La Paz

Coordinates: 16°29′45″S 68°08′00″W / 16.49583°S 68.13333°W / -16.49583; -68.13333
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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

La Paz
Mount Illimani
Bolivia Time)
 • Summer (DST)(Not Observed)
Postal code
0201-0220
Area code2
ISO 3166 codeBO-L
HDI (2016)0.827 (Very High)[3]
Websitewww.lapaz.bo

La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz, is the seat of government of the

La Paz Department
.

The city, in west-central Bolivia 68 km (42 mi) southeast of

highest capital city in the world.[6][7] Due to its altitude, La Paz has an unusual subtropical highland climate
, with rainy summers and dry winters.

La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by the Spanish

indigenous leader and independence activist Túpac Katari 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, which gained the freedom of South American states in 1821.[9]

As the seat of the government of Bolivia, La Paz is the site of the Palacio Quemado, the presidential palace. It is also the seat of the Bolivian legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and numerous government departments and agencies. The constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre, retains the judicial power.[10] 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 and serves as the headquarters for numerous Bolivian companies and industries.[11]

La Paz is also an important cultural center of

viewing points. La Paz is home to the largest urban cable car network in the world.[14]

Name and toponyms

Calle Jaén in the historic center of La Paz, contains well-preserved Spanish Colonial buildings.

The Spanish conquistadors founded the city in 1548 with the name Nuestra Señora de La Paz (meaning

Our Lady of Peace). The name commemorated the restoration of peace following the insurrection of Gonzalo Pizarro and fellow conquistadors four years earlier against Blasco Núñez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru.[15]

In 1825, after the decisive victory of the republicans at Ayacucho over the Spanish army in the course of the Spanish American wars of independence, 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;[16] Chuqi Yapu means 'gold farm', probably due to the exploitation of gold nuggets in the small rivers of the place;[17] spelling differences due to Aymara writing compared to Spanish transliteration) in the Aymara language, leading former President of Bolivia Evo Morales to suggest renaming the city to "Chuquiago Marka" in a speech in 2017.[18][19]

History

View of La Paz between 1909 and 1920

This area had been the site of an Inca city on a major trading route.

Although 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.[15]

Control over the former

Inca lands had been entrusted to Pedro de la Gasca 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.[20]

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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] This event is known as the Primer Grito Libertario de América and brought about the Bolivian War of Independence
.

Plaza Murrillo, the city's main square, seen in 1987.

Pedro Domingo Murillo was hanged at the Plaza de los Españoles several months later, on 29 January 1810.[citation needed] 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.

In 1898, La Paz was made the

Oruro, and resulting shifts in the distribution of economic and political power among various national elites.[21]

The

Geography

La Paz is characterized by its mountainous geography, the snow-capped Illimani dominates the city's skyline

La Paz is in the valleys of the Andes, close to the Eastern split of the Altiplano region. The metropolitan area is near to the Cordillera Real range, which includes such notable mountains as

Chachakumani, Chearoco, and Ancohuma
.

La Paz is built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River (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.

An earthquake in July 1994 rated at 8.2 struck 200 miles (322 km) 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 causing serious damage and over 50 deaths.[23]

Climate

Due to its geographical location and altitude, La Paz has an unusual climate with rainy summers, dry winters and little temperature seasonality
La Paz (Laikakota Park)
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
126
 
 
19
7
 
 
81
 
 
19
7
 
 
68
 
 
19
7
 
 
27
 
 
19
6
 
 
8.9
 
 
19
5
 
 
7.9
 
 
18
3
 
 
5.3
 
 
17
3
 
 
12
 
 
18
4
 
 
25
 
 
19
5
 
 
38
 
 
20
6
 
 
44
 
 
20
7
 
 
82
 
 
20
8
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
4.9
 
 
65
45
 
 
3.2
 
 
66
45
 
 
2.7
 
 
66
45
 
 
1.1
 
 
67
43
 
 
0.4
 
 
66
40
 
 
0.3
 
 
64
38
 
 
0.2
 
 
63
37
 
 
0.5
 
 
65
39
 
 
1
 
 
66
41
 
 
1.5
 
 
68
43
 
 
1.7
 
 
69
45
 
 
3.2
 
 
68
46
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

At more than 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) above sea level, higher parts of La Paz have a subalpine subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cwc), bordering on a tundra climate (Köppen: ET). At this altitude, night-time temperatures range from cold to very cold. Snow flurries can occur in winter, especially at dawn and usually melts before noon. Despite being located only 16 degrees from the equator, this part of the city has average temperatures similar to that of cities such as Bergen, Norway or Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.

