La Paz
La Paz (Official Name: Nuestra Señora de La Paz) is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. Located at an elevation of 3660 metres (12008 ft), it is the world's highest capital city. La Paz sits in a bowl surrounded by the high altiplano. As it grows, La Paz climbs the hills, resulting in varying elevations from 3000 metres (9843 ft) to 4100 metres (13451 ft). Overlooking the city is towering triple-peaked Illimani, always snow covered and majestic. As of the 2001 census, the city of La Paz had a population of 789,585, and together with the neighboring cities of El Alto and Viacha, make the most populous urban area of Bolivia, with a population of over 1.6 million inhabitants (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica). La Paz is also known as Chuquiago Marka or Chuqiyapu from Aymara "chuqi," meaning gold, and "yapu", meaning farm.
History
Founded in 1548 by the Spanish conquistadors at the site of the Native American settlement, Laja, the full name of the city was originally Nuestra Señora de La Paz (meaning Our Lady of Peace). The name commemorated the restoration of peace following the insurrection of Gonzalo Pizarro and fellow conquistadors four years earlier against Blasco Núñez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka.
Control over the former Inca lands had been entrusted to Pedro de la Gasca by the Spanish king (and Holy Roman Emperor) Emperor Charles V. Gasca commanded Alonso de Mendoza to found a new city commemorating the end of the civil wars in Peru; the city of La Paz was founded on October 20, 1548.
In 1549, Juan Gutierrez Paniagua was commanded to design an urban plan that would designate sites for public areas, plazas, official buildings, and a cathedral. La Plaza de los Españoles, which is known today as the Plaza Murillo, was chosen as the location for government buildings as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Spain controlled La Paz with a firm grip and the Spanish king had the last word in all matters political. In 1781, for a total of six months, a group of Aymara people laid siege to the no longer peaceful city of La Paz. Under the leadership of Tupac Katari, they destroyed churches and government property. Thirty years later Indians laid a two-month siege on La Paz - where and when the legend of the Ekeko is set. In 1809 the struggle for independence from the Spanish rule brought uprisings against the royalist forces. It was on July 17, 1809 that Pedro Domingo Murillo famously said that the Bolivian revolution was igniting a lamp that nobody would be able to turn-off. This formally marked the beginning of the Liberation of South America from Spain. Pedro Domingo Murillo was hanged at the Plaza de los Españoles that night, but his name would be eternally remembered in the name of the plaza, and he would be remembered as the voice of revolution across South America.
In 1825, after the decisive victory of the republicans at Ayacucho over the Spanish army in the course of the South American Wars of Independence, the city's full name was changed to La Paz de Ayacucho (meaning The Peace of Ayacucho).
In 1898, La Paz was made the de facto seat of the national government, with Sucre remaining the nominal historical as well as judiciary capital. This change reflected the shift of the Bolivian economy away from the largely exhausted silver mines of Potosí to the exploitation of tin near Oruro, and resulting shifts in the distribution of economic and political power among various national elites.
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, and is home to the world's highest golf course, football stadium, velodrome (where the world record currently stands), and landing strip.
Festivities
January 24: Alasitas,in all neighborhoods
February 2: Virgen de Copacabana, Reina coronada of Bolivia (Villa Copacabana)
May 1: San José Obrero (V. Nuevo Potosí)
May 3: Señor de la Santa Cruz (Calvario, Tacagua, Calacoto)
May 13: Virgen de Fátima (Villa Fátima)
May 14: San Isidro, Labrador (San Isidro)
May 17: Señor de la Sentencia (Villa Armonía)
May: Jesus, Señor del Gran Poder (movible, Gran Poder)
June 13: San Antonio de Padua (San Antonio)
June 24: San Juan Bautista (Valle Hermoso, San Juan)
June 29: San Pedro, Apóstol (San Pedro)
'July 16: Virgen del Carmen, Patroness of Bolivia and the Armed Forces of the Nation Efemerides of La Paz '
July 25: Apóstol Santiago (Munaypata, Pampahasi, Pasankeri, Periférica, Alto Delicias)
August 15: Virgen de Urqupiña (Urkupiña)
August 15: Virgen de la Asunción (Villa Victoria)
September 8: Virgen de las Nieves (V. Copacabana, M. Paredes, La Portada, Achachicala, Alto Irpavi, Cotahuma, Las Nieves)
September 8: Virgen de los Remedios (Miraflores)
September 14: Señor de la Exaltación (Obrajes, G. de Lima, Bajo Tejar, Vino Tinto)
September 24: Virgen de la Merced (Cota Cota
October 7: Virgen del Rosario (El Rosario)
November: Cristo Rey (Pura Pura)
December 4: Santa Bárbara (Santa Bárbara, Llojeta)
December 8: Virgen de la Concepción (Kupini, Sopocachi, Achumani)
Principal Neighborhoods and Zones
Casco Viejo: is the historic and ancient center of La Paz. It now houses museums, hotels, shops and buildings as the Mayor City of La Paz and the Central Bank of Bolivia. In the Old Quarter is the Plaza Murillo, which is home to the Government Palace and the National Congress.
