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La Paz Department (Bolivia)
Encyclopedia
The La Paz Department of Bolivia
comprises 133985 square kilometres (51,732 sq mi) with a 2001 census
population of 2,350,466 inhabitants. It is situated at the western border of Bolivia, sharing Lake Titicaca
with Peru
. It contains the mighty Cordillera Real
that reaches altitudes of 6.6 kilometres (4.1 mi). Northeast of the Cordillera Real are the Yungas
, the steep eastern slopes of the Andes
that make the transition to the Amazon basin
. The capital of the department is the city of La Paz, also the administrative capital of Bolivia.
(municipios) and - on the fourth level - into cantons
.
The provinces with their capitals are:
, Aymara
, Quechua
and Guaraní
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognized group of speakers.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
comprises 133985 square kilometres (51,732 sq mi) with a 2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
population of 2,350,466 inhabitants. It is situated at the western border of Bolivia, sharing Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world...
with Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. It contains the mighty Cordillera Real
Cordillera Real
Cordillera Real is the name of mountain chains in the Andes of South America:*Cordillera Real *Cordillera Real...
that reaches altitudes of 6.6 kilometres (4.1 mi). Northeast of the Cordillera Real are the Yungas
Yungas
The Yungas is a stretch of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from southeastern Peru through central Bolivia. It is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the eastern forests. Like the surrounding areas, it has characteristics of the Neotropic ecozone...
, the steep eastern slopes of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
that make the transition to the Amazon basin
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
. The capital of the department is the city of La Paz, also the administrative capital of Bolivia.
Provinces
The Department of La Paz is divided into 20 provinces (provincias) which are further subdivided into 85 municipalitiesMunicipalities of Bolivia
Municipalities in Bolivia are administrative divisions of the entire national territory governed by local elections. Municipalities are the third level of administrative divisions, below departments and provinces. Some of the provinces consist of only one municipality...
(municipios) and - on the fourth level - into cantons
Cantons of Bolivia
||On the level below municipalities, Bolivia is divided into cantons ....
.
The provinces with their capitals are:
| Province | Area km² | Population 2005 (est.) | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abel Iturralde Abel Iturralde Province Abel Iturralde is one of the twenty provinces of the Bolivian La Paz Department. It is situated in its northern part. Its name honors Abel Iturralde Palacios, a Bolivian politician. Madidi National Park is partially in this province.- Location :... |
42,815 | 13,972 | Ixiamas Ixiamas - References :*... |
| Aroma Aroma Province Aroma is one of the twenty provinces of the Bolivian La Paz Department and is situated in the department's southern parts.- Location :Aroma province is located between 16° 43' and 17° 35' South and between 67° 22' and 68° 23' West... |
4,510 | 98,378 | Sica Sica Sica Sica Sica Sica is a small town and capital of Aroma Province in the La Paz Department of western Bolivia. It is located some 115 kilometres from La Paz, on the southwestern edge of the Serrania de Sicasica, a ridge, which is between La Paz and Cochabamba in a south-easterly direction. As of 2008 it has... |
| Bautista Saavedra Bautista Saavedra Province Bautista Saavedra is one of the twenty provinces of the Bolivian department of La Paz and is situated in the department's northwestern parts. The province's name honors Bautista Saavedra Mallea , Bolivia's president from 1920 to 1925.- Location :... |
2,525 | 12,259 | Charazani Charazani - Location :Charazani is the capital of Bautista Saavedra Province and central town of the Charazani Municipality. It is situated on a spur at an elevation of 3,200 m amsl between Cordillera Muñecas in the south and Cordillera Apolabamba in the north, on a Mapiri River tributary which itself flows... |
| Caranavi Caranavi Province Caranavi Province is one of the twenty provinces of the Bolivian La Paz Department and is situated in the department's eastern parts. The province was created by Law 1401 on 16 December 1992 from a portion of what was then Nor Yungas Province.- Location :... |
3,400 | 55,492 | Caranavi Caranavi Caranavi is the capital of the Caranavi Province in the Yungas region of Bolivia, South America. On 23 December 2009, part of the province was detached from the municipality of Caranavi to become the municipality of Alto Beni.-Geography:... |
| Eliodoro Camacho Eliodoro Camacho Province Eliodoro Camacho is a province in the La Paz Department in Bolivia situated at Lake Titicaca. Its seat is Puerto Acosta.Camacho Province is situated in the western region of the La Paz Department bordered to the north by the Muñecas Province, to the east by the Larecaja Province, to the south by... |
