Welcome to Bolivia "Even with all of the amazing sights to see, my favourite part of the project was our weekend football games against the rival school and the parties afterwards. I really made some great friends!" Bolivia is situated between Peru and Brazil. The landlocked country is the Tibet of the Americas the highest and most isolated of the Latin American republics. It is also the most indigenous country on the continent, with more than 50% of the population maintaining traditional values and beliefs. La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, looks like a moon crater. The city is 2.5 miles above sea level, situated on a canyon floor which shows only a hint of greenery. Even oxygen is at a premium. Fortunately, the life and colour of La Paz is found in its people and culture, not its landscape. Outside La Paz are a great range of Andean mountains. Most are snow-capped and provide both climbing and trekking adventures. Know your History Early history The region of Bolivia has been occupied constantly for over 2,000 years. The first settlers were the Aymara; present-day Aymara associate themselves with Tiwanaku in western Bolivia, the site of an advanced civilisation, which grew from a small agriculturally-based village in 1500 B.C. Tiwanaku became an important regional power in the southern Andes around 600 to 800 A.D., and estimated population numbers of that time range from 15,000 to 1,482,000 people. Tiwanaku began to expand around 400 A.D., into the Yungas and influencing many cultures in Peru and Chile as well as other regions of Bolivia. Not violent in nature, expansion came through creating colonies, trade agreements and state cults. Instead of eradicating the other cultures, Tiwanaku cultures became absorbed, and archaeologists have seen dramatic adoption of Tiwanaku ceramics in these areas. Elites gained status by being able to redistribute food surpluses among the people llama herds became an integral part of Tiwanaku; they symbolised the distance between the commoners and the elites, and proved essential for carrying goods back and forth between the centre and periphery of the empire. Around 950 A.D., a dramatic climate change occurred the Titicaca Basin began to get much less rainfall. Cities further away from the lake started to produce fewer crops to give to the elites, and the power they had began to waver. The capital city became the last place of production, thanks to the resilience of its raised fields, but in the end the drought overcame intelligent design. Tiwanaku disappeared around 1000 A.D. and the land was left empty for many years. Incan colonisation
The western parts (Andean region) of what is today Bolivia, formed part of the Lake Titicaca, including the valleys of the Cordillera Oriental. It wasn't until the Incan empire expanded into most of western Bolivia between 1438 and 1527, that human habitation came back to Bolivia in great numbers. But Incan control was short-lived weaknesses internally meant rapid expansion of the Incan Empire couldn't be sustained. As a result, the Spanish conquest was relatively simple. The Spanish conquest The conquest began in 1524, and was nearly over by 1533. Known as Alto Peru ("Upper Peru"), Bolivia was under the authority of the Viceroyalty of Lima. The Spaniards, whose main interest was precious metals, discovered in 1544 rich silver deposits in a mountain at the foot of which they founded the settlement of Potosí at an altitude of 4,200 m above sea level. By the end of the 16th Century, Potosi had a population of 120,000, the largest urban centre in South America. It held its position throughout the 17th and early 18th Centuries, when its population exceeded 160,000. Potosí was preceded by Chuqisaca, later renamed Sucre, which was founded in 1538 and later became the administrative capital of the Spanish colonial rule. Other Spanish settlements followed, including La Paz (1548), Cochabamba (1574), and Oruro (1604). In 1776 it was transferred to the newly formed Viceroyalty of La Plata. Túpac Katari led the first indigenous rebellion in March 1781, laying siege to La Paz, which killed 20,000 people. Resentment, started by the draft system called the mita (natives used as forced labour), increased during the Napoleonic wars when Spanish royal authority began to crumble. In 1809, the fight for independence came to Sucre. Independence Independence was declared in 1825 after 16 years of fighting, by an assembly which met in Sucre. General Antonio José de Sucre, who, in command of Colombian troops, played a leading role in the defeat of the Spanish garrison, was elected as the first president. The following year a constitution was drawn up by Simón Bolívar and adopted. It was then that the country received the name of Bolivia. A long period of internal struggle and instability followed with dictators, mainly military, ruling the