La Paz
(), officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz (
Spanish pronunciation: ), is the seat of government of the
Plurinational State of Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
. With an estimated 816,044 residents as of 2020,
La Paz is the
third-most populous city in Bolivia. Its metropolitan area, which is formed by La Paz,
El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is today one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centers, with an estimat ...
,
Achocalla
Achocalla (Hispanicized spelling) or Achuqalla (Aymara for weasel) is a location in the La Paz Department in Bolivia. It is the seat of the Achocalla Municipality, the third municipal section of the Pedro Domingo Murillo Province.
Climate
T ...
,
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
Viacha is hom ...
, and
Mecapaca makes up the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.0 million, after
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (; "Holy Cross of the Mountain Range"), commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz department.
Situated on the Pirai River in the eastern Tropical Lowlands of Bolivia ...
with a population of 2.3 million.
It is also the capital of the
La Paz Department.
The city, in west-central Bolivia southeast of
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca (; es, Lago Titicaca ; qu, Titiqaqa Qucha) is a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. By volume of water and by surface area, i ...
, is set in a canyon created by the
Choqueyapu River
The Choqueyapu River, sometimes called the La Paz River, is a river in the La Paz Department of Bolivia. It belongs to the drainage basin of the Amazon. The river originates in a spring called Achachi Qala (Aymara: ''achachi'' border stone, old, g ...
. It is in a bowl-like depression, part of the Amazon basin, surrounded by the high mountains of the
Altiplano
The Altiplano (Spanish for "high plain"), Collao (Quechua and Aymara: Qullaw, meaning "place of the Qulla") or Andean Plateau, in west-central South America, is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside Tibet. The plateau is located at the ...
. Overlooking the city is the towering, triple-peaked
Illimani
Illimani (Aymara) is the highest mountain in the Cordillera Real (part of the Cordillera Oriental, a subrange of the Andes) of western Bolivia. It lies near the cities of El Alto and La Paz at the eastern edge of the Altiplano. It is the sec ...
. Its peaks are always snow-covered and can be seen from many parts of the city. At an elevation of roughly
above sea level, La Paz is the
highest capital city in the world. Due to its altitude, La Paz has an unusual
subtropical highland climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
, with rainy summers and dry winters.
La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by the Spanish
conquistador Captain
Alonso de Mendoza, at the site of the
Inca
The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...
settlement of
Laja as a connecting point between the commercial routes that led from
Potosí and
Oruro
Oruro (Hispanicized spelling) or Uru Uru is a city in Bolivia with a population of 264,683 (2012 calculation), about halfway between La Paz and Sucre in the Altiplano, approximately above sea level.
It is Bolivia's fifth-largest city by pop ...
to
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
; the full name of the city was originally ''Nuestra Señora de La Paz'' (meaning ''
Our Lady of Peace
Our Lady of Peace, Mother of Peace, Queen of Peace or Our Lady Queen of Peace is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. She is represented in art holding a dove and an olive branch, symbols of peace. Her official memoria ...
'') in commemoration of the restoration of peace following the
insurrection
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
of
Gonzalo Pizarro
Gonzalo Pizarro y Alonso (; 1510 – April 10, 1548) was a Spanish conquistador and younger paternal half-brother of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire. Bastard son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro y Rodríguez de Aguilar (senior) ( ...
and fellow conquistadors against the first
viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning " ...
of
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka. La Paz was under Spanish colonial rule as part of the
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata ( es, Virreinato del Río de la Plata or es, Virreinato de las Provincias del Río de la Plata) meaning "River of the Silver", also called " Viceroyalty of the River Plate" in some scholarly writings, i ...
, before Bolivia gained independence. Since its founding, the city was the site of numerous revolts. In 1781, the
indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention
*Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band
*Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
leader and independence activist
Túpac Katari
Túpac Katari or Catari (also Túpaj Katari) (c. 1750 – November 13, 1781), born Julián Apasa Nina, was the indigenous Aymara leader of a major insurrection in colonial-era Upper Peru (now Bolivia), laying siege to La Paz for six months. His ...
laid siege to the city for a total of six months, but was finally defeated. On 16 July 1809, the Bolivian patriot
Pedro Domingo Murillo ignited a revolution for independence, marking the beginning of the
Spanish American Wars of Independence
The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...
, which gained the freedom of South American states in 1821.
As the seat of the government of Bolivia, La Paz is the site of the
Palacio Quemado
The Bolivian Palace of Government, better known as Palacio Quemado (, ''Burnt Palace''), was the official residence of the President of Bolivia from 1853 to 2018 and again briefly from 2019 to 2020. It is located in downtown La Paz on Plaza ...
, the presidential palace. It is also the seat of the Bolivian
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
, the
Plurinational Legislative Assembly
The Plurinational Legislative Assembly ( es, Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional) is the national legislature of Bolivia, placed in La Paz, the country's seat of government.
The assembly is bicameral, consisting of a lower house (the Chambe ...
, and numerous government departments and agencies. The constitutional capital of Bolivia,
Sucre, retains the
judicial power
The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...
. The city hosts all the
foreign embassies as well as international missions in the country. La Paz is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports center of Bolivia; it generates 24% of the nation's
gross domestic product
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is oft ...
and serves as the headquarters for numerous Bolivian companies and industries.
La Paz is also an important cultural center of
Latin America
Latin America or
* french: Amérique Latine, link=no
* ht, Amerik Latin, link=no
* pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...
, as it hosts several landmarks belonging to the colonial times, such as the
San Francisco Church, the
Metropolitan Cathedral, the
Plaza Murillo
The Plaza Murillo is the central plaza of the city of La Paz and the open space most connected to the political life of Bolivia. Prominent buildings on the plaza include the Presidential Palace, National Congress of Bolivia, and the Cathedral of L ...
and Jaén Street. La Paz is also situated at the confluence of archaeological regions of the
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku ( es, Tiahuanaco or ) is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia near Lake Titicaca, about 70 kilometers from La Paz, and it is one of the largest sites in South America. Surface remains currently cover around 4 square kilo ...
and
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...
. The city is renowned for its unique markets, particularly the
Witches' Market, and for its vibrant nightlife. Its unusual topography offers unique views of the city and the surrounding mountains of the
Cordillera Real from numerous natural
viewing points. The city is considered to be a unique metropolitan structure, where a majority of the city has been built into the canyon of the Chuqiyapi and Irpavi Rivers. La Paz is also home to the largest
urban cable car network in the world. In May 2015, it was officially recognized as one of the
New 7 Wonders Cities together with
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
,
Doha
Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the count ...
