Bolivia Essay, Research Paper

Bolivia is located in the west-central portion of South America and is the 5th largest state

of the continent holding an country about twice the size of Spain. Bolivia is landlocked

surrounding five states ; Brazil on the nor’-east, Paraguay to the sou’-east, Argentina on

the South, and Chile and Peru on the West. The chief physical characteristic of Bolivia is the

Andes Mountains, which define the state & # 8217 ; s three geographic zones. First is the

Altiplano, or plateau part, which lies between the Cordillera Occidental ( west ) and the

Cordillera Real ( nor’-east ) . On the northern terminal of the Altiplano lies the Lake Titicaca,

the highest navigable organic structure of H2O in the universe. Second are the Yungas which form a

passage zone between the extremums of the Andes and the Amazonian wood. Last are the

Lowlands which make up over two-thirds of the national district ; north and E of the

Andes. Most of Bolivia & # 8217 ; s of import rivers are found in the northern lowlands all which

finally flux into the Amazon. ( Box 234, 277, 314 )

The country of modern Bolivia was controlled by Spanish conquering in 1525. The

district of Bolivia, a portion of the ancient imperium of the Incas, was conquered in 1538 by

the Spanish conquistador Hernando Pizarro. As Spanish royal authorization weakened during

the Napoleonic wars, judgement against colonial regulation grew. Between 1808 and 1810, the

Wars of Independence took topographic point in Upper Peru which constituted attempts to accomplish

independency. The rebellion on May 25, 1809 was one of the first in Latin America. On July

16, 1809, Upper Peru proclaimed itself an independent province. The Battle of Ayacucho in

1824 was the concluding conflict that efficaciously ended Spanish regulation in Upper Peru. On August 6,

1825, Bolivia achieved independency from Spain after a battle led by Simon Bol? volt-ampere and

Antonio Jos? de Sucre. To fulfill Bol? volt-ampere & # 8217 ; s reserves about the independency of Upper

Peru, the new state was named after him. Five yearss after Bolivia declared its

independency from Spain, on August 11 the freshly independent state was named Bolivia,

after Simon Bol? volt-ampere. ( Country Study 15-16 )

The type of authorities tally in Bolivia is a Democracy. The 1967 fundamental law,

revised in 1994, provides for balanced executive, legislative, and judicial powers. Along

with the three subdivisions there are nine administrative sections each controlled by a

governor. The Executive subdivision is headed by the President. The current president is

Hugo Banzer Suarez, elected in August 1997 ; the Vice President is Jorge Fernando

Quiroga Ramirez. The president and frailty president are chosen through popular ballot

elections to a four-year term. The president appoints the cabinet. The Legislative subdivision

is a bicameral National Congress, composed of a 27 member Senate and a 1

100 30 member Chamber of Deputies. The Judicial subdivision is the Supreme Court

composed of 12 members elected by Congress and local tribunals. The national capital

and place of authorities and Congress is La Paz while Sucre is the legal capital and place of

bench. ( Country Study 169,174-5,177 )

With its history of societal controls and turns of hyper-inflation, Bolivia has

remained one of the poorest and least developed South American states. Bolivia

experienced two major revolutions in economic policy during the 2nd half of the

20th century. However, Bolivia has experienced by and large bettering economic

conditions since the late 80 & # 8217 ; s. In the late eightiess, trade of the coca works, used for cocaine,

became a large-scale illegal activity in belowground economic system. These activities thrived,

using two-thirds of the work force, numbering more than the official international trade.

Early on 90 & # 8217 ; s successes included the sign language of a free trade understanding with Mexico. ( State

Study 101-2 )

Agriculture plays an of import function in the economic system ; Bolivia is the 2nd most

agricultural state in South America. Nearly half of the population is employed in the

agricultural sector. Bolivia & # 8217 ; s major merchandises are soya beans, cotton, murphies, maize,

sugar cane, rice, wheat, java, beef, barley. Tin has long been the state & # 8217 ; s most

of import mineral. However, since the prostration of Sn monetary values in the mid-1980s, Bolivia has

come to trust more on its other natural resources, which include sedimentations of natural gas,

crude oil, tungsten, Ag and gold. ( Blair 171-2 )

The Spanish linguistic communication became a portion of the civilization as a consequence of Spanish control

before having independency in 1825. Spanish is t

he official linguistic communication, yet merely about

half of the people speak it as their first linguistic communication. Spanish is spoken by many of the

ladino and Bolivians of European descent, but is non spoken by about 40 % of the

Native American population. The balance speak Quechua, the linguistic communication of the Inca, or

Aymar? , the pre-Inca linguistic communication. Compound dialects of Spanish-Aymar? and Spanish-

Quechua are besides widely spoken. ( Blair 91-3 )

In 1961 the authorities gave up its right to intercede in church personal businesss ; they

proclaimed spiritual acceptance and permitted the constitution of non-Roman Catholic

churches. The Fundamental law of 1967 granted official position to the Roman Catholic Church

and vouch the public exercising of all other faiths. Religion was traditionally the

sphere of adult females, work forces felt no duty to go to church or to pattern their faith.