country. Some of these dictators involved themselves in the internal struggles of Peru (in which Chile also intervened), while others spent their time in power struggling to prevent the annexation of Bolivia by Peru. The position of Bolivia's boundaries was uncertain and subject to conflict. However, Bolivian territory extended to the Pacific and included most of the coast of the Atacama Desert and the port of Antofagasta. The discovery of rich nitrate deposits in the Atacama desert and rising border tensions led to the outbreak of war between Chile and Bolivia (1879 to 1883), in which Peru participated on the side of Bolivia. Chile's victory in this war resulted in Bolivia's loss of its outlet to the Pacific. Efforts, mainly political, to regain some outlet to the sea failed. The railway which linked Bolivia with the Pacific coast (Oruro-Antofagasta) was inaugurated in 1892. Political changes The frequent changes in the regime were often accompanied by changes in the constitution. Thus, from the declaration of independence to the end of the 19th Century, ten different constitutions were enacted. In 1904, Bolivia lost a substantial part of its possessions in the eastern lowlands to Brazil. Defeated in a war with Paraguay (1932 to 1935), Bolivia lost most of its territory in the Gran Chaco. At present, Bolivia extends over less than half the territory over which it claimed sovereignty when it
declared independence. The expansion of mining from the end of the 19th Century attracted foreign investment. This led to the development of three large foreign mining corporations that became dominant in Bolivia's economic and political life. These, together with large landowners and the military, actually controlled the country. In 1952 a revolutionary party, Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR) seized control of the government. This led to the expropriation of the mines by the state and to agrarian reform, by which the large estates were divided among former tenants and peasants. In the 1960s, the CIA were involved in training the Bolivian military and providing finances. It was in Bolivia that revolutionary leader Che Guevara was executed on 9th October 1967. Before it was deposed by the army in 1964, the MNR introduced far-reaching economic and social changes. Over the next 25 years (1964 to 1989) Bolivia had 19 presidents (13 were generals), with only two completing a full term in office. 1990 Present Since the 1990s, economic decline, coalitions and clampdowns on the illegal drug trafficking in Bolivia have marked each of the governments in office. In 2003, the Bolivia gas conflict broke out when a convoy of oil trucks escorted by police and soldiers attempted to breach a barricade in El Alto the slum region of La Paz. 16 people were killed in the clash and several dozen wounded, and causing the government to declare martial law. President Sanchez de Lozada resigned in response to the escalating violence, and vice president Carlos Mesa took the post. In 2004, Mesa announced that he would hold a series of rallies around the country and embassies abroad, demanding Chile return the piece of coastal land lost in 1884. Historically, Chile have refused, without negotiation, but Mesa made this the central point of his administration. But the internal situation proved the stumbling block for such political action. The gas protests began again in 2005, and Mesa attempted resignation. At first refused by Congress. After several more weeks of street protests, Mesa resigned on 10th June 2005, and Eduardo Rodríguez, chief justice of the Supreme Court, was sworn in as interim president. Elections were held in December 2005, and Juan Evo Morales Ayma of the MAS party (Movement Toward Socialism) won with 53.7% of the vote an absolute majority, which is rare in Bolivian politics. Sworn in on the 22nd January 2006 for a 5-year term, Morales was inaugurated at the historical site of Tiwanaku in an Aymara ritual. Morales' radical movements, including the renationalisation of all Bolivian hydrocarbon assets, and the writing of a new constitution to give more power to the indigenous majority, has come up against violent protests as well a overwhelming support. In 2009, Morales at the MAS party won 64.22% of the vote. Money Talks Exports Historically, Bolivia's economy has been single-commodity focused. From silver to tin to coca, the commodity has changed over the years, but not the concept. Because of the political instability that has haunted the country, and its difficult topography, agriculture has never really taken off and efforts to modernise the sector have been constrained. And although efforts have been made towards industrial growth, it has been thwarted by low population growth and low life expectancy keeping the labour in flux. The Bolivian export economy is currently dominated by natural gas and zinc extraction.
