BOLIVIA, is located in central South America, bordered by:

•  The north and east by the Federative Republic of Brazil.
•  To the southeast by the Republic of Paraguay.
•  South to Argentina.
•  The southwest to the Republic of Chile.
•  West with the Republic of Peru.

It is located at:

•  Parallel 9 degrees 38 minutes and 22 degrees 53 minutes south latitude.
•  Estern Hemisphere.
•  Meridian 57 degrees 26 minutes and 69 degrees 38 minutes west of Greenwich.
•  It covers 13 degrees or geography.

Bolivia has an area of 1,098,581 square kilometers and ranks fifth in land area among South American countries. It is divided int 9 departments located in three geographical areas:

ANDEAN ZONE
La Paz, Oruro, Potosi.
AREA VALLEYS
Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Tarija.
ZONE OF THE PLAINS
Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando.

According to the latest 2001 census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics, the number of inhabitants in 2001 was of 8,274,325. However, that same government entity for the year 2010 projected that the number of inhabitants will be: 10,426,154.

The most populous departments are: Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba, where 70% of the population is concentrated.

Bolivia is a unitary social state of Multinational Law Social Community, free, independent, sovereign, democratic, intercultural, decentralized and autonomous. Bolivia is based on plurality and a political, economic, legal, cultural and linguistic pluralism within the integration process of the country. Article 1 C.P.E.


It is a presidential state.

• Current President: Mr. Juan Evo Morales Ayma
• Vice Present: Mr. Alvaro Garcia Linera

The state capital is the city of Sucre is located in the department of Chuquisaca and the seat of government is the city of La Paz, located in the department of the same name.

Since the resignation of former President Gonzal Sanchez de Lozada in October 2003 there have been a number of changes in Bolivia.

Politically, for the first time in the history of Bolivia an indigenous union leader assumes the presidency of the republic, by popular mandate. This constitutes a unique opportunity to recognize indigenous sectors excluded from economic development, within a new institutional framework.

The challenge is raised, Bolivia must obtain a conjunction between the economic, political, social issue and build a more equitable and social inclusion for "Everyone"

From colonial times to the present day the basis of the Bolivian economy has been mining. But in recent decades there where made considerable investments in oil and natural gas, with good results.

The tw mentioned economic activities, are complemented with the agricultural industry, cement and manufacturing.

Currently, the Bolivian government is projecting the exploitation and industrialization of existing Lithium in the Salar de Uyuni, in a sustainable manner.

The Salar de Uyuni counts on reserves of 5.4 million tones of lithium, which can be used to supply the worldwide automotive industry for over 100 years.

The official languages of the Bolivian State are the Castillian Spanish and all other indigenous languages. The Castillian Spanish is the language most spoken in the entire republic.

"The State respects and guarantees freedom of religion and spiritual beliefs, according to their worldviews. The state is independent of religion. "Article 4 of the Political Constitution of the State.

Most of Bolivia's population professes Catholicism. It also maintains the worship of origin deities, one of the most important is the "Pachamama". Coexistence of both faiths have led to a cultural and religious syncretism, which can be tangible in several festivals, one of the most important is that of "Alasitas" worship the God of Abundance "The Ekeko", which takes held every January 24 in the city of La Paz.

The official currency is the Bolivian (Bs) coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 bolivian, and tickets are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 bolivian.

Bolivia is born to live independently on August 6, 1825 and national anniversary is celebrated every August 6, with various civic events.

National holidays are:

• New Year: 1st. January.
• Birth of the New State of Bolivia, January 22th.
• Carnival Monday and Tuesday (moving between February-March).
• Easter: Friday (moving between March and April).
• Labor Day: 1st. May.
• Corpus Christi: Thursday (moving between May and June).
• Aymara’s New Year: June 21th.
• Independence Day: August 6th.
• All Saints Day: November 2th.
• December 25th: Christmas.

The Departmental holidays only apply to the department on the appointed day, continue normal activities within the entire territory of the republic.

• Oruro February 10th.
• Tarija: April 15th.
• Chuquisaca (Sucre): May 25th.
• La Paz: July 16th.
• Cochabamba: September 14th.
• Santa Cruz: September 24th.
• Pando: September 24th.
• Potosi: November 10th.
• Beni: November 18th.

4 hours less in relation to the meridian of Greenwich (-4GMT)

Private Sector: Monday to Friday:
Morning hours. 8:30 to 12:30
Afternoon hours. 14:30 to 18:30

Some companies work on Saturday morning:

Public Sector: Monday to Friday
Morning hours. 8:30 to 12:30
Afternoon hours. 14:30 to 18:30

Banking Sector: Monday to Friday
Hours. 9:00 to 16:00
Saturday
Hours. 9:00 to 13:00

220v across the country, less in the department of La Paz where they use 110v and 220v.

National Prefix: + 591

Departmental prefix:
La Paz, Oruro, Potosi: 2
Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz: 3
Cochabamba, Sucre and Tarija: 4

Internet domain: .bo

The climate is diverse and varies according to geographical areas and altitude relative to sea level. The four geographical areas in which the country is divided are:

MOUNTAINOUS AND ANDEAN ZONE
The weather is very cold and dry, is located 6,000 meters above sea level.

MOUNTAINOUS AND HIGHLANDS ZONE
The climate is cold and dry most of the year, rain in summer, is located at 3000 meters above sea level.

ZONE OF THE VALLEYS AND YUNGAS
The climate is temperate and tropical, is located 2000 meters above sea level.

ZONE OF THE EASTERN PLAINS
The climate is tropical and rainfall throughout the year. It is 300 meters above sea level.
The stations are not very strong because of its proximity to the line of Ecuador.

Spring: September to November.
Summer: from December to February (rainy season)
Fall: March to June
Winter: June to August

Potosi City	Departament Potosi	Cultural
Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos	Departament Santa Cruz	Cultural
Sucre City	Departament Chuquisaca	Cultural
Fort of Samaipata	Departament Santa Cruz	Cultural
Tiwanaku Ruin	Departament La Paz	Cultural
Noel Kempff Mercado Park	Departament Santa Cruz	Natural
Oruro Carnival	Departament Oruro	Cultural