Temperatures in central La Paz, at 3,600 meters (11,811 feet), and in the Zona Sur (Southern Zone), at 3,250 m (10,663 ft) above sea level are warmer and are classified as subtropical highland climates (Köppen: Cwb).[24] Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructive mudslides. At an altitude of 3,250 meters, in the southern part of the city, the wettest month is January with a monthly average of 114 mm (4.5 in), and the driest is July with 8 mm (0.3 in).

The whole city has rainy summers and dry winters. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March. Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructive mudslides. The wettest month is January with a monthly average of 100–140 mm (3.9–5.5 in) of precipitation, and the driest months are June and July with around 5 mm (0.2 in) of precipitation.

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.[25]

Climate data for El Alto, Bolivia (El Alto International Airport, elevation 4,058 m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 25.4
(77.7)
22.8
(73.0)
25.1
(77.2)
22.9
(73.2)
24.0
(75.2)
20.0
(68.0)
23.0
(73.4)
21.0
(69.8)
23.0
(73.4)
23.0
(73.4)
24.2
(75.6)
22.0
(71.6)
25.4
(77.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 14.3
(57.7)
14.3
(57.7)
14.2
(57.6)
14.4
(57.9)
14.4
(57.9)
14.0
(57.2)
13.5
(56.3)
13.7
(56.7)
15.3
(59.5)
15.3
(59.5)
17.0
(62.6)
15.7
(60.3)
15.0
(59.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.3
(48.7)
9.0
(48.2)
8.9
(48.0)
8.8
(47.8)
8.2
(46.8)
7.3
(45.1)
6.8
(44.2)
8.2
(46.8)
8.7
(47.7)
10.0
(50.0)
10.5
(50.9)
9.7
(49.5)
8.8
(47.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.4
(39.9)
4.4
(39.9)
3.6
(38.5)
1.0
(33.8)
−1.9
(28.6)
−4.3
(24.3)
−4.4
(24.1)
−3
(27)
−1.0
(30.2)
1.5
(34.7)
2.1
(35.8)
3.6
(38.5)
0.5
(32.9)
Record low °C (°F) −3.3
(26.1)
−3.3
(26.1)
−2.7
(27.1)
−4.7
(23.5)
−10.3
(13.5)
−12.4
(9.7)
−11.9
(10.6)
−10
(14)
−10
(14)
−5.4
(22.3)
−5
(23)
−2.8
(27.0)
−12.4
(9.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 133.7
(5.26)
104.7
(4.12)
71.7
(2.82)
31.7
(1.25)
14.3
(0.56)
5.1
(0.20)
7.1
(0.28)
15.2
(0.60)
35.5
(1.40)
38.1
(1.50)
50.5
(1.99)
94.9
(3.74)
602.5
(23.72)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 20.7 15.8 14.2 9.8 3.6 2.8 2.8 5.1 8.2 10.4 11.5 15.5 120.3
Average snowy days 0.07 0.0 0.0 0.03 0.0 0.03 0.13 0.67 0.37 0.17 0.17 0.03 1.67
Average
relative humidity
(%)
66 72 67 59 48 42 43 42 48 49 51 60 54
Mean monthly sunshine hours 179.8 155.4 148.8 165.0 229.4 240.0 235.6 226.3 192.0 179.8 171.0 180.0 2,303.1
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.8 5.5 4.8 5.5 7.4 8.0 7.6 7.3 6.4 5.8 5.7 6.0 6.3
Source 1: Deutscher Wetterdienst,[26] Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia (snowy days 1981–2010)[27]
Source 2: Meteo Climat (extremes 1942–present)[28]
Climate data for La Paz (Laikakota Park), elevation: 3,650 m, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1945–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 26.5
(79.7)
25.5
(77.9)
26.0
(78.8)
25.0
(77.0)
25.0
(77.0)
23.8
(74.8)
23.1
(73.6)
24.3
(75.7)
26.6
(79.9)
26.5
(79.7)
27.1
(80.8)
27.2
(81.0)
27.2
(81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.5
(65.3)
18.7
(65.7)
18.9
(66.0)
19.2
(66.6)
19.1
(66.4)
17.8
(64.0)
17.4
(63.3)
18.4
(65.1)
19.0
(66.2)
19.8
(67.6)
20.4
(68.7)
20.0
(68.0)
18.9
(66.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)
13.0
(55.4)
13.0
(55.4)
12.7
(54.9)
11.8
(53.2)
10.5
(50.9)
10.1
(50.2)
11.0
(51.8)
11.9
(53.4)
13.0
(55.4)
13.7
(56.7)
13.7
(56.7)
12.3
(54.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)
7.3
(45.1)
7.2
(45.0)
6.3
(43.3)
4.6
(40.3)
3.3
(37.9)
2.8
(37.0)
3.7
(38.7)
4.8
(40.6)
6.2
(43.2)
7.0
(44.6)
7.5
(45.5)
5.7
(42.3)
Record low °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7)
2.0
(35.6)
1.1
(34.0)
0.6
(33.1)
−2.0
(28.4)
−6.0
(21.2)
−2.8
(27.0)
−5.0
(23.0)
−0.8
(30.6)
0.0
(32.0)
0.5
(32.9)
1.0
(33.8)
−6.0
(21.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 125.5
(4.94)
81.0
(3.19)
67.5
(2.66)
27.1
(1.07)
8.9
(0.35)
7.9
(0.31)
5.3
(0.21)
12.1
(0.48)
24.5
(0.96)
37.8
(1.49)
43.9
(1.73)
82.3
(3.24)
523.8
(20.62)
Average precipitation days 21.3 17.0 15.4 8.6 3.5 2.2 2.1 3.9 6.7 10.7 11.4 16.1 119.0
Average
relative humidity
(%)
72.0 72.2 70.5 66.2 54.8 48.3 50.4 52.0 58.1 56.5 58.8 64.3 60.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.4 158.4 167.9 187.6 245.7 238.3 240.9 250.1 232.0 215.5 181.5 171.2 2,434.5
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.0 5.9 5.9 6.6 8.2 8.2 8.8 8.5 8.2 7.4 6.8 6.0 7.1
Source: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia[27]