2,080 | 59,847 | Puerto Acosta Puerto Acosta Puerto Acosta is a town in the La Paz Department, Bolivia.- References :*... |
| Franz Tamayo Franz Tamayo Province Franz Tamayo is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. It lies in the western part of the nation, and includes the Ulla Ulla National Reserve - which today is part of the Apolobamba Integrated Management Natural Area - in the high Andean plain on the western border with Peru... |
15,900 | 18,852 | Apolo |
| Gualberto Villarroel Gualberto Villarroel Province Gualberto Villarroel is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its capital is San Pedro de Curahuara de Carangas.- Subdivision :The province is divided into three municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.- External links :*... |
1,935 | 18,562 | San Pedro de Curahuara de Carangas San Pedro de Curahuara de Carangas San Pedro de Curahuara de Carangas is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Gualberto Villarroel Province.- References :... |
| Ingavi Ingavi Province Ingavi is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Viacha.- Subdivision :Ingavi Province is divided into seven municipalities which are partly further subdivided into cantons.- Population :... |
5,410 | 106,086 | Viacha Viacha Viacha is a city in Bolivia, situated in the Ingavi Province in the La Paz Department. Viacha lies in the Altiplano, 22 km. Southwest of La Paz. Transportation to and from the city includes cars, buses, and a train.- Economy :... |
| Inquisivi Inquisivi Province Inquisivi is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. The capital of the province is Inquisivi.- Subdivision :Inquisivi Province is divided into six municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.-External links:****... |
6,430 | 60,582 | Inquisivi Inquisivi Inquisivi is the capital of the Inquisivi Province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. It was officially named on Nov. 2, 1844. Residents of Inquisivi are called Inquisivenos.... |
| José Manuel Pando José Manuel Pando Province This article is about the province. For the person, see José Manuel Pando.José Manuel Pando is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Santiago de Machaca.- Subdivision :... |
1,976 | 7,036 | Santiago de Machaca Santiago de Machaca Santiago de Machaca is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Santiago de Machaca Municipality, the first municipal section of the José Manuel Pando Province, and it is also the seat of the province.... |
| José Ramón Loayza Loayza Province Loayza or José Ramón Loayza is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its seat is Luribay.- Subdivision :The province is divided into five municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.- External links :*... |
3,370 | 48,050 | Luribay Luribay Luribay is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Luribay Municipality, the first municipal section of the José Ramón Loayza Province, and of the province.... |
| Larecaja Larecaja Province Larecaja is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. Its capital is Sorata.- Subdivision :Larecaja Province is divided into eight municipalities which are partly further subdivided into cantons.- Languages :... |
8,110 | 67,662 | Sorata Sorata Sorata is a small town in the La Paz Department in the Bolivian Andes, northwest of the city of La Paz and east of Lake Titicaca. It is the seat of the Larecaja Province and the Sorata Municipality. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 2,217.... |
| Los Andes | 1,658 | 73,728 | Pucarani Pucarani Pucarani is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Pucarani Municipality, the first municipal section of the Los Andes Province and of the province.- References :*... |
| Manco Kapac Manco Kapac Province Manco Kapac is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. Its capital is Copacabana.- Subdivision :Manco Kapac Province is divided into three municipalities which are partly further subdivided into cantons.- References :* - External links :*... |
367 | 24,039 | Copacabana Copacabana, Bolivia Copacabana is the main Bolivian town on the shore of Lake Titicaca, from where boats leave for Isla del Sol, the sacred Inca island. The town has a large 16th-century shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana. Our Lady of Copacabana is the patron saint of Bolivia. The town is a destination for... |
| Muñecas Muñecas Province Muñecas is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. Its capital is Chuma.- Subdivision :The province is divided into three municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.- External links :*... |
4,965 | 29,694 | Chuma Chuma Chuma is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Chuma Municipality, the first municipal section of the Muñecas Province and of the province.- References :*... |
| Nor Yungas Nor Yungas Province Nor Yungas is a province in the Yungas-area of the Bolivian department of La Paz.. Its administrative seat is the town of Coroico.- Subdivision :The province is divided into two municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.... |
