95 Facts About Bolivia To Know If You Plan On Visiting

Bolivia is a small country in South America, despite being rich in minerals, it is marred by poverty.

The terrain runs from Andes Mountains to the Atacama and the Amazon Basin rainforest. Read on to know more about Bolivia which is a unitary country divided into nine departments.

Here are facts you will have to know or need to know before you travel to Bolivia. The administrative capital of this country is the city of La Paz. But this country also has another capital, the Sucre.

This place is the legal capital of the country. La Paz is the highest city which lies above sea level in the world, compared to other cities with a sea level.

The world’s highest and longest cable car system is established in La Paz. The western region of Bolivia is mostly dominated by the Andes, which has slopes that are steep and peaks that are covered with snow.

Read along to find out some interesting facts about Bolivia and its position in South America. Afterward, also check facts about Spain and Northern Ireland facts.

Fun Facts About Bolivia

When you look at Latin America as a whole, Bolivia might look like any other country in the region. But do not make that mistake as these interesting facts about Bolivia will tell you a lot more about this amazing country.

Half of Bolivia’s population lives in a high plateau called the Altiplano. This is a chain of plateaus that lies in between the mountains of the Andes.

The lake Titicaca is located in Bolivia, and it borders the country of Peru. This famous lake is said to be the birthplace of the Inca people. The prehistoric Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world.

Bolivia used to be the center of the ancient Tiwanaku empire, and later on, from the 15th-16th century, it used to be a part of the Inca empire. The cradle of the world is what the word Inca means, referring to the Inca People.

The famous Floating Reed islands which were built by the Uru people are also found in Lake Titicaca.

Over 40 different species of animals can be found in Bolivia. The animal that is famous in Bolivia is the Allama.

There are around 37 languages that are spoken in Bolivia. While Spanish is the official language, 36 indigenous languages are also spoken across Bolivia.

Bolivia came under the rule of the Spanish conquistadors in the year 1538, when they gained control over the country after arriving from Europe. The Spanish rule in Bolivia continued till the year 1825.

The Spanish rule was overthrown after the local people rebelled against the oppressive policies of the rulers. The newly elected leaders thereafter laid the foundation of modern Bolivia and named it after the leader of the rebellion Simón Bolívar.

Did you know that world's highest forest is present in Bolivia's Sajama National Park at an elevation of 12,870 ft (3,900m) above sea level?

Historical Facts About Bolivia

The indigenous history of Bolivia establishes that the indigenous people lived in the mountains away from the Spanish. The presence of humans in Bolivia goes back even beyond 5,000 years. The Tiwanaku Empire was the first to settle in Bolivia.

When the Spanish were ruling, Bolivia was called Upper Peru. The country became independent on August 6, 1825.

Carnaval de Oruro is one of the famous festivals of Bolivia. It started in the early 18th century. But in recent days, the Catholic rituals have been incorporated into the festival. People wear costumes and dress up, hours of partying and music takes place.

Facts About Bolivia's Culture

Bolivia is known for the wondrous cultural blend it has. As Bolivia was ruled by the Spanish for quite a while, there is a lot of influence of Spanish culture in the Bolivian culture as well.

The world’s largest butterfly sanctuary is present in Bolivia, spread across 24 ha (59.3 ac), and is open for the entire year. The San Pedro Prison of Bolivia has a unique prison where the inmates are allowed to live with their own families.

They work, earn, and even pay rent to accommodate themselves in prison. Radio is the only way information travels to the rural regions of Bolivia located in remote regions.

The flag of Bolivia is red in color, which stands for the bloodshed that took place during the fight for independence.

The yellow color in it shows wealth and accumulation of deposits from Bolivia. The green color in the flag represents the agriculture and environmental wealth of the country.

One of the traditional dishes in Bolivia is the Saltines which is a meat-filled pastry. The other delicacy in the country is called 'cuy' which is guinea pigs that are roasted or boiled.

Pink Dolphins are the most intelligent of the dolphins, and they reside in bolivia. The Salt Hotel or Palace of Salt is also a famous part of Bolivian culture.

Facts About Bolivia's Economy

The economy of Bolivia is the 95th largest economy in the entire world when it is taken in terms of nominal GDP. It is classified as a lower-middle-income country of the world according to the World Bank.

The mining industry in Bolivia is involved in the extraction of natural gas and zinc; and also dominates the export economy.

There are some sectors in Bolivia that drive the economy, such as agriculture and forestry, mining, industry and manufacturing, banking and finance, and tourism as well. The Human Development Index of this country is 0.703, and it is ranked 114th in the world.

For some years now, there has been a steady growth in the economy of Bolivia, and poverty also seems to have declined in the last few years.

Bolivia has the world's largest salt flat, which is the largest salt desert in the world.

The honor of the world's largest salt flat is Salar De Uyuni which is located towards the southwest of the country. Bolivia's flag is a tricolor, and this Bolivian flag is adorned by the Bolivian population of the indigenous majority of indigenous people.

Indigenous people of Bolivia are from the social or cultural groups that have shared ancestral links to the lands and natural resources they live on, inhabit, or have been displaced from.

Let us share with you one of the most interesting facts about Bolivia. Football is considered the national sport of Bolivia, and youngsters can be seen playing soccer in the streets as well as grounds.

There are two capital cities in Bolivia, La Paz and Sucre, while the largest city is Santa Cruz. Sucre is the official capital, while the working capital is La Paz.

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, and the administrative capital located at the highest elevation in the world is found in Bolivia at La Paz. Bolivia has a rich culture, and to experience that, there are various places you can visit are prehistoric lakes, multiple national parks, colorful festivals, and much more.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 95 facts about Bolivia to know if you plan on visiting, then why not take a look at Thailand facts or interesting facts about Argentina.