Downtown: known locally as "Downtown" is where the neighborhoods of San Jorge and Sopocachi. This is where you will find many shops, hotels and many embassies here have their sede.There are also some markets on La Paz Downtown to purchase many things.
Sopocachi: probably one of the oldest residential neighborhoods, located 10 minutes from downtown and despite the expansion and development of the city this quarter maintained its residential property.
San Pedro: the neighborhood of San Pedro is one of the oldest in the city. Built around the "Plaza de San Pedro" (official name: Plaza Sucre) on the right bank of the river Choqueyapu, is home to numerous shops, businesses and small enterprises, especially printers, spare parts sales and repair car. San Pedro Rodriguez Market also houses one of the most important and oldest of the city.
Miraflores: Miraflores district is separated from downtown by a long barrel (now called Parque Urbano Central) and connected to it by the Bridge of the Americas and two avenues. Initially residential in nature, its growth has led him to become a major shopping and recreation. It houses the major universities and hospitals in La Paz, including the important faculty of medicine of the UMSA. In Miraflores is the Estadio Hernando Siles (cap. 45,000)people.
'North Side: has a significant industrial activity (mainly food). The most significant is the Bolivian National Brewery. Here is also the highway that connects La Paz with the city of El Alto.
'South Side: has less height than the rest of the city (3,200 to 2,800 meters). This area is home of the most affluent neighborhoods of La Paz, like Calacoto, La Florida, Achumani, among others. It has been benefited from steady economic growth and is now the second commercial and financial center of the city, housing international firms like Moody's, Citibank, Aon Corporation, Huawei, Pan American Silver Corporation, a Sumitomo Corporation branch, among others, and the MegaCenter, one of the biggest shopping malls in South America.
Economy
The economy of La Paz has improved greatly in recent years, mainly as a result of improved political leaders. Due to the long period of high inflation and economic struggle faced by Bolivians in the 1980s and early 1990s, a large Informal Economy developed. Evidence of this is provided by the markets found all around the city. While there are stable markets, almost every street in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods has at least one vendor on it. La Paz remains the principal center of manufacturing enterprises that produce finished-product goods for the country, with about two-thirds of Bolivia's manufacturing located nearby. Historically, industry in Bolivia has been dominated by mineral processing and the preparation of agricultural products. However, in the urban centre of La Paz, small plants carry out a large portion of the industry. Food, tobacco products, clothing, various consumer goods, building materials, and agricultural tools are produced. "The tin quotations from London are watched in La Paz with close interest as an index of the country's prosperity; a third of the national revenue and more than half of the total customs in 1925 were derived from tin; in short, that humble but indispensable metal is the hub around which Bolivia's economic life revolves. The tin deposits of Bolivia, second largest in the world, ... invite development."
Geography and climate
Located at (-16.5, -68.1333), La Paz is built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River (now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado.
The geography of La Paz (in particular the altitude) reflects society: the lower areas of the city are the more affluent areas. While many middle-class residents live in high-rise condos near the center, the houses of the truly affluent are located in the lower neighborhoods southwest of the Prado. And looking up from the center, the surrounding hills are plastered with makeshift brick houses of those of less economic fortune.
The satellite city of El Alto, in which the airport is located, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the Altiplano.
La Paz is renowned for its unique markets, very unusual topography, and traditional culture.
Under the Koppen climate classification, La Paz has a Subtropical highland climate. Owing to the altitude of the city, temperatures are consistently cool throughout the year, though the diurnal temperature variation is typically large. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March. The sun passes directly overhead in late October and mid February.
