La Paz

La Paz is the seat of government of Bolivia. It is the third-most populous city in the country, with over 750,000 people living there. The nearby city of El Alto and smaller towns around it make up a larger area with more than 2 million people.

La Paz sits in a valley surrounded by high mountains, including the snow-covered Illimani. At about 3,650 meters above sea level, it is the highest administrative capital city in the world.

The city was founded in 1548 by Spanish explorers as a place for trade between important mining towns. Over the years, La Paz has been the center of many important events, including fights for independence from Spain. Today, it is where the Bolivian government works, including the presidential palace called the Palacio Quemado and the country's legislature, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

La Paz is also a cultural hub. It has historic churches and buildings from colonial times, such as the San Francisco Church and the Metropolitan Cathedral. The city is famous for its busy markets, including the Witches' Market, and its lively nightlife. One of its most unique features is the world's largest urban cable car network, offering amazing views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

Name

The Spanish explorers founded the city in 1548 and named it Nuestra Señora de La Paz, which means Our Lady of Peace. They chose this name to celebrate peace after a rebellion led by Gonzalo Pizarro.

Later, in 1825, after a big battle that helped Bolivia become independent from Spain, the city’s name changed to La Paz de Ayacucho, meaning The Peace of Ayacucho. Some people have suggested calling the city by its old Aymara name, Chuquiago Marka, which means “gold farm.”

History

Main article: History of La Paz

This area was once home to an Inca city along an important trading route.

The Spanish arrived in the region in 1535 but found La Paz in 1548. The city was moved to a better valley spot. It was officially founded on October 20, 1548, by Alonso de Mendoza. Over time, La Paz grew and became important.

In 1809, people in La Paz began fighting for independence from Spain. This was a big step toward freedom for South America. After Bolivia became independent, La Paz became the main government seat in 1898, even though another city, Sucre, kept some important roles.

Geography

La Paz is in the valleys of the Andes, close to the Altiplano region. The city is near the Cordillera Real mountains, which has famous peaks like Illimani.

La Paz is built in a canyon carved by the Choqueyapu River, which now flows mostly under buildings. The main street, called the Prado, goes through the downtown area. The city's high altitude affects where people live. Wealthier people stay in lower central areas, while middle-class people live in tall buildings near the center. Those with lower incomes often live in simple houses on the surrounding hills.

Climate

See also: Rainy season in the Altiplano

La Paz is very high up, more than 4,000 meters above sea level, which makes its climate cool. Even though it is close to the equator, temperatures can get cold, especially at night. Sometimes there is a light dusting of snow in winter, but it usually melts by noon.

In the lower parts of the city, around 3,600 meters, it is a bit warmer. Summers are rainy, and heavy rains can sometimes cause mudslides. The rainiest month is January, while the driest months are June and July.

Districts and neighborhoods

Main neighborhoods and zones

San Jorge

San Jorge is a big area where people live and work in La Paz. It used to be very fancy and was the main money area of the city. Today, it has some of Bolivia's tallest buildings and many nice offices, restaurants, museums, and bookstores. Important offices from other countries are also here.

Sopocachi

Sopocachi is one of the oldest places where people live, only 10 minutes from the middle of the city. It still feels like a quiet neighborhood but has new shops and businesses near Abaroa Square.

San Pedro

San Pedro, close to the Choqueyapu River, is full of shops and small businesses. It is well-known for its Rodriguez Market and has many places to fix cars.

Centro

The downtown area of La Paz is the heart of the city, with main roads and the big offices of many important banks and companies.

Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is the old part of La Paz. It has museums, hotels, shops, and important buildings like the Government Palace and the National Congress, located in Plaza Murillo.

Miraflores

Miraflores is a place where people live and it has become a fun area for activities. It has universities, hospitals, and a big stadium.

Northern District

The Northern District has many food factories and helps connect La Paz with El Alto.

Southern District

The Southern District is growing quickly and is now the second most important business area in the city. It has many companies from other countries and La Paz's largest shopping mall.

