let things alone, let them pass. First used by the eighteenth century Physiocrats as an injunction against government interference with trade, it is now used as a synonym for strict free market economics. ... Capitalism has been defined in various ways (see definitions of capitalism). ...

Living conditions of the indigenous peoples, who constituted most of the population, remained deplorable. Forced to work under primitive conditions in the mines and in nearly feudal status on large estates, they were denied access to education, economic opportunity, or political participation. Bolivia's defeat by Paraguay in the Chaco War (1932–35) marked a turning point. Great loss of life and territory discredited the traditional ruling classes, while service in the army produced stirrings of political awareness among the indigenous people. From the end of the Chaco War until the 1952 revolution, the emergence of contending ideologies and the demands of new groups convulsed Bolivian politics. The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked republic in South America. ... The Chaco War (1932–1935) was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of the arid Chaco Boreal region of South America. ...

Rise of the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (1951)

The Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) emerged as a broadly based party. Denied its victory in the 1951 presidential elections, the MNR led the successful 1952 revolution. Under President Víctor Paz Estenssoro, the MNR introduced universal adult suffrage, carried out a sweeping land reform, promoted rural education, and nationalized the country's largest tin mines. Global Metrics Human security Major Armed Conflicts: Total Deaths in Battle: 700,000 people Violent Deaths caused by Government (Other than War): Violent Deaths caused by other humans: Juvenile Violent Crime: Political security Nations Holding Multi-party Elections: Percentage Living under a Fully Democratic System of Governance: Free Countries: Percentage... Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro ( 1907 - June 7, 2001) was a politician from Bolivia. ...

Twelve years of tumultuous rule left the MNR divided. In 1964, a military junta overthrew President Paz Estenssoro at the outset of his third term. The 1969 death of President René Barrientos Ortuño, a former member of the junta elected President in 1966, led to a succession of weak governments. Alarmed by public disorder, the military, the MNR, and others installed Col. (later General) Hugo Banzer Suárez as President in 1971. Banzer ruled with MNR support from 1971 to 1974. Then, impatient with schisms in the coalition, he replaced civilians with members of the armed forces and suspended political activities. The economy grew impressively during most of Banzer's presidency, but human rights violations and eventual fiscal crises undercut his support. He was forced to call elections in 1978, and Bolivia again entered a period of political turmoil. There are a number of things that junta (hUn-tah) could refer to: It can be a military dictatorship. ... René Barrientos Ortuño (b. ... -1... Hugo Banzer Suárez ( May 10, 1926 – May 5, 2002) was a Bolivian soldier, polititian and statesman. ... Human rights are rights which some hold to be inalienable and belonging to all humans. ... Events January January 1 - The Copyright Act of 1976 takes effect, making sweeping changes to United States copyright law. ...

Military governments: García Meza and Siles Zuazo (1978)

Elections in 1978, 1979, and 1980 were inconclusive and marked by fraud. There were coups, counter-coups, and caretaker governments. In 1980, Gen. Luis García Meza Tejada carried out a ruthless and violent coup. His government was notorious for human rights abuses, narcotics trafficking, and economic mismanagement. Later convicted in absentia for crimes, including murder, García Meza was extradited from Brazil and began serving a 30-year sentence in 1995. 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Luis García Meza Tejada (b. ... The term narcotic, derived from the Greek word for stupor, originally referred to a variety of substances that induced sleep (such state is narcosis). ... A prison is a place in which people are confined and deprived of a range of liberties. ...

After a military rebellion forced out García Meza in 1981, three other military governments in 14 months struggled with Bolivia's growing problems. Unrest forced the military to convoke the Congress elected in 1980 and allow it to choose a new chief executive. In October 1982, twenty-two years after the end of his first term of office (1956-60), Hernán Siles Zuazo again became President. Severe social tension, exacerbated by economic mismanagement and weak leadership, forced him to call early elections and relinquish power a year before the end of his constitutional term. The National Congress ( Spanish: Congreso Nacional) is the national legislature of Bolivia, based in the capital of La Paz. ... Hernán Siles Zuazo ( 1914- 1996) was a politician from Bolivia. ...