Districts and neighborhoods

La Paz's districts
# District Population Area (km2) Type Map
1 Mallasa 5,082 32,68 Urbano
2 Zona Sur 127,228 64,15 Urbano
3 San Antonio 115,659 22,59 Urbano
4 Periférica 159,123 26,05 Urbano
5 Max Paredes 164,566 13,31 Urbano
6 Centro 64,272 5,22 Urbano
7 Cotahuma 153,655 16,10 Urbano
23 Zongo Rural
22 Hampaturi Rural
La Paz's neighborhoods
# District Map Neighborhoods Main streets
1 Mallasa Amor de Dios • Mallasa • Muela del Diablo • Mallasilla • Jupapina Carretera principal Rio abajo
2 Zona Sur Obrajes • Bella Vista • Bolonia • Irpavi • Calacoto • Cota Cota • Achumani • Ovejuyo • Koani • La Florida • Seguencoma • San Miguel Avenida Ballivián
3 San Antonio San Antonio • Villa Copacabana • Pampahasi • Valle Hermoso • Kupini • Villa Armonía • Callapa, •San Isidro Avenida cd del niño
4 Periférica Achachicala • Chuquiaguillo • Villa Fátima • Vino Tinto •5 Dedos • Santiago de Lacaya • Rosasani Avenida Grl Juan Jose Torres
5 Max Paredes Munaypata • La Portada • El Tejar • Gran Poder • Obispo Indaburu • Chamoco Chico • Munaypata • Pura Pura • Ciudadela Ferroviaria Avenida Naciones Unidas
6 Zona Centro Casco Urbano Central • San Jorge • Miraflores • Barrio Gráfico • San Sebastián • Santa Bárbara • Parque Urbano Central Avenida Arce • Avenida 16 de Julio
7 Cotahuma Sopocachi • Alto Sopocachi • Pasankeri • Tembladerani • Alpacoma • Belén • Tacagua • San Pedro • Bajo Llojeta Avenida Buenos Aires

