Initially, however, agricultural production decreased, mineral output dropped disastrously, and wages increased. Bolivia’s mountainous western region, which is one of the highest inhabited areas in the world, constitutes an important economic and political centre. The constitutional capital is the historic city of Sucre, where the Supreme Court is established, but the administrative capital is La Paz, where the executive and legislative branches of government function. The mandate holder has been invited to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles. Some Bolivians emigrate to Argentina or Chile, searching for work and higher wages. In the late 20th century membership grew in various Protestant denominations (notably Evangelical churches), and there were also increasing numbers of Bahāʾīs and Mormons. Formation of Liberal and Conservative parties, The rise of new political groups and the Bolivian National Revolution, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Bolivia, Bolivia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Bolivia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Through the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has accepted some indigenous rituals and customs by assimilation, mainly through combined Catholic and traditional celebrations that continue to be an important part of life in rural and urban settings. In addition, an increasing world demand for lithium (used in batteries for high-tech devices) brought renewed attention to the large reserves of untapped lithium in Bolivia; huge deposits lie beneath the Uyuni Salt Flat in the southwestern part of the country. Otherwise, why would they be involved in it? Uyuni, Bolivia. In the early 21st century Mount Potosí (Cerro Rico), which has been intensively mined since the mid-16th century, sparked renewed interest because of its still-sizable reserves of silver. After 25 years of slow growth thereafter it had increased to about 2,300,000. Hellcat Records is pleased to welcome the progenitors of ska, The Mighty Mighty BossToneS to the family. 2020. Exploring Latin America: Fact or Fiction? Spanish and 36 indigenous languages are official in Bolivia per the 2009 constitution. Under a new constitution promulgated in January 2009, COMIBOL must oversee the operations of foreign mining companies. Omissions? The ores were low-grade, often varied in content, and were difficult to refine. Although only one-third of Bolivia’s territory lies in the Andes Mountains, most of the nation’s largest cities are located there, and for centuries the highlands have attracted the nation’s largest amount of mining, commercial, and business investment. The country has a rich history. Some characteristics of pantheistic pre-Columbian religion have survived in the Indian communities of the Altiplano, especially the worship of Pachamama, the goddess of the Earth. They lie at elevations mostly between 6,000 and 9,500 feet (1,800 and 2,900 metres) and are noted for their rich, varied agriculture and the so-called garden cities of Cochabamba, Sucre, and Tarija. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Fortunately they have been well documented, photographed, and subjected to testing by reputable experts. However, after President Morales took office in 2006, he nationalized many of the mining firms. To the west along the border with Chile is the Cordillera Occidental, which contains numerous active volcanoes and the spectacular Uyuni Salt Flat; the cordillera is crowned by the republic’s highest peak, Mount Sajama, reaching an elevation of 21,463 feet (6,542 metres). In southern Bolivia the Andes become much wider and are formed by a high, tilted block called the Puna, with west-facing escarpments and more gentle eastward slopes down to the plains. Nevertheless, Bolivia continues to receive considerable foreign technical assistance and long-term loans from international organizations, including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, as well as from numerous creditor nations. Between these ranges lies the Altiplano (“High Plateau”), which extends from southern Peru through Bolivia to northern Argentina. The rate of urbanization has paralleled that of population growth. In the extreme south is the Bolivian Chaco, which forms part of the Gran Chaco; it is a level area that varies strikingly with the seasons. At the beginning of the 20th century fewer than one-tenth of Bolivians lived in urban areas, but by 1950 the urban population had more than doubled. Bolivia is well endowed with natural resources. Bolivia also has reserves of antimony, tungsten (wolfram), lead, copper, and lithium. In the middle of the Altiplano are the Titicaca and Poopó lakes and basins, which traditionally have been important agricultural, economic, and cultural areas. ... National Quarantine Measures in Bolivia through September 30. 102 reviews $$ - $$$ • Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options. Although only one-third of its territory lies in the Andes Mountains, most of the nation’s largest cities are located there, and for centuries the highlands have attracted the nation’s largest amount of mining, commercial, and business investment. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bolivia shares Lake Titicaca, the second largest lake in South America (after Lake Maracaibo), with Peru. Bolivia has a small Jewish community. Mi Teleferico. The country has been landlocked since it lost its Pacific coast territory to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–84), but agreements with neighbouring countries have granted it indirect access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The revolutionary program of 1952–53 included immediate agrarian reform, based on breaking up the large estates and nationalizing the mines. On December 30, RDIF and Bolivia's Health Supply Centre, CEASS, announced an agreement to supply the country with 5.6 million doses of Sputnik V, which would be sufficient to vaccinate around 2.6 million people. After the state pulled out of mineral exploration, most of Bolivia’s mineral production fell into the hands of Compañía Minera del Sur (COMSUR), Inti Raymi, and a number of smaller mining companies, as well as foreign-owned companies. Between 1925 and 1950 the population grew at a slightly accelerated rate (despite the losses of the Chaco War), increasing by about 750,000. In the late 20th century, however, the demographic and economic landscape began to change as the eastern lowlands—particularly the department of Santa Cruz—developed rapidly. The Mighty Mighty BossToneS. Sort fact from fiction in this journey through Latin America. Beliefs vary based on religion. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Bolivia, country of west-central South America. As a consequence denial of the events and facts would be difficult. There are many different religions, but the most popular is Christianity, followed by an estimated 33% of people, and Islam, which is practiced by over 24% of people. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. A primate cardinalship, located in Sucre, heads the church hierarchy in Bolivia. Hugo Chavéz of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba—had begun a shift back toward the nationalization of Bolivia’s industries to counter foreign control and to better fund social programs for the poor. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. From the high, snowcapped slopes of the Cordillera Real and the Apolobamba range, the descent to the eastern plains is extremely precipitous, plunging through a rainy and heavily forested belt of rugged terrain known as the Yungas—an Aymara word roughly translated as “Warm Lands” or “Warm Valleys.” The Yungas form the southern end of a region that extends along the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (where it is called the Alto Selva [“High Rainforest”]) and continues southeast through Bolivia as far as Santa Cruz. An impressive line of snowcapped peaks, some exceeding 20,000 feet (6,100 metres), characterize this northern section, which maintains an average elevation of more than 18,000 feet (5,500 metres) for more than 200 miles (320 km). The population increased dramatically by at least 2,250,000 (to some 5,300,000) during the next 25 years as the death rate fell and the birth rate remained consistently high. Brunswick Community College provides opportunities for individuals to be successful through accessible, high quality, student-centered programs and services that meet the educational, cultural and workforce needs of a diverse community. Jesus Christ didn’t agree with the view that there are many religions, many roads, all leading to salvation. In the 1990s the economy grew rapidly, and billions of dollars in new investment came into Bolivia after the administration of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada Bustamente (1993–97) privatized nearly the entire state-run economy. The vast area of the Oriente is composed of low alluvial plains (llanos), great swamps, flooded bottomlands, open savannas, and tropical forests. Listing of all current and alumni artists. Many Indians, particularly in the cities, market towns, and new colonies, speak or understand Spanish. Corrections? Terraced fields built hundreds of years ago lie at the foothills of snow-covered peaks, which have been sacred to the Indians since ancient times. Healthcare expenditured comprised only 4.9% of the GDP. Bolivia - Bolivia - Languages and religion: Spanish and 36 indigenous languages are official in Bolivia per the 2009 constitution. Formation of Liberal and Conservative parties, The rise of new political groups and the Bolivian National Revolution. A huge lake in Bolivia has almost entirely disappeared. Aspects 4,146 reviews. The Puna is broken up by the Valles, a system of fertile valleys and mountain basins that are generally larger and less confined than those in the Yungas. P.O. The rise of open-pit silver- and gold-mining operations, coupled with the privatization of state mining companies, changed the face of Bolivia’s mining industry. Author of. For example, in the mining cities of Potosí and Oruro, tens of thousands of Bolivians and foreign tourists celebrate Carnival by paying homage to the Virgin of the Mines and to Pachamama. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. Previously only Spanish, Aymara, and Quechua were official languages of the country. The implications for all of humanity, and indeed for science, religion and philosophy will be immense. Thus, despite the long-overdue political and social reforms embodied in the revolution, the rate of national economic growth remained extremely low. The economy, depending on the earnings from tin exportation, fluctuated wildly. In Bolivia the name Yungas often refers to a smaller region northeast of La Paz, which, like the neighbouring region of Alto Beni (the upper basin of the Beni River north of Caranavi), is part of the larger Yungas region. Since the 1940s the Roman Catholic Church has ventured from an almost exclusively ceremonial role into the fields of social aid, the news media, and education. The ARDA provides free access to the most authoritative religion statistics, data and church membership reports from around the world, including Christian statistics and adherents data. Average per capita income is low, and Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in South America. Its economic development has been limited, however, by high production costs and lack of investment; persisting obstacles include an inadequate transportation infrastructure and the country’s landlocked location. In the mines, llamas are sacrificed as part of the worship of Pachamama and of Tío, the protector of the mines. 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