Cityscape

You can see a beautiful view of La Paz at sunset from the "Killi Killi" lookout. The city has many interesting places to visit and feels special when the sun goes down.

Colonial architecture

La Paz has many old buildings from when Spain ruled Bolivia, especially near Plaza Murillo. Some of these old buildings are falling apart because people do not have enough money to fix them up. It costs a lot to keep the buildings, so some people tear them down to build new ones. There are plans to restore some buildings, but it is not clear what will happen to them in the future.

Economy

La Paz's economy has grown a lot recently because the country has become more stable. In the past, Bolivia had money troubles and many people worked without official jobs. You can see this today in the many small shops and markets around the city.

La Paz is very important for making things that people in Bolivia use. Most of the factories in Bolivia are near La Paz. These factories make food, clothes, building supplies, and tools. For many years, Bolivia's economy depended a lot on tin, a type of metal. La Paz watched the price of tin closely because it was very important for the country's money.

Sports

The most popular sport in La Paz, like in the rest of Bolivia, is football. Three main teams play in the top league: Bolívar, The Strongest, and Club Always Ready. The match between Bolívar and The Strongest is called the Clásico Paceño, and it is the most important football rivalry in Bolivia.

These teams usually play their home games at the Hernando Siles Stadium, which opened in 1930. It is the biggest football stadium in Bolivia and is located in the Miraflores area.

La Paz has hosted big football events, including two editions of the Copa América.

Other sports practiced in the city include tennis, swimming, athletics, golf, racquetball, and equestrian sports. Martial arts, cycling, and volleyball are also popular. New sports like mountain biking and trail running are growing in popularity.

Education

La Paz has some of Bolivia's most important universities.

Tourism

La Paz is an important city in Bolivia full of history and culture. You can see old churches from long ago, like the San Francisco Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which is on Murillo Square. This square is where important government offices are.

There are many museums in the city, especially on Jaén Street, which looks just like it did hundreds of years ago.

The main government building, called the "Burnt Palace," is on Murillo Square. It has caught fire a few times but has been fixed up each time.

• The preserved home of Pedro Domingo Murillo, a hero from long ago, is now a museum. It has old furniture, fabrics, and art.
• The Museo Costumbrista has dolls dressed in old clothes and photos of La Paz from long ago.
• The National Museum of Archaeology shows items from the Tiawanaku culture.
• The Museum of the Litoral Coastal Region has things from a time when Bolivia lost its coast to Chile.
• The Gold Museum has beautiful old pieces made from gold, silver, and copper.
• The Ethnography and Folklore Museum is in a very old building and shows traditions and art from different groups of people.
• The Museum of Charango is on Calle Linares and has many charangos and other traditional instruments.
• The Natural History Museum has exhibits about Bolivia’s plants, animals, rocks, and old life.
• The Marina Nuñez del Prado House Museum shows sculptures with themes from the Quechua and Aymara people.

• The National Art Museum is on Calle Comercio in a palace built in 1775. It has works by artists such as Melchor Perez de Holguín and Marina Nuñez del Prado.
• The Witches' Market sells herbs, remedies, and other special items used in Aymara traditions.
• The Feria de Alasitas fair happens for two weeks each year starting on January 24. The special part is a small god of good luck called Ekeko, meaning "dwarf" in Aymara.
• The San Francisco Cultural Center Museum

Churches and cathedrals

• The Metropolitan Cathedral, built in 1835, is next to the Presidential Palace on Murillo Square.
• The San Francisco Church was founded in 1548 and rebuilt in 1784.
• The San Jose of the Recoleta Church was founded in 1896 and finished in 1930.
• The Parroquia Señor de la Exaltación was founded in 1956.

Other attractions

• The Bolivian Presidential Palace, also called the "Burned Palace".
• Central Urban Park
• Valle de la Luna (Bolivia)
• El Montículo
• Mirador Laikakota
• Mirador Killi Killi

Culture

La Paz is an important city in Bolivia. It is located in an Andean valley, high above sea level. This special place has helped create unique traditions.