Money The currency, the Bolivian Boliviano (PEN) permanently suffers from inflation, and corruption at the top has crippled development. It is sometimes called the peso. ATM machines are present in Cochabamba; withdrawals may have a small surplus charge although this is likely to be similar to traveller's cheque commission rates. Credit and debit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted for cash withdrawal at most banks but not always for general payments. However a credit card will come in useful in the event of an emergency. Get Culture Savvy Musical traditions within Bolivia are distinctly regional strains of Andean music from the desolate Altiplano are suitably haunting and mournful, while those of warmer Tarija, with its compliment of bizarre musical instruments, take on more ebullient tones. Dances such as the cueca, auqui-auqui and tinku hold a reverent place in popular culture. Other forms of folk expression include spinning and weaving, which display regional differences but have changed little over the last 3000 years. Religion Roughly 95% of Bolivia's population professes to be Roman Catholic, but the absence of clergy in rural areas has led to a synthesis of Inca and Aymará beliefs with Christianity. The hybrid Christian/folk religion is an interesting conglomeration of doctrines, rites and superstitions. Bolivia's food is dominated by meat dishes, accompanied by rice, potatoes and shredded lettuce. Sometimes llajhua (a hot sauce made from tomatoes and pepper pods) will be used to add spice and flavour to a dish. Bolivian beer, wine and chicha (industrial-strength maize liquor) are all good but be warned: if invited to drink with locals, be prepared as the alcohol is strong and Bolivian drinking habits lusty. Learn the Lingo Spanish is the main and official language of Bolivia, yet only 60-70% of the people actually speak it, and then often only as a second language. However there are some 39 other living languages used in the country spoken by people in different regions. Examples include Aymará, Chiquitano, Chiriguano and Guyara. Some 50% of the population have an indigenous language as their mother tongue. Most speak Quechua, the language of the Inca, or Aymará, the pre-inca language of the Altiplano. Bolivian Spanish as a result of mixing with its indigenous rivals differs from region to region. The vocabulary and pronunciation differs according to where in Bolivia you are, i.e. highlands (Altiplano and valleys) or the lowlands (Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando). Remember: The letters LL together are pronounced as Y The letter J is always pronounces as H The letter V is soft, so pronounce it as B ENGLISH SPANISH ENGLISH SPANISH Greetings Numbers Hi Hola 1 Uno Goodbye Adios 2 Dos
Pleased to meet you! Mucho gusto! 3 Très How are you? Como estas? 4 Cuatro Good morning Buenos días 5 Cinco Good afternoon Buenas tardes 6 Seis Good evening/night Buenas noches 7 Siete 8 Ocho About Yourself 9 Nueve My name is... Me llamo... 10 Diez I am from England Soy de Inglaterra 11 Once I don't speak Spanish No hablo Español 12 Doce I don't understand No entiendo 13 Trece What's your name? Cómo se llama usted? 14 Catorce 15 Quince In the Shop 16 Dieciséis I would like.../i want... Quiero 17 Diecisiete How much does it cost? Cuánto vale? 18 Dieciocho Please Por favour 19 Diecinueve Thank you (very much) (Muchas) gracias 20 Veinte Yes Sí 100 Cien No No 500 Quinientos 1000 Mil In the Restaurant Chicken Pollo Vegetables Vegetales Beef Res Meat Carne Cheese Queso Fish Pescado Tomato sauce Salsa de tomate Beer Cerveza I am a vegetarian Soy vegetariano Lay of the Land Bolivia is a landlocked country in the northern region of South America, bordered by Chile, Argentina and Paraguay in the south, Brazil to the east and north, and Peru in the northwest. Structurally and climatically, Bolivia consists of two main regions: the highlands and the eastern lowlands, divided between the Amazon and Parana basins.
The Andes The highlands of Bolivia consist of three distinct parts: the Cordillera Occidental; the Altiplano; and the Cordillera Oriental. The Cordillera Occidental is part of the Andean range that extends along the western fringe of South America. It features many active volcanoes, part of a line of volcanoes that runs from southwest Peru to Chile. There is a distinct climatic difference between the northern and southern parts of the Cordillera Occidental; the latter are arid and thinly inhabited. In the north, some high valleys, with altitudes of up to 4,267 m, are inhabited by Indians who engage in subsistence agriculture (mostly irrigated) and pastoralism. With peaks of more than 6,096 m, steep slopes, and much volcanic activity, the Cordillera Occidental is the least inhabited part of Bolivian Highlands. The Altiplano is a high plateau, 3,658 to 3,962 m above sea level, which lies between the Occidental and Oriental ranges. Its broadest point is over 200 miles north of Lake Poopo, where the Andes reach their greatest width of approximately 400 miles. The Altiplano is divided into a number of basins by spurs of the Andes. The northernmost of these basins, which extends into Peru, is partly occupied by Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake (3,812 m). The capital, La Paz, the highest (3,627 m) city in the world, is situated in a valley southeast of Lake Titicaca below the rim of the Altiplano. Part of the population of the Altiplano has, since before the arrival of the Europeans, been engaged in mining activities concentrated around two main centres: Corocoro and Oruro. These areas were important sources of silver in the Spanish colonial period. The structure of the Cordillera Oriental is more varied and complex, with distinctly different landscapes and habitats in the north-east, which follows a north-west to south-east direction, and the south, which follows a north to south direction. The north-eastern part rises