,
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
,
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. ,
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, sub ...
and
Vigan
Vigan, officially the City of Vigan ( ilo, Siudad ti Vigan; fil, Lungsod ng Vigan), is a 4th class component city and capital of the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 53,935 people.
Loc ...
. La Paz is listed on the Global Cities Index 2015, and is considered a global city type "Gamma" by
Globalization and World Cities Research Network
The Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) is a think tank that studies the relationships between world cities in the context of globalization. It is based in the geography department of Loughborough University in Leicestershire ...
(GaWC).
Name and toponyms
![Calle Jaén, La Paz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Calle_Ja%C3%A9n%2C_La_Paz.jpg)
The Spanish conquistadors founded the city in 1548 with the name ''Nuestra Señora de La Paz'' (meaning ''
Our Lady of
Peace
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...
''). The name commemorated the restoration of peace following the insurrection of
Gonzalo Pizarro
Gonzalo Pizarro y Alonso (; 1510 – April 10, 1548) was a Spanish conquistador and younger paternal half-brother of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of the Inca Empire. Bastard son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro y Rodríguez de Aguilar (senior) ( ...
and fellow conquistadors four years earlier against
Blasco Núñez Vela
Blasco Núñez Vela (c. 1490 – January 18, 1546) was the first Spanish viceroy of South America ("Viceroyalty of Peru"). Serving from May 15, 1544 to January 18, 1546, he was charged by Charles V with the enforcement of the controversial N ...
, the first
viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning " ...
of
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
.
In 1825, after the decisive victory of the
republicans at
Ayacucho
Ayacucho (, qu, Ayak'uchu) is the capital city of Ayacucho Region and of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru.
During the Inca Empire and Viceroyalty of Peru periods the city was known by the name of Huamanga (Quechua: Wamanga), and it c ...
over the Spanish army in the course of the
Spanish American wars of independence
The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...
, the city's full name was changed to ''La Paz de Ayacucho'' (meaning ''The Peace of Ayacucho'').
The region in which La Paz is located in was known as Chuquiago Marka (''marka'' means village; ''Chuqi Yapu'' means 'gold farm', probably due to the exploitation of gold nuggets in the small rivers of the place; spelling differences due to Aymara writing compared to Spanish transliteration) in the Aymara language, leading former
President of Bolivia
The president of Bolivia ( es, Presidente de Bolivia), officially known as the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia ( es, Presidente del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia), is head of state and head of government of Bolivia and the ca ...
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma (; born 26 October 1959) is a Bolivian politician, trade union organizer, and former cocalero activist who served as the 65th president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019. Widely regarded as the country's first president to c ...
to suggest renaming the city to "Chuquiago Marka" in a speech in 2017.
History
![Palace of gov, la paz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Palace_of_gov%2C_la_paz.jpg)
This area had been the site of an Inca city on a major trading route.
Although the
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
conquistadors entered the area in 1535, they did not found La Paz until 1548. Originally it was to be at the site of the
Native American settlement,
Laja. The town site was moved a few days later to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago, which is more clement.
Control over the former
Inca
The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...
lands had been entrusted to
Pedro de la Gasca
Pedro de la Gasca (June 1485 – 13 November 1567) was a Spanish bishop, diplomat and the second (acting) viceroy of Peru, from 10 April 10 1547 to 27 January 1550.
Biography
Pedro de la Gasca studied at the University of Salamanca and the U ...
by the Spanish king (and Holy Roman Emperor)
Emperor Charles V. Gasca commanded
Alonso de Mendoza to found a new city commemorating the end of the civil wars in Peru; the city of La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by Alonzo de Mendoza, with Juan de Vargas appointed as its first mayor.
In 1549, Juan Gutierrez Paniagua was commanded to design an urban plan that would designate sites for public areas, plazas, official buildings, and a cathedral. These were meant to express the ideals and relationships of Spanish colonial society. La Plaza de los Españoles, which is known today as the Plaza Murillo, was chosen as the location for government buildings as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Spain controlled La Paz with a firm grip and the Spanish king had the last word in all matters political, but consultation was extended, taking months or longer by sea. Indigenous and other unrest was repeated around the turn of the nineteenth century. In 1781, for a total of six months, a group of
Aymara people
Aymara may refer to:
Languages and people
* Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language
** Aymara language, the main language within that family
** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...
laid siege to La Paz. Under the leadership of
Tupac Katari, they destroyed churches and government property. Thirty years later Indians conducted a two-month siege against La Paz. This incident was the setting for the origin of the legend of the
Ekeko. In 1809 the struggle for independence from the Spanish rule brought uprisings against the royalist forces. On 16 July 1809
Pedro Domingo Murillo said that the Bolivian revolution was igniting a lamp that nobody would be able to turn off. This uprising formally marked the beginning of the liberation of South America from Spain. The first open rebellions against the Spanish Crown took place in La Paz and the city of Sucre simultaneously. This event is known as the Primer Grito Libertario de América.
Pedro Domingo Murillo was hanged at the Plaza de los Españoles several months later, on 29 January 1810. After Bolivia gained independence, La Paz named this plaza after him, to commemorate him always. He is remembered as the voice of revolution across South America.
![Palacio del Congreso Nacional La Paz Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Palacio_del_Congreso_Nacional_La_Paz_Bolivia.jpg)
In 1898, La Paz was made the ''
de facto
''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...
'' seat of the national government, with Sucre remaining the nominal historical as well as judiciary capital. This change reflected the shift of the Bolivian economy away from the largely exhausted
silver
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical ...
mines of
Potosí to the exploitation of
tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn (from la, stannum) and atomic number 50. Tin is a silvery-coloured metal.
Tin is soft enough to be cut with little force and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort. When bent, t ...
near
Oruro
Oruro (Hispanicized spelling) or Uru Uru is a city in Bolivia with a population of 264,683 (2012 calculation), about halfway between La Paz and Sucre in the Altiplano, approximately above sea level.
It is Bolivia's fifth-largest city by pop ...
, and resulting shifts in the distribution of economic and political power among various national
elites.
Geography
![Valledelaluna-lapaz-bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Valledelaluna-lapaz-bolivia.jpg)
La Paz is built in a canyon created by the
Choqueyapu River
The Choqueyapu River, sometimes called the La Paz River, is a river in the La Paz Department of Bolivia. It belongs to the drainage basin of the Amazon. The river originates in a spring called Achachi Qala (Aymara: ''achachi'' border stone, old, g ...
(now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado.
The geography of La Paz (in particular the altitude) is marked by social differences. The more affluent residents live in the lower, central areas of the city southwest of the Prado. Many middle-class residents live in high-rise condos near the center. Lower-income residents live in makeshift brick houses in the surrounding hills.
The satellite city of El Alto, where the airport is, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the Altiplano. La Paz is renowned for its unique markets, unusual and dramatic topography, and traditional culture.
La Paz is in the valleys of the Andes, close to the Eastern split of the Altiplano region. It is closer to such notable mountains as the Illimani (guardian of La Paz), Huayna Potosi, Mururata, and Illampu. On the Western side of the Altiplano divide, about an hour to the west of the La Paz, is the Sajama Volcano, the tallest mountain in Bolivia and ninth-tallest mountain in the Andes.
An
earthquake in July 1994 rated at 8.2 struck north of La Paz. It could be felt near La Paz and caused damage throughout the villages of the area. In February 2002 the city was subjected to a hail and rainstorm that resulted in
flooding
A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrolog ...
causing serious damage and over 50 deaths.
Climate
At more than above sea level, higher parts of La Paz have an unusual
subtropical highland climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
(''Cwc'', according to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
), with
subpolar oceanic characteristics (less than 4 months have a mean temperature above 10 °C), bordering on a
tundra climate
The tundra climate is a polar climate sub-type located in high latitudes and high mountains. undra climate https://www.britannica.com/science/tundra-climateThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019 It is classified as ET according to Köppen ...
(''ET''). The whole city has rainy summers and dry winters. Night-time temperatures range from cold to very cold.
Snow flurries
A snow flurry is a light snowfall that results in little or no snow accumulation. The US National Weather Service defines snow flurries as intermittent light snow that produces no measurable precipitation (trace amounts). In contrast, bursts of s ...
can occur in winter, especially at dawn and it usually melts before noon. At these high altitudes despite being located only 16 degrees from the equator, the city's average temperature is similar to that of cities such as
Bergen
Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...
,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
or
Tórshavn
Tórshavn (; lit. "Thor's harbour"), usually locally referred to as simply ''Havn'', is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of the city lies the ...
,
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway bet ...
, located as far as 60 and 62 degrees from the equator respectively.
![La Paz (2815873618)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/La_Paz_%282815873618%29.jpg)
Temperatures in central La Paz, at , and in the ''Zona Sur'' (Southern Zone), at above sea level, are warmer (
subtropical highland climate
An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...
''Cwb'',
according to the Köppen classification).
Owing to the altitude of the city, temperatures are consistently cool to mild throughout the year, though the
diurnal temperature variation
In meteorology, diurnal temperature variation is the variation between a high air temperature and a low temperature that occurs during the same day.
Temperature lag
Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation: peak da ...
is typically large. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March.
In the highest part of the city, above 4,000 meters, the two cloudiest months are February and March, in late summer, when sunshine averages around 5 hours per day. The two sunniest months are June and July, in winter, when sunshine averages around 8 hours per day.
Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructive
mudslides
A mudflow or mud flow is a form of mass wasting involving fast-moving flow of debris that has become liquified by the addition of water. Such flows can move at speeds ranging from 3 meters/minute to 5 meters/second. Mudflows contain a significa ...
. At an altitude of 3,250 meters, in the southern part of the city, the wettest month is January with a monthly average of , and the driest is July with .
The warmest temperature recorded was and the coldest was .
Districts and neighborhoods
Main neighborhoods and zones
![Barrio San Jorge en La Paz, Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Barrio_San_Jorge_en_La_Paz%2C_Bolivia.png)
; San Jorge: Located in the district known as Cotahuma and near
Sopocachi
Sopocachi is a neighborhood in La Paz, Bolivia. Founded during the republican stage. Sopocachi can be described as a bohemian artistic neighborhood. It is located in the central part of the city, and is part of the Cotahuma district. Sopocachi ...
, is one of the main residential and diplomatic areas of the city. San Jorge is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of La Paz and the financial center of the metropolis, housing international firms like
Deloitte
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (), commonly referred to as Deloitte, is an international professional services network headquartered in London, England. Deloitte is the largest professional services network by revenue and number of professio ...
,
Bank of America
The Bank of America Corporation (often abbreviated BofA or BoA) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered at the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank ...
,
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewat ...
,
BBVA
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (), better known by its initialism BBVA, is a Spanish multinational financial services company based in Madrid and Bilbao, Spain. It is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, and is present ...
and the famous
Ritz Hotel. It is now home of Bolivia's tallest building known as Torre Girasoles, and the only
intelligent building
Building automation (BAS), also known as building management system (BMS) or building energy management system (BEMS), is the automatic centralized control of a building's HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrical, lighting, ...
of the country, known as Torre Azul. The neighborhood is also populated with expensive offices, renowned restaurants, museums and bookstores. Its Avenida Arce, one of the main streets of the city, is the highest-priced street in the country and the one with the most upscale boutiques in Bolivia. San Jorge is home to the embassies of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
,
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
,
Japan,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. The offices of the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
, the
Inter-American Development Bank, the
CAF – Development Bank of Latin America, the
Goethe Institut
The Goethe-Institut (, GI, en, Goethe Institute) is a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide with 159 institutes, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and ...
, the
Alliance Française
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
and the
Dante Alighieri Society
The Dante Alighieri Society (Italian: ''Società Dante Alighieri'') is a society that promotes Italian culture and language around the world. Today this society is present in more than 60 countries.
It was formed in Italy in July 1889. The so ...
are also located in this modern neighborhood.
;
Sopocachi
Sopocachi is a neighborhood in La Paz, Bolivia. Founded during the republican stage. Sopocachi can be described as a bohemian artistic neighborhood. It is located in the central part of the city, and is part of the Cotahuma district. Sopocachi ...
:
![El Prado y Estatua Simón Bolivar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/El_Prado_y_Estatua_Sim%C3%B3n_Bolivar.jpg)
Located in the 1st District (Cotahuma), Sopocachi is probably one of the oldest residential neighborhoods, 10 minutes from the center of the city. Despite the expansion and development of the area, this quarter maintained its residential property. In the last years, there has been an important commercial expansion, mainly on the surroundings of Abaroa Square, one of the many squares and parks of the zone.