La Paz is located in the valleys of the Andes, and is closer to the Eastern split of the Altiplano region. Therefore, it is closer to the famous mountains such as the Illimani (guardian of La Paz), Huayna Potosi, Mururata, and Illampu. On the Western side of the Altiplano divide, about an hour to the West of the La Paz, is the site of the tallest mountain in Bolivia and 9th tallest mountain in the Andes, the Sajama Volcano. In July 1994, an earthquake rated at 8.2 struck just 200 miles north of La Paz, the largest earthquake since the Sumbawa earthquake of 1977.
Sports
La Paz is the home field of some of the biggest soccer teams in Bolivia.
Club Bolivar. Founded in 1925 and trains and plays some home games at its stadium, Libertador Simon Bolivar.
The Strongest. Founded in 1908 and hosts some of its games and trains on its home stadium, Rafael Mendoza.
La Paz F.C..
However, both teams play the majority of their games in the city stadium, Estadio Hernando Siles. It is host to several other teams that play in the first and second divisions such as: Mariscal Braun (2nd), Always Ready (2nd), Municipal (2nd), Chaco (2nd), and Iberoamericana (2nd).
La Paz also hosts the national football team and a plethora of international games.
Tourism and Sites
La Paz is the cultural center of Bolivia.
Some of the notable sites are the marketplaces. These are located across the city and one will most likely run through one at some point. Also, the city is home to hundreds of museums and locations such as the Cathedral of San Francisco (where the saint is buried), the Metropolitan Cathedral (home of Sucre's remains), the Palacio Quemado (executive building), the Congress (which one may attend sometimes), the Calle Jaen (preserved from its Spanish days, home to 10 museums), the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), the Muela del diablo (Devil's Tooth), the Cine-Teatro Municipal (built in the 19th century), the largest state University (Universidad Mayor de San Andres), the Cementerio General (where many of Bolivia's presidents are buried), the house of Simon Bolivar, the Devil's Tooth (geological formation, hiking site), and many more. Supposable curses have been put on the land because of the disturbance in the ruins when Jose Galvaerio was murdered by Mateo Sanhosea.
The city is located near many natural and ancient ruins as well. Many tourists chose to take day trips to the Tiahuanacu ruins, which are thousands of years older than Macchu Picchu itself and of the same magnitude. Such is the interest in these ruins, that Chilean and Peruvian trips almost always include this site, even though it is in Bolivia. Another day trip visit tourists usually include is the Lake Titicaca and the lakeside city of Copacabana (its cathedral is visited by many Bolivians to see the Virgen de Copacabana figure, deity of the Lake).
Tourism in the City
Presidential Palace: Also known as the Palacio Quemado (Burnt Palace) due to repeated fire episodes the building endured in the past.
The Cathedral: Built in 1835, the cathedral is an impressive building worth seeing. It is located in the Plaza Murillo nest to the Presidential Palace.
Churches: San Francisco, Santo Domingo
Casa de Pedro Domingo Murillo: Once the house of Pedro Domingo Murillo, martyr of the independence revolution of 1809 (hanged in the plaza that now bores his name) the house displays a collection of furniture, textiles, and art from colonial times.
Museo Costumbrista: Displays amazing ceramic dolls wearing traditional customs that show how was life in the early 1800s. Also displays are photos of old La Paz.
Museo Nacional de Arqueología: Depicts a collection of artifacts of the Tiawanaku culture. Museo del Litoral: Displays objects from the 1879 war in which Bolivia lost its sea coast to Chile. Museo del Oro: Depicts pre-Conquest works made of gold, silver and copper.
Museo de Etnografía y Folklore: House built in the late 1700s exhibits customs and art of two ethnic groups: Chipayas and Ayoreos.
Museo del Charango: Located in Calle Linares, the museum displays an incredible variety of charangos. Other native instruments are displayed as well.
Museo de Historia Natural: Exhibits on Bolivia's paleontology, geology, paleontology, zoology, and botany.
Casa Museo Marina Nuñez del Prado: Displays Quechua and Aymara-theme sculptures by Bolivian artist Marina Nuñez del Prado.
Museo Nacional de Arte: Located in calle Comercio, this former palace, built in 1775, houses works by Melchor Perez de Holguín and Marina Nuñez del Prado, among others.
Mercado de Brujas (Witches' Market): Merchandise sold here includes herbs, remedies as well as other ingredients used in Aymara traditions.
Feria de Alasitas: This fair is celebrated each year on January 24 in honor of a little god of abundance known as Ekeko, which means dwarf in Aymara.
