Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America known as The Plurinational State of Bolivia. Bolivia's main terrain is plateaus, with an average altitude of more than 3,000 meters, making it the highest average altitude highland country in the world. The eastern and northeastern parts of Bolivia are mostly Amazonal alluvial plains; the central part is a valley region, which belongs to the eastern foothills of the Andean Mountains, with developed agriculture, and many important cities are concentrated here; the western part is the Bolivian plateau, with an average altitude of more than 1,000 meters. Bolivia is rich in natural resources, hence the name "donkey sitting on a gold mine". In addition to the famous mineral deposits, there are also well-known sites of the Inca Empire, which collapsed after the Spanish invasion.
Bolivian Indians look and dress much like The Tibetans of China, with dark skin, both men and women like to wear felt hats, and women like to wear thick multi-layered robes and skirts. Most people in bolivia eat mainly meat, mainly cattle, pigs, chickens, lamb, etc., and the common dishes on the table are tomatoes, potatoes, onions and lettuce.
Bolivia's main tourist attractions are the Uyuni Salt Lake, the Lake Titicaca, the ancient city of Tiahuanaco of the Inca Empire, the Sahama National Park, colonial ruins, and unique urban towns. Lake Titicaca is the world's tallest large freshwater lake, at an altitude of 3812 meters. Uyuni Salt Lake is the largest salt marsh in the world and is known as the "Mirror of the Sky".
One of the liveliest festivals in Bolivia is the Carnival from February to March. Among them, the carnival in Oruro city is the most spectacular, and people in major cities across the country, even neighboring countries, wear colorful festival costumes, wear various masks, sing and dance, attracting many tourists who come to visit. The scene of carnival is believed to be seen on TV, if you are interested, if you want to experience the local folk culture, you may wish to choose to travel during the carnival.
Image from Pinterest/Web
Uyuni Salt Lake (Salar de Uyuni)
1. Uyuni Salt Lake (Salar de Uyuni)
Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Lake is the largest salt marsh in the world, and Uyuni Salt Lake was formed after a huge lake dried up about 40,000 years ago, and only during the rainy season does the hard-shelled salt lake surface form a smooth mirror. This Uyuni salt marsh not only has a beautiful scenery, but also grows many rare animals and plants, enchanting thousand-year-old cacti, rare bee finches, and pink flamingos, watching leisurely animals roam on it, becoming the most flexible scenery in the "Mirror of the Sky". When the "Sky Realm" appears, the calm "Big Mirror" reflects the pure blue sky, as if in an illusion, which is amazing.
In the center of Uyuni Salt Lake there is a small island, Isla del Pescado. Because it is full of cacti, it is called cactus island. But this Spanish name means Island of Fish, because from a distance it looks a lot like a fish. Walking from the mirror-like lake to the island and enjoying a different scenery is also a wonderful experience.
Lake Titicaca
2. Lake Titicaca
Located on the Koyao Plateau on the border between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca is the highest and largest freshwater lake in South America, one of the tallest large freshwater lakes in the world, the world's highest navigable lake by boat, and the third largest lake in South America (after Lake Maracaibo and Patus Lagoon). There are 52 islands in the lake, most of which are inhabited, and the largest island on the island of Kaca has the ruins of an Inca temple and is also a sacred lake for indians. When you come to Lake Titicaca and touch the ancient ruins, you suddenly have a sense of sacredness and mystery.
Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku)
3. Tiahuanaco (Tiwanaku)
The Tiwanaco civilization is considered a precursor to the Inca civilization. For thousands of years, Tivanaco was the most important indigenous city in the Andes. The remains of this ancient city are located near Lake Titicaca, about 72 km west of La Paz. The ruins are mainly composed of four parts: one is the Pyramid of Acapana, which is the longest building in the ruins. The second is the Great Kalasasaya Temple, which is the site of religious ceremonies held by the Tiwanaco people. The Puerta del Sol is the most famous monument in the site. Travelers interested in historical civilizations must not miss this place, where you can get a close taste of the culture of Tivanaco.
Sun Island (Isla del Sol)
3. Sun Island (Isla del Sol)
The Island of the Sun is also known as isla de Titicaca. Also the islands of Lake Titicaca. With an area of 14.3 square kilometers, it is the largest island in Lake Titicaca. In pre-Columbian times it was an important center of settlements in the eastern Andes. Named after the Temple of the Sun on the island. Legend has it that the temple site is the landing site of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the founders of the Inca dynasty, who were sent to Earth by the sun god. The island has well-preserved ancient Inca royal palaces, as well as some incompressible rough stone works.
Sahama National Park
4. Parque Nacional Sajama
Sahama National Park is a national park in the Oruro province of Bolivia, established in 1939. Located near the border between Bolivia and Chile, it connects chile's Lauca National Park. At 6,542 meters above sea level, the Sahama Volcano in the park is the highest mountain in Bolivia. It is located in the south of La Paz, with snow-capped peaks all year round and towering over the surrounding plateau. The scenery is spectacular, and the forest at the foot of the mountain is the highest forest in the world. Sahama National Park has no roads through the park and can only be walked off-road, which is suitable for hiking and adventure-loving travelers.
Sucre (Sucre)
5. Sucre (Sucre)
Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital of Bolivia, located in the valley of the central Bolivian plateau, at an altitude of 2790 meters above sea level, with an average annual temperature of 15.7 °C. Sucre was originally named Chuquisaca, named after Sucre, the first president of the republic, in 1840.
The city of Sucre has an ancient church, San Lazaro Church, built in 1538, using the traditional Indian method of adobe and grass ash. The 5-storey bell tower of the cathedral is the landmark of the "White City" Sucre. In the four corners of the bell tower there are standing statues of 4 evangelists and 12 apostles. In addition, there is the oldest and most beautiful monastery in the city, La Lacoleta.
Potosi City (Potosi)
6. Potosi
Portosí, located at the foot of the Cerrorico Mountains in the Andes, is one of the highest cities in the world, is a famous mining city, founded in 1546 AD, is now the capital of potosí province, the city has preserved a large number of well-preserved colonial-era buildings. The city is also rich in mineral deposits and is a famous mining capital.