; San Pedro : Located in the 1st District (Cotahuma), on the right bank of the Choqueyapu River and built around the "Plaza de San Pedro" (official name: Plaza Sucre, ''Sucre Square''), is home to numerous shops, businesses and small enterprises, especially printing, spare parts and auto maintenance and repair shops. San Pedro's "Rodriguez Market" remains as one of the most popular
middle-class and oldest of the city. The
San Pedro prison is here.
; Centro : The city's downtown area, in the 7th District, comprising the center of La Paz and principal roads of the city, like Arce Avenue, 16 July Avenue (also known as "Prado Avenue"), Mariscal Santa Cruz Avenue and Camacho Avenue – the last one being the home of the headquarters of the principal banks and companies of the country.
; Casco Viejo : Located in the 7th District, is the historic and ancient center of La Paz. It now houses museums, hotels, shops and buildings as the Mayor City of La Paz and the
Central Bank of Bolivia. In the Old Quarter is the
Plaza Murillo
The Plaza Murillo is the central plaza of the city of La Paz and the open space most connected to the political life of Bolivia. Prominent buildings on the plaza include the Presidential Palace, National Congress of Bolivia, and the Cathedral of L ...
, which is home to the Government Palace and the National Congress.
![Calacoto La Paz, Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Calacoto_La_Paz%2C_Bolivia.jpg)
; Miraflores : In the 7th District, Miraflores district is separated from downtown by a long barrel (''Parque Urbano Central'', "Central Urban Park") and connected by the Bridge of the Americas and two avenues. Originally a residential zone, its growth has led it to become a major recreational center. It houses universities (including the
Universidad Mayor de San Andrés's faculty of medicine), hospitals and the
Estadio Hernando Siles
Estadio Hernando Siles is a multi-purpose stadium in La Paz, Bolivia. It is the country's largest stadium, with a capacity of 41,143 seats. It is named after Hernando Siles Reyes, the 31st President of Bolivia (1926–1930).
The stadium is locat ...
(capacity of 45,000 people).
; Northern District :
![La Paz, Teleférico feb 2015 - Bolivia 099](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/La_Paz%2C_Telef%C3%A9rico_feb_2015_-_Bolivia_099.jpg)
Located in the 2nd and 3rd districts, it has a significant industrial activity (mainly food), being the Cervecería Boliviana Nacional (Bolivian National Brewery) the most significant industry founded by Germans, and one of the city's biggest companies in the country. It connects La Paz with the city of El Alto by the ''autopista'' (highway).
; Southern District : In the 5th district; has less height than the rest of La Paz (3,200 to 2,800 meters). This area houses some of the most affluent and exclusive neighborhoods of the city, like Obrajes, Irpavi,
Calacoto
Calacoto (hispanicized spelling) or Qalaqutu (Aymara ''qala'' stone, ''qutu'' pile, heap,katari.org
Aymara-Spanish di ...
, La Florida and Achumani, among others. It has been benefited from steady economic growth and is now the second commercial and financial center of the city, housing international firms like
Moody's
Moody's Investors Service, often referred to as Moody's, is the bond credit rating business of Moody's Corporation, representing the company's traditional line of business and its historical name. Moody's Investors Service provides internationa ...
,
Citibank,
Aon Corporation
Aon PLC () is a British-American multinational financial services firm that sells a range of risk-mitigation products, including Commercial Risk, Investment, Wealth and Reinsurance solutions, as well as boutique strategy consulting through Aon ...
,
Huawei
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ( ; ) is a Chinese multinational technology corporation headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. It designs, develops, produces and sells telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics and various smar ...
,
Millicom
Millicom International Cellular SA (NASDAQ U.S.: TIGO, NASDAQ Stockholm: TIGO_SDB) is a Luxembourgish fixed line and mobile telecommunications services provider dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America operating under the Tigo brand. As of ...
International Cellular,
Nissan Motor Corporation,
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (, sometimes shortened to SEC and stylized as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean multinational electronics corporation headquartered in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, South Korea. It is the pinnacle of the Samsung chaebol, a ...
,
Pan American Silver Corporation
Pan American Silver Corporation is a mining company based in Canada with operations in Latin America. The company has mines and other projects in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
It is one of the world's biggest silver producers; in 2017 th ...
, a
Sumitomo Corporation branch,
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewat ...
, and the "MegaCenter", La Paz's biggest shopping mall.
Cityscape
Colonial architecture
![TeatroMunicipalAlvertoSaveedraPerez](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/TeatroMunicipalAlvertoSaveedraPerez.JPG)
The city of La Paz has a consistently decreasing volume of colonial buildings, mostly centered around the vicinity of the Plaza Murillo. Due to a lack of funds and the inability of property owners to pay for restorations to colonial buildings, many have been torn down, or are in a dilapidated state. As historic buildings are more expensive to keep, land owners find it less of a burden to construct more modern buildings as opposed to keeping the old ones. Although there has been an increasing number of projects and propositions to restore some of the city's colonial buildings, the future of these historic edifices remains uncertain.
Economy
![Banco Central de Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Banco_Central_de_Bolivia.png)
The economy of La Paz has improved greatly in recent years, mainly as a result of improved political stability. Due to the long period of high inflation and economic struggle faced by Bolivians in the 1980s and early 1990s, a large informal economy developed. Evidence of this is provided by the markets found all around the city.
While there are stable markets, almost every street in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods has at least one vendor on it.
La Paz remains the principal center of manufacturing enterprises that produce finished-product goods for the country, with about two-thirds of Bolivia's manufacturing located nearby. Historically, industry in Bolivia has been dominated by mineral processing and the preparation of agricultural products. However, in the urban center of La Paz, small plants carry out a large portion of the industry. Food, tobacco products, clothing, various consumer goods, building materials, and agricultural tools are produced. "The tin quotations from London are watched in La Paz with close interest as an index of the country's prosperity; a third of the national revenue and more than half of the total customs in 1925 were derived from tin; in short, that humble but indispensable metal is the hub around which Bolivia's economic life revolves. The tin deposits of Bolivia, second largest in the world, ... invite development."
Sports
La Paz is the home of some of the biggest football teams in Bolivia.