Transportation
Airport
La Paz is served by El Alto International Airport (IATA code: LPB), which is situated eight miles (14 km) south-west of La Paz. At an elevation of 4061 metres (13323 ft), it is one of the highest major airports in the world. Airport facilities include a bank, bars, car rentals, restaurants, and duty-free shops. The runway has a length of 4000 metres (13123 ft) (or 2.5 miles).
Additionally, it is the second airport in the Western Hemisphere, and the third airport in the world, to successfully pass the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Universal Security Audit Program (USAP).
Bus
La Paz Bus Station, previously bus and train station, was built by the French architect Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower in France. The main gateway for transporting intercities bus travel in La Paz with several daily departs to all the main Bolivian cities. Bus Terminal in La Paz is the main city bus station. The city is connected by road with the city of Oruro where you can access the cities of Sucre, Potosí and south of the country. There is an important road that connects the road to Oruro in the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. There are also access roads to paviementados Copacabana and Tiwanaku to the west, near the Lake Titicaca, which continues until the city of Cuzco via the border town of Desaguadero. There are also roads north to get to The Yungas crossing the Andes Mountains.
The bus terminal has daily departures to major cities. There are also trips to other cities in countries like Chile and Peru. For departures to smaller cities and towns within the department, using informal stations located in Villa Fatima (departures to Los Yungas, Beni and Pando, Upper San Pedro (outputs Apolo) and near the General Cemetery (outputs Copacabana and other nearby cities to Lake Titicaca , and also Tiwanacu, Desaguadero where you can go to Peru).
Communication
The postal service is run by 'ECOBOL' (National Company) which has its headquarters in La Paz. There are other companies offering courier and transport logistics courier nationally and internationally.
The private telecommunications company 'Entel' is located in the city. Provides services telephony, Internet,cell phone, data and voice. The telephone cooperative Cotel is responsible for managing much of their phones and now offers Internet services and cable television among others.
Area Code: 2
Country Code: 591
The main daily newspapers in circulation are: 'La Razon, 'El Diario, 'La Prensa, 'Jornada and 'El Alteño' . Other papers of local importance are: Extra and PEOPLE. There are also several other publications and weekly magazines.
There are 18 television channels with offices in La Paz. Channel 7 is state property. The main ones are: Unitel, ATB Bolivia, Red Uno,Bolivision, Red PAT. Channel 13 is managed by the Universidad Mayor de San Andres. Two local companies offer cable television service as TV and Multivision Cotel.
International relations
Twin towns - Sister cities
La Paz is part of the Union of Capital Cities Latin America from October 12 1982 establishing brotherly relations with the following cities: Additionally, agreement was reached by Twin Cities with: In June 2008 it signed a twinning agreement with the City of Zaragoza,Spain.
La Paz belongs to Merco Ciudades, signed by 180 urbes of the member countries of Mercosur, since 1999.
Translation
The phrase "La Paz" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Afrikaans, Min Nan, Bosnian, Catalan, Czech, Welsh, Danish, German, Estonian, Spanish, Basque, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Croatian, Ido, Icelandic, Italian, Swahili, Haitian, Kurdish, Ligurian, Lombard, Hungarian, Malay, Nahuatl, Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk), Novial, Occitan, Piedmontese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Romansh, Sicilian, Slovenian, Finnish, Swedish, Venetian, Vietnamese, Volapük, Waray-Waray.
Translation(s) in other languages: Amharic: ላፓዝ, Arabic: لاباز, Franco-Provençal/Arpitan: La Paz (Bolivie), Aymara: Chuqiyapu, Belarusian: Горад Ла-Пас, Breton: La Paz (Bolivia), Bulgarian: Ла Пас, Greek: Λα Παζ, Esperanto: La-Pazo (Bolivio), Persian: لاپاز, French: La Paz (Bolivie), Galician: La Paz, Bolivia, Korean: 라파스, Armenian: Լա Պաս, Indonesian: La Paz, Bolivia, Ossetian: Ла-Пас (Боливи), Hebrew: לה פאס, Georgian: ლა-პასი, Latin: Paxia, Latvian: Lapasa, Lithuanian: La Pasas, Macedonian: Ла Паз, Marathi: ला पाझ, Dutch: La Paz (stad in Bolivia), Japanese: ラパス, Quechua: Chuqiyapu, Russian: Ла-Пас (Боливия), Slovak: La Paz (Bolívia), Serbian: Ла Паз, Thai: ลาปาซ, Turkish: La Paz, Bolivya, Ukrainian: Ла-Пас, Chinese: 拉巴斯.
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