Main neighborhoods and zones

San Jorge
Alliance Française and the Dante Alighieri Society
are also located in this modern neighborhood.
Sopocachi
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.
The Paseo del Prado, one of the main throughfares in the city
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, which is home to the Government Palace and the National Congress.
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
(capacity of 45,000 people).
Northern District
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
, and the "MegaCenter", La Paz's biggest shopping mall.

Cityscape

View of La Paz at sunset, from the "Killi Killi" lookout.

Colonial architecture

Palace of Justice in central La Paz.
Municipal Theatre of La Paz.

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

The economy of La Paz has improved greatly in recent years,[when?] 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

The Hernando Siles Stadium

La Paz is the home of some of the biggest football teams in Bolivia.

  • Club Bolívar : 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. The year 1964 was a bad year, as it was relegated from the top division, playing the next year in the second division. But it soon returned to the top flight.
  • 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.
  • 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:

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, 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:

Foundation University World Ranking 2012 (CSIC Webometrics)[30] Latin American Ranking 2012 (CSIC Webometrics)[31] Academic Production(Ranking Scimago Lab) National Ranking[30] Logo Web
1830-10-25
Universidad Mayor de San Andrés
UMSA Estatal 2266 182 2 UMSA
1994-03-21
Universidad Católica Boliviana
San Pablo
UCB Privada 3449 308 3 UCB
Universidad Central de Bolivia UNICEN Privada 4919 489 5 UNICEN
Universidad Privada del Valle UPV Privada 7686 757 8 UPV
UP Boliviana UPB Privada 8206 822 9 Universidad Privada Boliviana
1950 Escuela Militar de Ingeniería EMI Estatal 10670 1103 13 EMI
Universidad Salesiana de Bolivia Privada 11280 1174 16 Salesiana
Universidad Nur Bolivia Privada 12461 1333 18 NUR
Universidad Loyola Privada 13398 1499 20 Loyola
Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar Bolivia UASB Estatal 13418 1506 21 UASB

Tourism

Tiwanaku Square in front of the football stadium
The Witches' Market in the city center, a popular spot for tourists

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

Local shops along Linares Street, a popular tourist spot in the city center
  • 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.
  • 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.
    The Palacio Quemado next to the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
  • 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 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

The Basilica of San Francisco, built in 1743

Other attractions

Food

Traditional plato paceño consisting of lima beans, potatoes, white corn and fried cheese.

Popular food from La Paz includes:

  • Marraqueta
  • Plato Paceño
  • Salteña
  • Fricasé
  • Picante Mixto
  • Api and Pastel
  • Llaucha
  • Papa Rellena
  • Ranga ranga
  • Chairo
  • Sandwich de Chola
  • Anticucho

Local festivals

The Alasitas yearly fair, where people buy miniature gifts and pray to the God of prosperity, Ekeko
  • 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. In 2017, it has been included into the Intangible Cultural World Heritage of UNESCO.[32]
  • 2 February: Virgen de Copacabana, (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: Santísima Trinidad del Señor Jesús del Gran Poder (movible, Gran Poder) La Fiesta del Gran Poder occurs on Trinity Sunday. 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. In 2019, it has been included into the Intangible Cultural World Heritage of UNESCO.[33]
  • 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
    (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

Rush hour traffic on Mariscal Santa Cruz Avenue in the city center

Automobiles and

public transportation are the main means to get into the city. In March 2012, more than 1.5 million vehicles were registered.[34] Heavy traffic is common in the city center and traffic jams
occur on peak hours.

Highways

The La Paz-El Alto Highway is a toll road that connects the city of La Paz with the neighboring city of El Alto. It is the city's main highway. It allows easy access to El Alto International Airport. The highway runs 11,7 km and crosses the city of El Alto:

The main toll of the La Paz - El Alto highway connects both neighboring cities
  • Autopista La Paz-El Alto/RN-3 (La Paz-El Alto Highway) – Connects La Paz with El Alto.
  • Oruro, Patacamaya and Caracollo. It then connects with Ruta Nacional 1/RN-1 (National Highway 1) heading south to the cities of Potosí, Camargo, Tarija
    .