*
Club Bolívar
Club Bolívar () is a Bolivian professional football club that currently plays in the Bolivian Primera División. Founded in 1925 in honor of Venezuelan military leader Simón Bolívar, it is the most successful and popular club in the history ...
: Founded in 1925, it was named in honor of the Libertador
Simón Bolívar, the team has won most of the tournaments national and international championships in the last 20 years, and is the largest team, by number of fans, of the country. In the year 1964 was a bad year, and it lost the category, playing the next year in the second category, but returning afterwards.
*
The Strongest : Founded in 1908 the club hosts some of its games and trains on their home stadium named Rafael Mendoza after Don Rafael Mendoza, one of the most important presidents of the club. In 1968 an airplane accident took the life of almost all the players, but Rafael Mendoza made many efforts that allowed the team to rise again as one of the most important in the country.
![Hernando Siles Stadium - La Paz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Hernando_Siles_Stadium_-_La_Paz.jpg)
*
La Paz F.C. : Founded in 1989, the club quickly rose through the ranks to become the third major club in the capital, only behind in popularity to the two well-established city rivals.
The city is host to several other teams that play in the first and second divisions such as:
*
Academia de Balompié Boliviano
Academia del Balompié Boliviano, commonly known as ABB, is a Bolivian football club based in La Paz
La Paz (), officially known as Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Spanish pronunciation: ), is the seat of government of the Plurinational State o ...
*
Always Ready
*
Chaco Petrolero
*
Club 31 de Octubre
*
Deportivo Municipal de La Paz
*
Fraternidad Tigres
Club Deportivo Familia Ticona, known as Deportivo FATIC, is a football club from El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altipl ...
*
Mariscal Braun
*
Universitario de La Paz
*Club Unión Maestranza
With the exception of Deportivo Municipal and Unión Maestranza, all the other teams play the majority of their games in the city stadium, the
Estadio Hernando Siles
Estadio Hernando Siles is a multi-purpose stadium in La Paz, Bolivia. It is the country's largest stadium, with a capacity of 41,143 seats. It is named after Hernando Siles Reyes, the 31st President of Bolivia (1926–1930).
The stadium is locat ...
, which also hosts the
national football team and international games. Always Ready frequently play at the
Estadio Rafael Mendoza which belongs to The Strongest, who rarely use the stadium due to its relatively small capacity.
Education
The city hosts some of the most important universities of the country:
Tourism
![Monolitos Miraflores La Paz Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Monolitos_Miraflores_La_Paz_Bolivia.jpg)
La Paz is an important cultural center of Bolivia. The city hosts several cathedrals belonging to the colonial times, such as the San Francisco Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral, this last one located on Murillo Square, which is also home of the political and administrative power of the country. Hundreds of different museums can be found across the city, the most notable ones on Jaén Street, which street design has been preserved from the Spanish days and is home of 10 different museums.
The home of the Bolivian government is located on Murillo Square and is known as "Palacio Quemado" (''Burnt Palace'') as it has been on fire several times. The palace has been restored many times since, but the name has remained untouched.
Principal attractions
Museums and cultural centers
![Tiwanacan Puma, Bolivia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Tiwanacan_Puma%2C_Bolivia.jpeg/1200px-Tiwanacan_Puma%2C_Bolivia.jpeg)
*The former home of
Pedro Domingo Murillo, martyr of the independence revolution of 1809, has been preserved and is now a museum. The house displays a collection of furniture, textiles, and art from colonial times.
*Museo Costumbrista: Displays ceramic dolls wearing traditional customs that show how was life in the early 19th century. Also on display are photos of old La Paz.
*Museo Nacional de Arqueología (''National Museum of Archeology''): Depicts a collection of artifacts of the
Tiawanaku culture.
*Museo del Litoral (''Museum of the Litoral Coastal Region''): Displays objects from the 1879 war in which Bolivia lost
its sea coast to
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
.
*Museo del Oro (''Gold Museum''): Depicts pre-Conquest works made of gold, silver and copper.
*Museo de Etnografía y Folklore (''Ethnography and Folkolore Museum''): Located in a house built during the late 18th century, it exhibits customs and art of two ethnic groups: Chipayas and Ayoreos.
*Museo del Charango (''Museum of Charango''): Located in Calle Linares, the museum displays an important variety of charangos. Other native instruments are displayed as well.
*Museo de Historia Natural (''Natural History Museum''): Exhibits on Bolivian paleontology, geology, zoology and botanical elements of interest.
*Casa Museo Marina Nuñez del Prado (''Marina Nuñez del Prado House Museum''): Displays Quechua and Aymara-theme sculptures by Bolivian artist Marina Nuñez del Prado.
*Museo Nacional de Arte (''National Art Museum''): Located in Calle Comercio, on a former palace built in 1775, displays works by Melchor Perez de Holguín and Marina Nuñez del Prado, among others.
*Mercado de Brujas (''Witches' Market''): Merchandise sold here includes herbs, remedies as well as other ingredients used in
Aymara
Aymara may refer to:
Languages and people
* Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language
** Aymara language, the main language within that family
** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...
traditions.
*Feria de Alasitas: This fair is celebrated for two weeks each year, beginning 24 January. The central figure is a little god of abundance known as
Ekeko, which means dwarf in Aymara.
*
Museo San Francisco Cultural Center
Churches and cathedrals
![Basilica de San Francisco La Paz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Basilica_de_San_Francisco_La_Paz.jpg)
*
Metropolitan Cathedral, built in 1835 and located next to the Presidential Palace, on Murillo Square;
*
San Francisco Church, founded in 1548 and rebuilt 1784.
Other attractions
*
Bolivian Presidential Palace, also known as "Burned Palace".
*Parque Urbano Central ''(Central Urban Park)''
*
Valle de la Luna (Bolivia)
*El Montículo
Food
Popular food from La Paz includes:
*Marraqueta
*Salteña
*Fricasé
*Picante Mixto
*Api and Pastel
*Llaucha
*Papa Rellena
*Ranga ranga
*Chairo
*Sandwich de Chola
*Anticucho
Local festivals
* January: ''Achocalla Festival:'' Occurs during the first week of January. The city of La Paz comes together to celebrate this religious festival with traditional dances, music, and a parade. In Bolivia's harvest calendar, Achocalla marks the time when potato fields begin to bloom. People dance the traditional folklore dance known as “tarqueada” during the festival.
* 24 January: ''
Alasitas'' is a yearly fair where people buy miniature gifts and praise the god of prosperity,
Ekeko. The fair begins every 24 January and lasts for a month.
