| One of only two land-locked countries in | | | | factions. This weakness led to disastrous |
| South America, Bolivia is a mountainous | | | | results during the late 1800s when Chile |
| country. Here is an overview of the | | | | annexed the entire area of coastline held by |
| countryThe official name of Bolivia is the | | | | Bolivia on the Pacific Ocean. Bolivia has |
| Republic of Bolivia. Bolivia covers an area | | | | never recovered the land in question and has |
| of 425,000 square miles, a surprisingly large | | | | suffered economically for it.The people of |
| country. The capital is La Paz, which has a | | | | Bolivia are known as Bolivians. The total |
| population of just over 800,000 people. Santa | | | | population for the country is 8.973 million |
| Cruz is the largest city by population with | | | | as of the last census in 2004. Growth rate is |
| over 1.4 million residents.The terrain of | | | | a strong 2.7 percent per year, meaning an |
| Bolivia is one of high mountains and plains | | | | additional 230,000 people may have been added |
| with some elevations so high as to result in | | | | from 2004 to 2005.The ethnic breakdown of |
| altitude sickness. La Paz, in fact, is | | | | Bolivians is 62 percent indigenous and 38 |
| located at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet | | | | percent European and mixed race. The people |
| above sea level. This makes the highest | | | | primarily adhere to the Roman Catholic faith, |
| capital city in the world. The climate varies | | | | but a small Protestant group of adherents is |
| from arid in the high elevations to tropical | | | | present. The official language is Spanish, |
| in lower locations.Historically, Bolivia was | | | | with Quechua, Aymara and Guarani indigenous |
| considered to be part of Peru during the | | | | languages also used. The literacy rate is 85 |
| reign of the colonial Spanish. When Spain was | | | | percent. Life expectancy figures are |
| weekend through wars with the French, | | | | currently unknown.Bolivia is a country that |
| independence was sought by many of their | | | | seems to sway between chaos and moves towards |
| colonies. In 1809, the country known today as | | | | stability. The future of the country is hard |
| Bolivia declared independence, naming itself | | | | to predict as there appears to be no |
| after a general of the same name. It took | | | | steadying influence in the region.Richard |
| another 16 years to actually gain autonomy | | | | Monk is with - a site with facts about |
| from the Spanish.Independence did not bring | | | | everything. Visit us to read more about |
| peace or stability to Bolivia. The country | | | | Bolivia. |
| was rife with corruption and coups by various | | | | |