Civil government: Paz Estenssoro and Paz Zamora (1985)

In the 1985 elections, the Nationalist Democratic Action Party (ADN) of Gen. Banzer won a plurality of the popular vote (33%), followed by former President Paz Estenssoro's MNR (30%) and former Vice President Jaime Paz Zamora's Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR, at 10%). But in the congressional run-off, the MIR sided with MNR, and Paz Estenssoro was chosen for the fourth time as president. When he took office in 1985, he faced a staggering economic crisis. Economic output and exports had been declining for several years. Hyperinflation had reached an annual rate of 24,000%. Social unrest, chronic strikes, and unchecked drug trafficking were widespread. Jaime Paz Zamora (April 15, 1939), was President of Bolivia from August 6, 1989 to August 6, 1993. ... Economics In economics, an export is any good or commodity, shipped or otherwise transported out of a country, province, town to another part of the world, typically for use in trade or sale. ... A 500,000,000,000 (500 billion) Serbian dinar banknote circa 1993, the largest nominal value ever officially printed in Serbia, the final result of hyperinflation. ...

In four years, Paz Estenssoro's administration achieved economic and social stability. The military stayed out of politics, and all major political parties publicly and institutionally committed themselves to democracy. Human rights violations, which badly tainted some governments earlier in the decade, were not a problem. However, Paz Estenssoro's remarkable accomplishments were not won without sacrifice. The collapse of tin prices in October 1985, coming just as the government was moving to reassert its control of the mismanaged state mining enterprise, forced the government to lay off over 20,000 miners. The highly successful shock treatment that restored Bolivia's financial system also led to some unrest and temporary social dislocation. This article deals with democracy in its modern sense. ...

Although the MNR list headed by Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada finished first in the 1989 elections (23%), no candidate received a majority of popular votes and so in accordance with the constitution, a congressional vote determined who would be president. The Patriotic Accord (AP) coalition between Gen. Banzer's ADN and Jaime Paz Zamora's MIR, the second- and third-place finishers (at 22.7% and 19.6%, respectively), won out. Paz Zamora assumed the presidency and the MIR took half the ministries. Banzer's center-right ADN took control of the National Political Council (CONAP) and the other ministries. Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada y Sánchez Bustamante (born July 1, 1930), familiarly known as Goni, is a former two-term president of Bolivia. ...

Paz Zamora was a moderate, center-left president whose political pragmatism in office outweighed his Marxist origins. Having seen the destructive hyperinflation of the Siles Zuazo Administration, he continued the neoliberal economic reforms begun by Paz Estenssoro. Paz Zamora took a fairly hard line against domestic terrorism, personally ordering the December 1990 attack on terrorists of the Nestor Paz Zamora Committee (CNPZ — named after his brother who died in the 1970 Teoponte insurgency) and authorizing the early 1992 crackdown against the Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army (EGTK). The Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army is an indigenous guerilla movement in Bolivia. ...

Paz Zamora's government was less decisive against narcotics trafficking. It had a mixed record in confronting narco-traffickers and made little progress in confronting illegal coca cultivation. In the mid-1990s, Paz Zamora and his government were investigated by the Bolivian Congress for ties to narco-traffickers. The 1993 elections continued the tradition of open, honest elections and peaceful democratic transitions of power. The MNR defeated the ADN/MIR coalition by a 33% to 20% margin, and the MNR's Gonzalo "Goni" Sánchez de Lozada was selected as president by an MNR/MBL/UCS coalition in the Congress. Binomial name Erythroxylon coca For the American comedian, see Imogene Coca. ... Events and trends Technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other technology Reduction in size and cost of mobile phones leads to a massive surge in their popularity Year 2000 problem (commonly known as Y2K) Microsoft Windows operating system becomes virtually ubiquitous on IBM...