The city has many museums, like the National Museum of Art and the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore. These show art and history from long ago to today. One famous event is the Gran Poder procession. It was recognized by UNESCO in 2019. People dance in colorful costumes to celebrate traditions.

La Paz has many fairs and festivals. The Gran Poder parade is a big celebration with traditional Bolivian dances. The “Sunday Fair” on El Prado boulevard is a nice place for families to enjoy art and performances.

The food in La Paz is very diverse. You can find many tasty dishes, from local favorites like salteña and papa rellena to foods from all over Bolivia and other countries. Street food is very popular.

La Paz has a long history of making beautiful textiles. The city's textile artists create designs with bright colors and patterns. Traditional clothes like the poncho and aguayo are still made and worn today.

The city hosts many festivals each year, each with its own special traditions, dances, and celebrations.

Transportation

Public transportation is the main way people get around in La Paz. Most people use buses, minibuses, or taxis to travel in the city. There are many groups that help manage these services.

La Paz has a big highway that connects it to the nearby city of El Alto. This highway leads to the El Alto International Airport, one of the highest airports in the world. The airport has flights to many places, including Bogotá, Lima, and Santiago.

The city also has a special bus service called PumaKatari for travel to farther parts of La Paz. There is also a big cable car system called Mi Teleférico that links La Paz and El Alto. This cable car is very long and helps people travel quickly between the two cities.

Communications and media

La Paz has many ways for people to talk to each other and get news. A company called ECOBOL runs the postal service there. Another big company, Entel, gives people phone, internet, cell phone, and other services. There are also many newspapers you can read, like Página Siete, La Razon, El Diario, La Prensa, Jornada, and El Alteño.

La Paz has 18 television channels. Some of the main ones are Unitel, ATB Bolivia, Red Uno, Bolivision, and Red PAT. Two local companies offer cable television services: Multivision and Cotel TV. The area code for La Paz is 2, and the country code for Bolivia is 591.

Water supply

The water in La Paz may be at risk because of climate change. The city gets its drinking water from three systems: El Alto, Achachicala, and Pampahasi. La Paz shares the El Alto system with the nearby city of El Alto. All three systems depend on glaciers and rivers in the Cordillera mountains. Experts say that reducing water loss is the best short-term plan to handle water scarcity. New water sources farther north are possible but costly.

International relations

La Paz is part of the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities since October 12, 1982.

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

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South America

La Paz is twinned with:

• Asunción, Paraguay
• Bogotá, Colombia
• Bonn, Germany
• Canelones, Uruguay
• Havana, Cuba
• Libertador (Caracas), Venezuela
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Moscow, Russia
• Quito, Ecuador
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• São Paulo, Brazil
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Zaragoza, Spain

Notable people

La Paz has been home to many important people from different fields. Some well-known individuals from La Paz include:

• Luis Arce (born 1963), a politician
• Alcides Arguedas (1879–1946), a writer and philosopher
• Yolanda Bedregal (1916–1999), a poet and novelist known as Yolanda de Bolivia
• Armin Franulic (1943–2021), a rally driver
• Rodolfo Illanes (1958–2016), a lawyer and politician
• Carlos Mesa (born 1953), a former president of Bolivia
• Víctor Montoya (born 1958), a writer
• Daniel Nuñez del Prado (1840–1891), a Secretary of State, freedom fighter, and doctor
• Wilfred von Oven (1912–2008), a press officer and journalist
• Verona Pooth (born 1968), a German presenter and businesswoman
• Andrés de Santa Cruz (1792–1865), a president of Peru and Bolivia
• Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (1925–2005), a lawyer, politician, and former President of Bolivia
• Alberto Villalpando (born 1940), a composer
• Emilio Villanueva (1882–1970), an architect

Image gallery

Here are some pictures showing different parts of La Paz:

• Plaza Murillo with Government and Legislative Palaces in the background.
• Titicaca Lake near La Paz with the Andes in the background.
• Calle Jaén.
• Buildings in La Paz.
• La Paz at night.
• Skyline of the Calacoto neighborhood
• Skyline of Downtown La Paz
• Historic buildings in La Paz