The Bolivian population is predominately Roman Catholic, the official faith. Other

minorities include: Protestant, particularly Evangelical Methodist churchs, and Jewish. In 1980s

Church of jesus christ of latter-day saintss, Jehovah & # 8217 ; s Witnesses, gained increasing followings. ( Blair 105-6, 115 )

Body linguistic communication is every bit important as spoken linguistic communication. Bolivians greet friends

heartily ; adult females kiss on each cheek while touching each arm and work forces either agitate custodies

or give an abrazo ; a type of clinch followed by a series of raps on the shoulder and another

handshaking. It is common to see females of all ages walking arm in arm or manus in manus.

Eye contact is a must ; avoiding another & # 8217 ; s eyes is considered contemptuous. Ask before taking a

image of person in Bolivia ; people sometimes believe that you are capturing their spirit.

Sometimes autochthonal indigens will inquire for money when their image is taken. Besides be

careful about taking exposures in spiritual shrines. ( Customs and Culture )

The Bolivian diet consists chiefly of a broad assortment of murphies and quinua which is

a high protein grain. Bolivia & # 8217 ; s nutrient is dominated by meat dishes, accompanied by rice,

murphies and shredded boodle. The intoxicant is strong and Bolivian imbibing wonts are

lusty. In La Paz a favourite dish called fricase is made with porc and seasoned with xanthous

hot Piper nigrum. Sucre is celebrated for chorizos ( sausage ) and ckocko, a dish of poulet cooked

in hookah with raisins. A favourite dish of people in the Torrid Zones is locro, a rice soup made

with charque ( beef jerked meat ) or chicken, green bananas, eggs and served with yuca. Salte? as,

a meat or poulet turnover, are another popular nutrient of Bolivians eaten chiefly in the

altiplano and vale parts. ( Customs and Culture )

Merely a passport is required for entry into Bolivia. U.S. citizens do non necessitate a visa

for a one-month stay. Business visa requires $ 50.00 US fee and company missive explicating

intent of trip. U.S. citizens who are long-run visitants are encouraged to register at the

U.S. embassy upon reaching in a state. Registering with the embassy may assist you to

replace lost individuality paperss or assist household members contact you in instance of an

exigency. ( Fodor & # 8217 ; s 141 )

La Paz, the highest capital metropolis in the universe is a great attractive force for travellers. La

Paz has a figure of museums, including The Museo de Metales Preciosos Pre-

Columbinos. About 37 stat mis to the E of the metropolis is Illimani ( 21,188ft ) ,

Bolivia & # 8217 ; s most celebrated extremum. The Illimani and the 21,080ft Ancohuma offer great mounting

chances in the Cordillera Real. Forty-three stat mis west of the metropolis is the historical

ceremonial centre of Tiahuanaco, Bolivia & # 8217 ; s most of import archeological site. Lake

Titicaca is regarded as the highest navigable organic structure of H2O in the universe. This fresh water

lake steps one hundred 45 stat mis from northwest to southeast and sixty stat mis

from nor’-east to southwest which besides includes 36 islands. Cochabamba, founded in

1574, is Bolivia & # 8217 ; s largest market town. It has historical and archeological attractive forces,

including the 400-year-old cathedral, the Convento de Santa Teresa and the Museo

Arqueol? gico. ( Fodor & # 8217 ; s 105,120,125 )

Blair, David Nelson. The Land and People of Bolivia. New York: J.B. Lippincott, 1990.

Box, Ben, erectile dysfunction. South American Handbook ( 1995 ) . Prairie state: Passport Books, 1994.

& # 8220 ; Customs and Culture. & # 8221 ; Andean Rural Health Care. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.main.nc.us/ARHC/

customs.htm. Online. 29 January 1999.

Federal Research Division Library of Congress. Bolivia: a state survey. Washington

District of columbia: GPO, 1991.

Fionn Davenport, Anto Howard, and Chelsea S. Mauldin, eds. Fodor & # 8217 ; s: South America,

3rd erectile dysfunction. New York: Fodor & # 8217 ; s Travel Publications, Inc. , 1997.