Sánchez de Lozada and Banzer: Neoliberalizing the economy (1993)

Sánchez de Lozada pursued an aggressive economic and social reform agenda. He relied heavily on successful entrepreneurs-turned-politicians like himself and on fellow veterans of the Paz Estenssoro administration (during which Sánchez de Lozada was Minister for Planning). The most dramatic change undertaken by the Sánchez de Lozada government was the "capitalization" program, under which investors, typically foreign, acquired 50% ownership and management control of public enterprises, such as the state oil corporation, telecommunications system, airlines, railroads, and electric utilities in return for agreed upon capital investments. The reforms and economic restructuring were strongly opposed by certain segments of society, which instigated frequent and sometimes violent protests, particularly in La Paz and the Chapare coca-growing region, from 1994 through 1996. The Sánchez de Lozada government pursued a policy of offering monetary compensation for voluntary eradication of illegal coca by its growers in the Chapare region. The policy produced little net reduction in coca, and in the mid-1990s Bolivia accounted for about one-third of the world's coca going into cocaine. Oil is a generic term for organic liquids that are not miscible with water. ... Telecommunication is the extension of communication over a distance. ... A Boeing 747-400 of Virgin Atlantic Airways, one of the UKs largest airlines. ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Cocaine is a crystalline alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

In the 1997 elections, Gen. Hugo Banzer, leader of the ADN, won 22% of the vote, while the MNR candidate won 18%. Gen. Banzer formed a coalition of the ADN, MIR, UCS, and CONDEPA parties which held a majority of seats in the Bolivian Congress. The Congress elected him as president and he was inaugurated on August 6, 1997. August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ...

The Banzer government basically continued the free market and privatization policies of its predecessor, and the relatively robust economic growth of the mid-1990s continued until about the third year of its term in office. After that, regional, global and domestic factors contributed to a decline in economic growth. Job creation remained limited throughout this period and the public perceived a significant amount of public-sector corruption. Both factors contributed to increasing social protests during the second half of Banzer's term.

At the outset of his government, President Banzer launched a policy of using special police units to physically eradicate the illegal coca of the Chapare region. The policy produced a sudden and dramatic 4-year decline in Bolivia's illegal coca crop, to the point that Bolivia became a relatively small supplier of coca for cocaine. The MIR of Jaime Paz Zamora remained a coalition partner throughout the Banzer government, supporting this policy (called the Dignity Plan).

On August 6, 2001, Banzer resigned from office after being diagnosed with cancer. He died less than a year later. Banzer's U.S.-educated Vice President, Jorge Fernando Quiroga Ramírez, completed the final year of the term. Quiroga was constitutionally prohibited from running for national office in 2002 but could do so in 2007. August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... Jorge Fernando Quiroga Ramírez (May 5, 1960), was President of Bolivia from August 7, 2001 to August 6, 2002. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the June 2002 national elections, former President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (MNR) placed first with 22.5% of the vote, followed by illegal-coca advocate and indigenous campesino leader Evo Morales (Movement Toward Socialism, MAS) with 20.9%. Morales edged out populist candidate Manfred Reyes Villa of the New Republican Force (NFR) by just 700 votes nationwide, earning a spot in the congressional run-off against Sánchez de Lozada on August 4, 2002. Evo Morales (born October 26, 1959) is a leader of the Bolivian cocalero movement, a loose federation of coca-growing campesinos who are resisting the efforts of the Bolivian government to eradicate coca in the department of Chapare. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ...

A July agreement between the MNR and the fourth-place MIR, which had again been led in the election by former president Paz Zamora, virtually ensured the election of Sánchez de Lozada in the congressional run-off, and on August 6 he was sworn in for the second time. The MNR platform featured three overarching objectives: economic reactivation (and job creation), anti-corruption, and social inclusion. August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... This article is about political corruption. ...

Social Crisis and the nationalization of hydrocarbon resources (2003)

A four-year economic recession, tight fiscal situation, and longstanding ethnic tensions created in February 2003 a police revolt that nearly toppled the government of President Sánchez de Lozada; several days of unrest left more than 30 persons dead. The government stayed in power but remained unpopular. Widespread protests broke out in October and revealed deep dissatisfaction with the government. Approximately 80 persons died during the demonstrations which led President Sánchez de Lozada to resign from office on October 17. In a constitutional transfer of power, Vice President Carlos Mesa assumed the Presidency and promised to hold a binding referendum on the export of Bolivian natural gas. The referendum took place on July 18, and Bolivians voted overwhelmingly in favor of development of the nation's hydrocarbon resources. Mesa will detail the government's development plans in legislation to be introduced to Congress. Mesa enjoys popularity with the Bolivian public, but he faces the same difficulties — social divisions, a radical opposition committed to extra-parliamentary action, and an ongoing fiscal deficit — as the previous administration. This article or section should be merged with ethnic group Ethnicity is the cultural characteristics that connect a particular group or groups of people to each other. ... October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is a cleaning solution consisting only of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Bolivia Government The 1967 constitution, revised in 1994, provides for balanced executive, legislative, and judicial powers. ...