1,720 | 25,790 | Coroico Coroico Coroico is a town in Nor Yungas Province, in the La Paz Department of western Bolivia.-History:Coroico Viejo was founded above the Kori Huayco River... |
| Omasuyos Omasuyos Province Omasuyos is a province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Achacachi.The province is situated in the Altiplano bordered to the north by the Muñecas Province, to the north-east by the Larecaja Province, to the south-east by the Los Andes Province, to the south and west by Lake Titicaca... |
2,065 | 92,126 | Achacachi Achacachi Achacachi is a town on the Altiplano plateau in the South American Andes in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the capital of the Omasuyos Province.-History of Achacachi:... |
| Pacajes Pacajes Province Pacajes is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. Its capital is Coro Coro.- Subdivision :The province is divided into eight municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.- External links :*... |
10,584 | 52,183 | Coro Coro Coro Coro, Bolivia Coro Coro, Bolivia is a a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Coro Coro Municipality, the first municipal section of the Pacajes Province, and it is the seat of the province.... |
| Pedro Domingo Murillo Pedro Domingo Murillo Province Pedro Domingo Murillo is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. It contains the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, as well as the major city of El Alto.- Subdivision :... |
4,705 | 1,758,495 | Palca Palca, Bolivia Palca, Bolivia is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Palca Municipality, the first municipal section of the Pedro Domingo Murillo Province.- References :*... |
| Sud Yungas Sud Yungas Province Sud Yungas is a province in the Bolivian department of La Paz. Its capital is Chulumani.- Subdivision :The province is divided into five municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.- External links :*... |
5,770 | 69,794 | Chulumani Chulumani Situated four hours from La Paz, Chulumani is the capital of the Sud Yungas region in Bolivia. Agriculture dominates the area, which produces bananas, coffee, and coca leaves. Chulumani is subtropical with warm temperatures and high humidity.... |
| Total: | 133.985 km² | ||
| Note: More than 3,770 km² of Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world... |
Languages
The languages spoken in the department are mainly SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, Aymara
Aymara language
Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. It is one of only a handful of Native American languages with over three million speakers. Aymara, along with Quechua and Spanish, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia...
, Quechua
Quechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
and Guaraní
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognized group of speakers.
| Language | Department | Bolivia |
|---|---|---|
| Quechua Quechua languages Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably... |
158,260 | 2,281,198 |
| Aymara Aymara language Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. It is one of only a handful of Native American languages with over three million speakers. Aymara, along with Quechua and Spanish, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia... |
1,181,593 | 1,525,321 |
| Guaraní Guaraní language Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of... |
1,526 | 62,575 |
| Another native | 4,446 | 49,432 |
| Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
1,973,708 | 6,821,626 |
| Foreign | 70,448 | 250,754 |
| Only native | 257,242 | 960,491 |
| Native and Spanish | 1,027,999 | 2,739,407 |
| Spanish and foreign | 946,650 | 4,115,751 |
Places of interest
- Apolobamba Integrated Management Natural AreaApolobamba Integrated Management Natural AreaThe Apolobamba Integrated Management Natural Area is a protected area in the La Paz Department, Bolivia, situated in the Bautista Saavedra, Franz Tamayo and Larecaja provinces.- External links :*...
- Cotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural AreaCotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural AreaCotapata National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area is a protected area in the Yungas of La Paz Department, Bolivia...
- Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal LandsPilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal LandsPilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Communal Lands is a protected area in Bolivia located in the departments of La Paz and Beni , in their northern and western parts, respectively, about 350 km northeast of La Paz and 50 km west of...
- Lake TiticacaLake TiticacaLake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world...
- ChacaltayaChacaltayaChacaltaya is a mountain in the Cordillera Real, one of the mountain ranges of the Cordillera Oriental, itself a range of the Bolivian Andes. Its elevation is . Chacaltaya's glacier - which was as old as 18,000 years – had in 1940 an area of , reduced to in 2007 and was completely gone by 2009....