* 2 February: ''
Virgen de Copacabana
The Virgen de Copacabana (literal translation: Virgin of Copacabana; figurative translation: Our Lady of Copacabana; variant: Blessed Virgin of the Candelaria, Our Lady of Copacabana) is the patron saint of Bolivia. She is venerated in Bolivia du ...
'', (Villa Copacabana)
* 1 May: ''San José Obrero'' (V. Nuevo Potosí)
* 3 May: ''Señor de la Santa Cruz'' (Calvario, Tacagua, Calacoto)
* 13 May: ''Virgen de Fátima'' (Villa Fátima)
* 14 May: ''San Isidro, Labrador'' (San Isidro)
* 17 May: ''Señor de la Sentencia'' (Villa Armonía)
* May: Jesus, ''Señor del Gran Poder'' (movible, Gran Poder) La Fiesta del Gran Poder occurs according to the Saint's calendar. Therefore, it happens on different dates every year. But the festival typically occurs during late May to early June. This festival pays homage to El Señor del Gran Poder. During the festival, over 30,000 dancers take the streets of La Paz performing dances with themes that represent both Aymara folktales and Catholic traditions. The dancers wear colorful homemade costumes. The Parade lasts all day throughout the night.
* 13 June: ''San Antonio de Padua'' (San Antonio)
* 24 June: ''San Juan Bautista'' (Valle Hermoso, San Juan)
* 29 June: ''San Pedro Apóstol'' (San Pedro)
* 16 July: ''Virgen del Carmen'', Patroness of Bolivia and the Armed Forces of the Nation Efemerides of La Paz
* 25 July: ''Apóstol Santiago'' (Munaypata, Pampahasi, Pasankeri, Periférica, Alto Delicias)
* 15 August: ''Virgen de Urqupiña'' (Urkupiña)
* 15 August: ''Virgen de la Asunción'' (Villa Victoria)
* 8 September: ''Virgen de las Nieves'' (V. Copacabana, M. Paredes, La Portada, Achachicala, Alto Irpavi, Cotahuma, Las Nieves)
* 8 September: ''
Virgen de los Remedios
The Virgin of Los Remedios ( es, La Virgen de los Remedios) or Our Lady of Los Remedios ( pt, Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, es, Nuestra Señora de los Remedios) is a title of the Virgin Mary developed by the Trinitarian Order, founded in the lat ...
'' (Miraflores)
* 14 September: ''Señor de la Exaltación'' (Obrajes, G. de Lima, Bajo Tejar, Vino Tinto)
* 24 September: ''Virgen de la Merced'' (Cota Cota)
* 7 October: ''Virgen del Rosario'' (El Rosario)
* November: ''Cristo Rey'' (Pura Pura)
* 4 December: ''Santa Barbara'' (Santa Bárbara, Llojeta)
* 8 December: ''Virgen de la Concepción'' (Kupini, Sopocachi, Achumani)
Transportation
![Avenida Kantutani](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Avenida_Kantutani.jpg)
Automobiles and
public transportation
Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typical ...
are the main means to get into the city. In March 2012, more than 1.5 million vehicles were registered. Heavy traffic is common in the city center and
traffic jams
Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic de ...
occur on peak hours.
Highways
![El Alto International Airport, New Terminal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/El_Alto_International_Airport%2C_New_Terminal.jpeg/1200px-El_Alto_International_Airport%2C_New_Terminal.jpeg)
The La Paz-El Alto Highway is a
toll road
A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road (almost always a controlled-access highway in the present day) for which a fee (or ''Toll (fee), toll'') is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically ...
that connects the city of La Paz with the neighboring city of
El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is today one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centers, with an estimat ...
. It is the city's main highway. It allows easy access to
El Alto International Airport
El Alto International Airport ( es, link=no, Aeropuerto Internacional El Alto) is an international airport serving La Paz, Bolivia. It is located in the city of El Alto, west of La Paz. At an elevation of , it is the highest international ...
. The highway runs 11,7 km and crosses the city of El Alto:
*
![DISCO BOLIVIA RUTA 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/DISCO_BOLIVIA_RUTA_3.png)
Autopista La Paz-El Alto/RN-3 (La Paz-El Alto Highway) – Connects La Paz with El Alto.
*
![A-1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/A-1.svg)
Autovía La Paz Oruro/A-1 (La Paz-Oruro Highway) – Connects La Paz with the cities of
Oruro
Oruro (Hispanicized spelling) or Uru Uru is a city in Bolivia with a population of 264,683 (2012 calculation), about halfway between La Paz and Sucre in the Altiplano, approximately above sea level.
It is Bolivia's fifth-largest city by pop ...
,
Patacamaya and
Caracollo
Caracollo (hispanicized spelling), Q'araqullu or Q'ara Qullu (Aymara ''q'ara'' bald, ''qullu'' mountain, "bald mountain") is a small town in Bolivia. It is situated in the Cercado Province of the Oruro Department. In 2010 it had an estimated po ...
. It then connects with Ruta Nacional 1/RN-1 (National Highway 1) heading south to the cities of
Potosí,
Camargo,
Tarija
Tarija or San Bernardo de la Frontera de Tarixa is a city in southern Bolivia. Founded in 1574, Tarija is the largest city and capital and municipality within the Tarija Department, with an airport ( Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport, (TJA)) off ...
.
The Southern District, one of La Paz's most affluent and commercial neighborhoods, is relatively separated from the rest of the city, including the
CBD. The Avenida Costanera and Avenida Kantutani (Costanera and Kantutani Avenues) connect the southern district with the rest of the metropolitan area.
Air
El Alto International Airport
El Alto International Airport ( es, link=no, Aeropuerto Internacional El Alto) is an international airport serving La Paz, Bolivia. It is located in the city of El Alto, west of La Paz. At an elevation of , it is the highest international ...