The 1967 constitution, revised in 1994, provides for balanced executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The traditionally strong executive, however, tends to overshadow the Congress, whose role is generally limited to debating and approving legislation initiated by the executive. The judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court and departmental and lower courts, has long been riddled with corruption and inefficiency. Through revisions to the constitution in 1994, and subsequent laws, the government has initiated potentially far-reaching reforms in the judicial system and processes. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The National Congress ( Spanish: Congreso Nacional) is the national legislature of Bolivia, based in the capital of La Paz. ...

Bolivia's nine departments received greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995, although principal departmental officials are still appointed by the central government. Bolivian cities and towns are governed by directly elected mayors and councils. Municipal elections were held on 5 December 2004, with councils elected to five-year terms. The Popular Participation Law of April 1994, which distributes a significant portion of national revenues to municipalities for discretionary use, has enabled previously neglected communities to make striking improvements in their facilities and services. A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. ... A mayor (Latin maīor better) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Departments

Main article: Departments of Bolivia Bolivia is divided into nine departments (capitals in parentheses)- Departmento Beni (Trinidad) Departmento Chuquisaca (Sucre) Departmento Cochabamba (Cochabamba) Departmento La Paz (La Paz) Departmento Oruro (Oruro) Departmento Pando (Cobija) Departmento Potosí (Potosí) Departmento Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) Departmento Tarija (Tarija) Each of the departments is subdivided into provincias. ...

Bolivia is divided into nine departments, or departamentos: The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ...

• Chuquisaca
• Cochabamba
• El Beni
• La Paz
• Oruro
• Pando
• Potosí
• Santa Cruz
• Tarija

Additionally, each department is further divided into provinces, or provincias, which handle some local affairs. Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia. ... Cochabamba is a department in Bolivia. ... Bolivia in the lowlands region of the country. ... The La Paz Department of Bolivia comprises 133,985 km² (51,732 mi²) with a 2001 census population of 2,350,466 inhabitants. ... Oruro is a department in Bolivia. ... Categories: South America geography stubs | Departments of Bolivia ... The department of Potosí is in the southwest of the country. ... Santa Cruz is a department in Bolivia. ... Tarija is a city in southern Bolivia, located 22. ...

Geography

Map of Bolivia

Main article: Geography of Bolivia The geography of Bolivia is unique among the nations of South America. ...

Bolivia is a landlocked nation. The west of Bolivia is situated in the Andes mountain range, with the highest peak, Nevado del Sajama at 6,542 m. The center of the country is formed by a highland plateau, the Altiplano, where most Bolivians live. The east of the country is lowland, and covered by the Amazonian rainforests. Lake Titicaca is located on the border between Bolivia and Peru. In the west, in the department of Potosí, lies the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flats. Note that the geology in this article currently reflects views from the first decade of the 20th century. ... Nevado del Sajama is a stratovolcano in Bolivia, and it is also the highest peak in the country. ... The Altiplano (Spanish for high plain), where the Andes are at their widest, is the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside of Tibet. ... A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall. ... A boat made of reeds on Lake Titicaca. ... The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ... Salar de Uyuni, is the world’s largest salt flat. ...

Major cities are La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba. La Paz (Spanish: The Peace) is the name for: Capital city of Bolivia; see La Paz, Bolivia A deparment of Bolivia, La Paz Department State capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico; see La Paz, Baja California Sur Municipality in México state, Mexico; see La Paz, Mexico State City in Honduras... Categories: South America geography stubs | Capitals in South America | Cities in Bolivia ... This article is about the Bolivian city. ... A side street in Cochabamba, looking towards the Plaza 14 de Septiembre Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bolivia Economy - overview: Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, has made considerable progress toward the development of a market-oriented economy. ...