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

flag-carrier and largest airline. The airport is located in the city of El Alto and is (13 km) south-west of La Paz's city center. At an elevation of 4,061 meters (13,323 feet), it is the highest international airport and fifth highest commercial airport in the world.[35] The runway has a length of 4,000 meters (2.5 mi). It is one of Bolivia's three main international gateways, along with Jorge Wilstermann International Airport and Viru Viru International Airport
.

International carriers serving El Alto International Airport include Avianca and LATAM Airlines, which offer direct flights from La Paz to cities such as Bogotá, Lima, and Santiago. However, most international traffic, including flights to Europe, operated out of Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra which is at a much lower altitude and is capable of handling larger aircraft.

Additionally, the airport supplies travelers with oxygen for those who suffer from altitude sickness.

Bus

The La Paz Bus Station

La Paz Bus Station, originally a bus and train station, was built by the French architect

Andes Mountains
.

Departures to smaller cities and towns within the department use informal stations located in Villa Fátima (departures to Los Yungas,

Apolo
) and near the General Cemetery (for Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, or via Tiwanaku to Desaguadero on the Peruvian border).

Cable car system

The Mi Teleférico transit network is the largest aerial cable car urban transit system in the world.

A system of urban transit

Doppelmayr. The first two lines (Red and Yellow) connected La Paz with El Alto. All stations have both a Spanish name and an Aymara
name.

Cable car system La Paz
Line Length Travel time Stations opened
Red Line 2.4 km 10 min 3 May 2014
Yellow Line 3.9 km 13.5 min 4 September 2014
Green Line 3.7 km 16.6 min 4 December 2014
Blue Line 4.7 km 17 min 5 March 2017
Orange Line 2.6 km 10 min 4 September 2017
White Line 2.9 km 13.1 min 4 March 2018
Sky Blue Line 2.6 km 11.8 min 4 July 2018
Purple Line 4.3 km 16.2 min 3 September 2018

Communications and media

Water supply

La Paz gets its main water supply from nearby lakes fed by the glaciers of the Andes Mountains

The

Huayna Potosi and from Condoriri North of El Alto.[36] The 2.9 km long Zongo glacier retreats at a rate of about 18 meters per year.[37] The Tuni and Condoriri glaciers have lost 39% of their area between 1983 and 2006. According to a study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (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.[36][38]
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[39] from 12 October 1982.

La Paz is also a member of Merco Ciudades, a group of 180 cities within Mercosur,[40] since 1999.

Twin towns – sister cities

La Paz is twinned with:[41]

Notable people

Daniel Nuñez del Prado 1865
  • Plaza Murillo with Government and Legislative Palaces in the background
    Plaza Murillo with Government and Legislative Palaces in the background
  • Titicaca Lake near La Paz with the Andes in the background
    Titicaca Lake
    near La Paz with the Andes in the background
  • Calle Jaén.
    Calle Jaén.
  • Buildings in La Paz
    Buildings in La Paz
  • La Paz at night
    La Paz at night

See also

References

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  2. ^ "TelluBase—BoliviaFact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)" (PDF). Tellusant. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Informe Nacional sobre Desarrollo Humano Bolivia 2016". Archived from the original on 3 April 2016.
  4. ^ "La Paz (Municipality, Bolivia) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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  7. ^ "The Incredible Mountain City of La Paz, Bolivia". amusingplanet.com. Amusing Planet. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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  13. ^ "Top 10 Nightlife Cities". travel.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic. 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
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  16. ^ www.katari.org Archived 1 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine (Aymara – Spanish) Marka: Pueblo, ciudad.
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  22. ^ Colanzi, Liliana (18 April 2015). "La rebelión de las cholas". El País. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023 – via elpais.com.
  23. ^ Enever, Andrew (21 February 2002). "Fifty dead in shock Bolivian flood". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Climate: La Paz (altitude: 3610 m) – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
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  31. ^ CSIC (15 August 2009). "Bolivia: Ranking Latinoamerica". Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
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