(IATA code: LPB) is La Paz's national and international airport and a principal
hub for
Línea Aérea Amaszonas
Compañía de Servicios de Transporte Aéreo Amaszonas S.A., usually shortened to Nella Bolivia, is an airline based in Bolivia, headquartered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra with its administrative center in La Paz. It operates scheduled and char ...
and
Transporte Aéreo Militar. It also serves as a focus city for
Boliviana de Aviación, Bolivia's
flag-carrier and largest airline. The airport is located in the city of
El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is today one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centers, with an estimat ...
and is () south-west of La Paz's city center. At an elevation of , it is the highest international airport and fifth highest commercial airport in the world. The runway has a length of . It is one of Bolivia's three main international gateways, along with
Jorge Wilstermann International Airport
Jorge Wilstermann International Airport ( es, Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Wilstermann, ) is a high elevation international airport serving Cochabamba, the capital of the Cochabamba Department of Bolivia. The facility is named after Jorge Wils ...
and
Viru Viru International Airport
Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra is Bolivia's largest international airport. Viru Viru handles domestic, regional, and international flights from Bolivia, North America, South America and Europe and is the hub for Bol ...
.
International carriers serving El Alto International Airport include
Avianca
Avianca S.A. ( acronym in Spanish for ''Aerovias del Continente Americano S.A.'', "Airways of the American Continent") is a Colombian airline. It has been the flag carrier of Colombia since December 5, 1919, when it was initially registered und ...
and
LATAM Airlines
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is an airline holding company headquartered in Santiago, Chile. It is considered the largest airline company in Latin America with subsidiaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru. The company filed for Ch ...
, which offer direct flights from La Paz to cities such as
Bogotá,
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
,
Santiago
Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whos ...
and
Cusco. However, most international traffic, including flights to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
, operated out of Viru Viru International Airport in
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra (; "Holy Cross of the Mountain Range"), commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the largest city in Bolivia and the capital of the Santa Cruz department.
Situated on the Pirai River in the eastern Tropical Lowlands of Bolivia ...
which is at a much lower altitude and is capable of handling larger aircraft.
Airport facilities include
ATMs, cafés and restaurants, car rentals,
duty-free shop
A duty-free shop (or store) is a retail outlet whose goods are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country, wh ...
s, and free
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wav ...
internet. Additionally, the airport supplies travelers with
oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...
for those who suffer from
altitude sickness
Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the harmful effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. People can respond to high altitude in different ways. Sympt ...
.
Bus
![Terminal de Buses de La Paz](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Terminal_de_Buses_de_La_Paz.jpg)
La Paz Bus Station, originally a bus and train station, was built by the French architect
Gustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (born Bonickhausen dit Eiffel; ; ; 15 December 1832 – 27 December 1923) was a French civil engineer. A graduate of École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, he made his name with various bridges for the French railway ...
. It is the main gateway for inter-city buses with several daily departures to all the main Bolivian cities, and routes to
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
and
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
. The city is connected by road with the city of
Oruro
Oruro (Hispanicized spelling) or Uru Uru is a city in Bolivia with a population of 264,683 (2012 calculation), about halfway between La Paz and Sucre in the Altiplano, approximately above sea level.
It is Bolivia's fifth-largest city by pop ...
from where there are routes to Sucre,
Potosí and the south of the country. Another highway branches off before Oruro to reach
Cochabamba
Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa; qu, Quchapampa) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and the fourth largest city in Bolivia, with a population of 630 ...
and
Santa Cruz. Roads to the west go to
Copacabana and
Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku ( es, Tiahuanaco or ) is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia near Lake Titicaca, about 70 kilometers from La Paz, and it is one of the largest sites in South America. Surface remains currently cover around 4 square kilo ...
, near
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca (; es, Lago Titicaca ; qu, Titiqaqa Qucha) is a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. By volume of water and by surface area, i ...
, and continue to
Cuzco
Cusco, often spelled Cuzco (; qu, Qusqu ()), is a city in Southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region and of the Cusco Province. The city is the seventh most populous in Peru; ...
, Peru via the border town of
Desaguadero. There are also roads north to get to
Yungas
The Yungas ( Aymara ''yunka'' warm or temperate Andes or earth, Quechua ''yunka'' warm area on the slopes of the Andes) is a bioregion of a narrow band of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from Peru and Bolivia, and extends int ...
crossing the
Andes Mountains.
Departures to smaller cities and towns within the department use informal stations located in Villa Fátima (departures to Los Yungas,
Beni
is a Japanese R&B singer, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label. In 2008, Arashiro left Avex Trax and transferred to Universal Music Japan where she started to perform as simply Beni (stylized as BENI).
She was initially best known fo ...
and
Pando), Upper San Pedro (for
Apolo) and near the General Cemetery (for Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, or via Tiwanaku to Desaguadero on the Peruvian border).
Cable car system
A system of urban transit
aerial cable cars called Mi Teleférico ("My Cable Car") was opened in 2014. Eight lines are in operation, and three more lines are in the planning stage. The initial three lines were built by the
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
n company
Doppelmayr. The first two lines (Red and Yellow) connected La Paz with
El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is today one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centers, with an estimat ...
. All stations have both a
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
name and an
Aymara
Aymara may refer to:
Languages and people
* Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language
** Aymara language, the main language within that family
** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...
name.
Communications and media
* The postal service is run by ''ECOBOL'' (National Company) which has its headquarters in La Paz. There are other companies offering courier and transport logistics courier nationally and internationally.
* The private telecommunications company'' '
Entel
The ''Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones'' (National Telecommunications Enterprise, or ENTel) was an Argentine state owned company which had the monopoly on public telecommunications in the country until its privatization in 1990.
Overview
It ...
is located in the city and provides telephony, Internet,
cell phone, data and voice services. The telephone cooperative Cotel is responsible for managing much of their phones and now offers Internet services and cable television among others.
* Area Code: 2
* Country Code: 591
* The main daily newspapers in circulation are: ''Página Siete'', ''La Razon'', ''El Diario'', ''La Prensa'', ''Jornada'' and ''El Alteño''. Other papers of local importance are: ''Extra'' and ''Gente''. There are also several other publications and weekly magazines.
* There are 18 television channels with offices in La Paz. Channel 7 is state property. The main ones are:
Unitel, ATB Bolivia, Red Uno,
Bolivision, Red PAT. Channel 13 is managed by the
Universidad Mayor de San Andres
Universidad (Spanish for "university") may refer to:
Places
* Universidad, San Juan, Puerto Rico
* Universidad (Madrid)
Football clubs
* Universidad SC, a Guatemalan football club that represents the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
...
. Two local companies offer cable television service as
Multivision and Cotel TV.