Bolivia's 2002 gross domestic product (GDP) totaled USD $7.9 billion. Economic growth is about 2.5% a year and inflation is expected to be between 3% and 4% in 2002 (it was under 1% in 2001). The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

Since 1985, the Government of Bolivia has implemented a far-reaching program of macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform aimed at maintaining price stability, creating conditions for sustained growth, and alleviating poverty. A major reform of the customs service in recent years has significantly improved transparency in this area. The most important structural changes in the Bolivian economy have involved the capitalization of numerous public-sector enterprises. (Capitalization in the Bolivian context is a form of privatization where investors acquire a 50% share and management control of public enterprises by agreeing to invest directly into the enterprise over several years rather than paying cash to the government).

Parallel legislative reforms have locked into place market-oriented policies, especially in the hydrocarbon and telecommunication sectors, that have encouraged private investment. Foreign investors are accorded national treatment, and foreign ownership of companies enjoys virtually no restrictions in Bolivia. While the capitalization program was successful in vastly boosting foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bolivia ($1.7 billion in stock during 1996-2002), FDI flows have subsided in recent years as investors complete their capitalization contract obligations.

In 1996, three units of the Bolivian state oil corporation (YPFB) involved in hydrocarbon exploration, production, and transportation were capitalized, facilitating the construction of a gas pipeline to Brazil. The government has a long-term sales agreement to sell natural gas to Brazil through 2019. The Brazil pipeline carried about 12 million m³ per day in 2002. Bolivia has the second-largest natural gas reserves in South America, and its current domestic use and exports to Brazil account for just a small portion of its potential production. The government expects to hold a binding referendum in 2004 on plans to export natural gas. Widespread opposition to exporting gas through Chile touched off protests that led to the resignation of President Sánchez de Lozada in October 2003. The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... 2019 is a Common year starting on Tuesday. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

In April 2000, violent protests over plans to privatize the water utility in the city of Cochabamba led to nationwide disturbances. The government eventually cancelled the contract without compensation to the investors, returning the utility to public control. The foreign investors in this project continue to pursue an investment dispute case against Bolivia for its actions.

Bolivian exports were $1.3 billion in 2002, from a low of $652 million in 1991. Imports were $1.7 billion in 2002. Bolivian tariffs are a uniformly low 10%, with capital equipment charged only 5%. Bolivia's trade deficit was $460 million in 2002. International trade is defined as trade between two or more partners from different countries (an exporter and an importer). ... A tariff is a tax placed on imported and/or exported goods, sometimes called a customs duty. ...

Bolivia's trade with neighboring countries is growing, in part because of several regional preferential trade agreements it has negotiated. Bolivia is a member of the Andean Community and enjoys nominally free trade with other member countries (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.) Bolivia began to implement an association agreement with Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) in March 1997. The agreement provides for the gradual creation of a free trade area covering at least 80% of the trade between the parties over a 10-year period, though economic crises in the region have derailed progress at integration. The U.S. Andean Trade Preference and Drug Enforcement Act (ATPDEA) allows numerous Bolivian products to enter the United States free of duty on a unilateral basis, including alpaca and llama products and, subject to a quota, cotton textiles. Spanish: Comunidad Andina, abbreviated CAN) is a trade bloc that comprises the South American countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela. ... The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ... The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. ... The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. ... The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela)1 is a country in northern South America. ... Flag of Mercosur Mercosur or Mercosul (Spanish: Mercado Común del Sur, Portuguese: Mercado Comum do Sul, English: Southern Common Market) is a trading zone among Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, founded in 1991. ... Binomial name Lama pacos (Linnaeus, 1758) The Alpaca is one of two domesticated breeds of South American camel-like ungulates, derived from the wild guanaco. ... Binomial name Lama glama (Linnaeus, 1758) The Llama (Lama glama) is a large camelid native to South America. ... Cotton is a soft fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to the tropical and subtropical regions of both the Old World and the New World. ... This article is about the type of fabric. ...