abruptly to great heights above the Altiplano (the Titicaca basin and La Paz Valley) and has snow-capped peaks of over 6,401 m. The eastern slopes are covered by dense forest and are known as the Yungas, the wettest part of the Bolivian Andes. The eastern part (from the vicinity of Santa Cruz) rises abruptly from the Altiplano and is a precipitous escarpment, but has a less rugged upper surface that slopes gently toward the eastern lowlands. This high level surface of 3,658 to 4,267 m is surmounted by a number of short ranges with higher peaks. Known as the Puna, this moderately high surface relief contains a number of rivers that drain parts of the Altiplano and the Cordillera Oriental into the Paraguay River and the Parana basin. Natural conditions in the basins and valleys of the Cordillera Oriental are much more favourable to human settlement than those of the Cordillera Occidental and the Altiplano. The Eastern Lowlands In the eastern lowlands, there are distinct differences between the natural features of the north-east and those of the south-east. In the north-east the Llanos de Mamore (which slopes gently to the Amazon Basin), is well watered by rain and rivers and has rich natural vegetation, whilst in the south-east, the Gran Chaco (which slopes toward the Pilcomayo and Paraguay rivers), is semi-arid, with dry scrub and savannah and occasional gallery forests along the rivers. The eastern lowlands are sparsely populated; however the discovery of oil and natural gas, the development of roads between Santa Cruz (the region's main urban centre) and the urban centres of the Altiplano, and government-backed settlements have all led to a significant population growth in this region since the 1950s. The eastern lowlands are Bolivia's main source of tropical agricultural products. What's the Weather like? Higher up and the changes in annual precipitation towards the southwest dominate the climate of
Bolivia. A wide variety of conditions can often be seen over short distances. Average seasonal temperature ranges are generally smaller than the average diurnal ranges. The average temperatures of the coldest (June/July) and the warmest (November) months at La Paz (3,627 m above sea level) are 6ºC and 11ºC, respectively. Lake Titicaca, with a nearly constant water temperature of 11ºC throughout the year, has a moderating influence on its surroundings; winter temperatures in its environs are slightly higher then those at similar altitudes elsewhere on the Altiplano. The southern areas that form the Bolivian part of the Gran Chaco have the highest temperatures in South America, with highs of over 40ºC, and averages of 28ºC and 22ºC for the hottest and coolest months. The rainy season lasts from approximately October to March and is longer in the north. The southwestern part of Bolivia is arid, and agriculture there is largely dependent on irrigation. The northeastern flanks of the lowlands have abundant rainfall (an annual average of over 60 inches). The average annual precipitation at La Paz is 22.6 inches. The extreme south is semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of 20 inches and frequent drought. The northern part of the eastern lowlands and the adjacent lower slopes of the Cordillera Oriental are covered by dense evergreen forests. The vegetation of the Bolivia Chaco is that of a dry savannah with scrublands, thorny bushes, and high grasses. Biodiversity Bolivia is considered one of the worlds "mega-diverse" countries. It is in the top 10 of countries containing the greatest richness of vertebrate species, and is rated 4th for butterfly species. It is also among: the top 10 for diverse quantities of birds and mammals, top 11 for diversity of fresh water fish, and 13th for species richness of amphibians and Tiger Beetles! Amongst all this can be found around 3,000 species of medicinal plants, and is the home of chillies, bell peppers, potatoes, peanuts, and a variety of palms. Because of all this, it is vital to preserve Bolivia's diversity. However, with illegal logging, cattle ranching, infrastructure development, and pollution as just some of the issues facing the country, Bolivia's wide and varied ecosystems are rapidly disappearing. Many NGOs and campaigns are working in Bolivia, maintaining the many national parks, trying to raise awareness and developing new schemes for sustainable development, but it's a slow process. Good Books Guidebooks Bolivia: Lonely Planet Country Guide. Kate Armstrong. Lonely Planet Publications, 2007. ISBN 1741045576 The Rough Guide to Bolivia. James Read. Rough Guides, 2002. ISBN 1858288479 Wildlife Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica. Collins Illustrated Checklist, 1998. ISBN 0002200775
Fiction / Travel Writing The Bolivian Diary: Authorised Edition. Che Guevara. Ocean Press, 2006. ISBN 1920888241 Marching Power. Rusty Young. Pan, 2004. ISBN 0330419587 Teaching Guides Essential Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-study Reference and Practice Book for Elementary Students of English 2nd Edition. Raymond Murphy. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 9780521529327 Essential Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English 3rd Edition. Raymond Murphy. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 9780521532891 Lessons from Nothing: Activities for Language Teaching with Limited Time and Resources (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers). Bruce Marsland. Cambridge University Press, 1998. ISBN 9780521627658 Games for Children (Resource Books for Teachers). Gordon Lewis &Gunther Benson. Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780194372244 Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching 2nd Edition. Diane Larsen-Freeman. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 9780194355742 CONTACT INFORMATION Call us on 020 7613 2422 (UK) / 1 213 269 4530 (US) Mail us on info@frontier.ac.uk Check out our social media here: