Copacabana, Bolivia

Copacabana is a country town in the department of La Paz in the South American Andes State of Bolivia and is located on the Copacabana Peninsula on the shores of 3,810 m high Lake Titicaca. In addition, in Bolivia carry the name " Copacabana " seven other villages, two of them also in the department of La Paz, the Bolivian Navy has a base here.

Name

There is the view that the name comes from the Aymara Quta Qawana what the meaning " lake view " has. Deviating from the scientist Mario Montaño Aragón in the " Indian Archives" in Seville (Spain ) has found a completely different origin story: " Kotakawana " is the god of fertility in the early mythology of the Andes, an analogue to the classical Greek deity Aphrodite or the Roman Venus. This deity is androgynous and lives in Lake Titicaca. Meanwhile, court consists of male and female creatures are depicted in colonial sculptures. In Catholic churches they are called " Umantuus " while its counterpart in Western culture most likely to be the mermaid.

Location in near space

Copacabana is the central place of the district ( bolivian: Municipio) Copacabana and seat of the administration of the province Manco Kapac. The village is situated in the southern part of Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3857 m and is connected by a land connection with the ten kilometers away Peruvian territory.

Geography

Copacabana is located on the Bolivian Altiplano between the Andes mountain ranges, the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Central in the west to the east. The region has a pronounced diurnal climate, in which the average daily temperature fluctuations apparent failure than the average seasonal variation.

The average annual temperature of the region is about 8 ° C (see climate chart Copacabana ), the monthly values ​​vary only slightly between about 6 ° C in June / July and 10 ° C in November / December. The annual precipitation is about 700 mm, the monthly rainfall range from less than 10 mm in the months of June and July and 150 mm in January and February.

Traffic network

Copacabana is located at a distance of 147 kilometers of road north-west of La Paz, the capital of the department of the same name.

From La Paz the paved highway Ruta 2 leads in a northwesterly direction over Huarina to San Pablo de Tiquina on Lake Titicaca, where the sea - strait is crossed by boat. After another forty kilometers, the Ruta 2 Copacabana reached and then continues south to Khasani on the Peruvian border.

From Puno in Peru is a direct bus route through Copacabana to La Paz addition, Copacabana starting point for crossings to Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna on the Titicaca Lake.

Population

The population of the town has risen in the past two decades by about two-thirds:

Because of the historical population growth, the region has a high proportion of Aymara population in the municipality of Copacabana 94.3 percent of the population speak the Aymara language.

Tourism

Copacabana on Lake Titicaca is its location and tourist infrastructure at popular individual tourists who are on the southern route through Peru on the road or in the Bolivian highlands. A fascinating view of the city and the lake can be enjoyed from the nearby Cerro Calvario, the 3,966 m high mountain of Copacabana. This route is also popular among pilgrims, as it shows the suffering of Jesus on 14 stations to the crucifixion.

The place is considered the most important pilgrimage site in Bolivia. There is a basilica in the one -meter-high figure of the "Dark Virgin " or Virgen Morena, also Virgen de Copacabana called. The figure was carved in 1576 by ​​an Indian of dark wood and has a crown of pure gold. The associated Basilica in the Moorish style, was built in 1820. The figure of Mary attributed numerous miracles and healings, it is venerated as the patron saint of Lake Titicaca. Every weekend, here are families from all over Bolivia and neighboring Peru and let bless their cars. The blessing is given by both a monk and a shaman.

201746
de