The United States remains Bolivia's largest trading partner. In 2002, the United States exported $283 million of merchandise to Bolivia and imported $162 million. Bolivia's major exports to the United States are tin, gold, jewellery, and wood products. Its major imports from the United States are computers, vehicles, wheat, and machinery. A Bilateral Investment Treaty between the United States and Bolivia came into effect in 2001. Agriculture accounts for roughly 15% of Bolivia's GDP. The amount of land cultivated by modern farming techniques is increasing rapidly in the Santa Cruz area, where weather allows for two crops a year. Soybeans are the major cash crop, sold into the Andean Community market. The extraction of minerals and hydrocarbons accounts for another 10% of GDP and manufacturing less than 17%. General Name, Symbol, Number Gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11 (IB), 6, d Density, Hardness 19300 kg/m3, 2. ... Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... This article describes the wood that comprises trees and boards. ... The tower of a personal computer (specifically a Power Mac G5). ... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ... Species T. monococcum T. spelta References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat (Triticum spp) is a grass that is cultivated around the world. ... A machine is any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of tasks. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ... Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... In agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is sold for money. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi-manufactures. ...

The Government of Bolivia remains heavily dependent on foreign assistance to finance development projects. At the end of 2002, the government owed $4.5 billion to its foreign creditors, with $1.6 billion of this amount owed to other governments and most of the balance owed to multilateral development banks. Most payments to other governments have been rescheduled on several occasions since 1987 through the Paris Club mechanism. External creditors have been willing to do this because the Bolivian Government has generally achieved the monetary and fiscal targets set by IMF programs since 1987, though economic crises in recent years have undercut Bolivia's normally good record. Rescheduling agreements granted by the Paris Club has allowed the individual creditor countries to apply very soft terms to the rescheduled debt. As a result, some countries have forgiven substantial amounts of Bolivia's bilateral debt. The U.S. Government reached an agreement at the Paris Club meeting in December 1995 that reduced by 67% Bolivia's existing debt stock. The Bolivian Government continues to pay its debts to the multilateral development banks on time. Bolivia is a beneficiary of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC debt relief programs, which by agreement restricts Bolivia's access to new soft loans. Bolivia was one of three countries in the Western Hemisphere selected for eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Account and is participating as an observer in FTA negotiations. A creditor is a party (e. ... The essential function of a bank is to provide services related to the storing of value and the extending of credit. ... The Paris Club is an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the worlds richest countries, which provides financial services such as debt restructuring, debt relief, and debt cancellation to indebted countries and their creditors. ... Debt is that which is owed. ... The Western Hemisphere contains The Americas and nearby islands. ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Bolivia Demographics of Bolivia, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. ...

Bolivia's ethnic distribution is estimated to be 56%-62% indigenous people, and 30%-42% European and mixed. The largest of the approximately three-dozen indigenous groups are the Quechua (2.5 million), Aymara (2 million), Chiquitano (180,000), and Guarani (125,000). There are small German, former Yugoslav, Asian, Middle Eastern, and other minorities, many of whose members descend from families that have lived in Bolivia for several generations. Aymara is the name of a South-American people and of their language. ...

Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America. Almost two-thirds of its people, many of whom are subsistence farmers, live in poverty. Population density ranges from less than one person per square kilometer in the southeastern plains to about 10 per square kilometer. (25 per sq. mi.) in the central highlands. The annual population growth rate is about 2.74% (2002).

La Paz is the world's highest capital city at 3,600 meters (11,800 ft.) above sea level. The adjacent city of El Alto, at 4,200 meters above sea level, is one of the fastest growing in the hemisphere. Santa Cruz, the commercial and industrial hub of the eastern lowlands, also is experiencing rapid population and economic growth. For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ...

The great majority of Bolivians are Roman Catholic (the official religion), although Protestant denominations are expanding strongly. Many indigenous communities interweave pre-Columbian and Christian symbols in their worship. About half of the people speak Spanish as their first language. Approximately 90% of the children attend primary school but often for a year or less. The literacy rate is low in many rural areas. The cultural development of what is present-day Bolivia is divided into three distinct periods: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican. Important archaeological ruins, gold and silver ornaments, stone monuments, ceramics, and weavings remain from several important pre-Columbian cultures. Major ruins include Tiwanaku, Samaipata, Incallajta, and Iskanwaya. The country abounds in other sites that are difficult to reach and have seen little archaeological exploration. This article considers Catholicism in the broadest ecclesiastical sense. ... See also civil religion. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The term Pre-Columbian is used to refer to the cultures of the New World in the era before significant European influence. ... This article is about the religious people known as Christians. ... Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... First language (native language, mother tongue) is the language a person learns first. ... Excavation is just one stage of archaeological research. ... The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word Karazmikos (the name of a town near Athens), and in its strictest sense refers to clay in all its forms. ... In computer science, weaving describes the process of combining different aspects into a complete application. ... Middle Horizon Tiwanaku (old spelling: Tiahuanaco) is an important Pre-Columbian archeological site in Bolivia. ... Incallajta is a monumental tahuantinsuyu (Inca empire) site in central Bolivia, approximately 130 kilometers east of Cochabamba. ...