Water supply
The
water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...
of La Paz is threatened by the impact of climate change through the melting of glaciers. The city receives its drinking water from three water systems: El Alto, Achachicala and Pampahasi. La Paz shares the first and largest of these systems with its sister city
El Alto
El Alto (Spanish for "The Heights") is the second-largest city in Bolivia, located adjacent to La Paz in Pedro Domingo Murillo Province on the Altiplano highlands. El Alto is today one of Bolivia's fastest-growing urban centers, with an estimat ...
. All three systems are fed by glaciers and rivers in the
Cordillera
A cordillera is an extensive chain and/or network system of mountain ranges, such as those in the west coast of the Americas. The term is borrowed from Spanish, where the word comes from , a diminutive of ('rope').
The term is most commonly u ...
mountain range. 20-28 % of its water is fed by glaciers, the remainder coming from rainfall and snowmelt. The glaciers recede as a result of climate change, initially increasing water availability during the dry season, but ultimately threatening a substantial decrease in dry season run-off when they completely disappear. A small glacier, the
Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya ( Mollo language for "''bridge of winds''" or "''winds meeting point''", Aymara for "cold road") is a mountain in the Cordillera Real, one of the mountain ranges of the Cordillera Oriental, itself a range of the Bolivian Andes. Its ...
near El Alto, already disappeared in 2008. The El Alto system receives its water from the Tuni Dam and two water channels. These channels divert water that flows from the Zongo Glacier on the slopes of
Huayna Potosi and from
Condoriri North of El Alto.
The 2.9 km long Zongo glacier retreats at a rate of about 18 meters per year. The Tuni and Condoriri glaciers have lost 39% of their area between 1983 and 2006. According to a study by the
Stockholm Environment Institute
The Stockholm Environment Institute, or SEI, is a non-profit, independent research and policy institute specialising in sustainable development and environmental issues, with seven affiliate offices around the world. SEI works on climate change ...
(SEI), the El Alto system is the least resilient against the impact of climate change among the three systems. The study says that reducing water distribution losses is the most effective short-term strategy to deal with
water scarcity
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical or economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is whe ...
.
New water sources further to the North in the Cordillera include the Khara Kota and Taypicacha, but they are expensive to develop and their water supply is also affected by glacier melt.
International relations
La Paz is part of the
Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities from 12 October 1982.
La Paz is also a member of Merco Ciudades, a group of 180 cities within
Mercosur
The Southern Common Market, commonly known by Spanish abbreviation Mercosur, and Portuguese Mercosul, is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994. Its full members are Arge ...
, since 1999.
Twin towns – sister cities
La Paz is
twinned with:
*
Asunción
Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay.
The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay o ...
, Paraguay
*
Bogotá, Colombia
*
Bonn
The federal city of Bonn ( lat, Bonna) is a city on the banks of the Rhine in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a population of over 300,000. About south-southeast of Cologne, Bonn is in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ru ...
, Germany
*
Canelones, Uruguay
*
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. , Cuba
*
Libertador (Caracas), Venezuela
*
Montevideo, Uruguay
*
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
, Russia
*
Quito, Ecuador
*
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a ...
, Brazil
*
São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
, Brazil
*
Taipei
Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
, Taiwan
*
Zaragoza
Zaragoza, also known in English as Saragossa,''Encyclopædia Britannica'"Zaragoza (conventional Saragossa)" is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It lies by the Ebro river and its tributari ...
, Spain
Notable people
![DanielNunezdelPrado1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/DanielNunezdelPrado1.JPG)
*
Alcides Arguedas (1879–1946), writer and philosopher
*
Yolanda Bedregal (1916–1999), poet and novelist, known as '' Yolanda de Bolivia ''
*
Rodolfo Illanes (1958–2016), lawyer and politician
*
Carlos Mesa
Carlos Diego de Mesa Gisbert (; born 12 August 1953) is a Bolivian historian, journalist, and politician who served as the 63rd president of Bolivia from 2003 to 2005. As an independent politician, he previously served as the 37th vice pres ...
(born 1953), former president of Bolivia
*
Víctor Montoya (born 1958), writer
*
Daniel Nuñez del Prado (1840–1891), Secretary of State, freedom fighter and doctor
*
Wilfred von Oven
Wilfred von Oven (4 May 1912 – 13 June 2008) was a German journalist, publicist and civil servant who served as the Press Adjutant of Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels between 1943 and the German capitulation in 1945.
Biography
Wilfred vo ...
(1912–2008), press officer at the Reich Propaganda Ministry, Journalist
*
Verona Pooth
Verona Pooth ( née Feldbusch; born 30 April 1968) is a German television personality, model, and occasional actress. In 1993, she was Miss Germany and Miss Intercontinental and represented Germany at the Miss Universe 1993 contest.
Early life ...
born, '' Feldbusch '' (born 1968), German presenter and businesswoman
*
Andrés de Santa Cruz (1792–1865), President of Peru and Bolivia
*
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (21 June 1925 – 19 October 2005) was a Bolivian politician who served as the 49th president of Bolivia in 1969 and as the 31st vice president of Bolivia from 1966 to 1969.
Background and early life
Born in La ...
(1925–2005), lawyer, politician and former President of Bolivia
*
Alberto Villalpando (born 1940), composer
*
Emilio Villanueva (1882–1970), architect
*
Luis Arce
Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (; born 28 September 1963), often referred to as Lucho, is a Bolivian banker, economist, and politician serving as the 67th president of Bolivia since 2020. A member of the Movement for Socialism, he previously serve ...
(1963), politician
Image gallery
File:LaPaz Plaza Pedro Di Murillo 10.2004.jpg, Plaza Murillo
The Plaza Murillo is the central plaza of the city of La Paz and the open space most connected to the political life of Bolivia. Prominent buildings on the plaza include the Presidential Palace, National Congress of Bolivia, and the Cathedral of L ...
with Government and Legislative Palaces in the background
File:Lake Titicaca on the Andes from Bolivia.jpg, Titicaca Lake near La Paz with the Andes in the background
File:La Paz-Calle Jaen.jpg, Calle Jaén.
File:La Paz-center.jpg, Downtown La Paz view.
File:La Paz - Bolivia.png, La Paz, Bolivia
File:La Paz, Bolivia.png, La Paz, Bolivia
File:La Paz 01.jpg, La Paz, Bolivia
See also
*
1008 La Paz
*
Paceña
References
External links
Municipality of La PazWeather in La PazBolivia Weekly
{{Authority control
Capitals in South America
Populated places established in 1548
Populated places in La Paz Department (Bolivia)
1548 establishments in South America
1548 establishments in the Spanish Empire