The Spanish brought their own tradition of religious art which, in the hands of local indigenous and mestizo builders and artisans, developed into a rich and distinctive style of architecture, painting, and sculpture known as "Mestizo Baroque". The colonial period produced not only the paintings of Pérez de Holguín, Flores, Bitti, and others but also the works of skilled but unknown stonecutters, woodcarvers, goldsmiths, and silversmiths. An important body of native baroque religious music of the colonial period was recovered in recent years and has been performed internationally to wide acclaim since 1994. Mestizo (Brazil Portuguese. ... An artisan is a skilled manual worker. ... Architecture (in Greek αρχή = first and τέχνη = craftsmanship) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. ... The Mona Lisa is perhaps the best-known artistic painting in the Western world. ... Sculptor redirects here. ... Stonecutter is one of twelve magical Swords in Fred Saberhagens Books of the Swords series. ... Artists can use woodworking to create delicate sculptures. ... Categories: Stub | Jewellery | Smiths ... Smith can refer to a person who practices smithing, to a very common family name or to part of a place name or location. ...

Bolivian artists of stature in the 20th century include, among others, Guzmán de Rojas, Arturo Borda, María Luisa Pacheco, and Marina Núñez del Prado. Bolivia has rich folklore. Its regional folk music is distinctive and varied. The "devil dances" at the annual carnival of Oruro are one of the great folkloric events of South America, as is the lesser known carnival at Tarabuco. Folklore is the ethnographic concept of the tales, legends, or superstitions current among a particular ethnic population, a part of the oral history of a particular culture. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the people. ... See also: Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnivàle Swabian-Alemannic carnival clowns in Wolfach, Germany A carnival parade is a public celebration, combining some elements of a circus and public street party, generally during the Carnival Season. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bolivia Bolivia is a Latin country in South America located at the Andes mountains. ...

Bolivian culture has many Inca and other Indian influences in religion, music and clothing, such as the well known bowler hats. The best known fiesta is the UNESCO heritage "El carnaval de Oruro". Entertainment includes football, which is the national sport, played on almost every street corner. Also, zoos are a popular attraction with a diverse population of interesting creatures. For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1946. ... The striker (wearing red jersey) has run past the defender (in white jersey) and is about to take a shot at the goal, while the goalkeeper positions himself to stop the ball. ...

See Music of Bolivia Out of all the Andean countries, Bolivia remains perhaps the most culturally linked to the indigenous peoples. ...

Literature

• Herbert S. Klein, "A Concise History of Bolivia", Cambridge 2003

External links

• Bolivia Web (http://www.boliviaweb.com)
• eldeber.net (http://www.eldeber.net)
• Portale Bolivia (http://www.bolivia.sudamerica.it)
• Bolivian Street Children (http://street-children.org.uk/bolivia.htm)
• GIS Geographic Information System (http://www.webbolivia.tk)
• Bolivia information (http://www.ecuaworld.com/bolivia/)

This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. ... The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. ... The Republic of Chile is a country located on the southwestern coast of South America. ... The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. ... The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. ... The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is a nation along the northern coastline of South America. ... Panama (Spanish: Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. ... The Republic of Paraguay is a landlocked republic in South America. ... The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ... -1... For other uses of the word Trinidad, see Trinidad (disambiguation) The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a nation located in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela. ... The Republic Eastern of the Uruguay (Spanish: República Oriental del Uruguay), is a Spanish speaking country located in southern South America. ... The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela)1 is a country in northern South America. ... The Falkland Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic consisting of two main islands known as East Falkland and West Falkland and a number of smaller islands. ... French Guiana ( French: Guyane) is an overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located on the Caribbean coast of South America. ...