Geography of Bolivia

The geography of Bolivia is unique among the countries of South America. Bolivia is next to Paraguay is the only landlocked country on the continent and here are some of the highest elevations. The main features of the Bolivian geography are the Altiplano, a high plateau of the Andes and Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca ), the largest lake in South America and the highest commercially navigable lake in the world.

Location

Bolivia covers an area of ​​1,098,580 km ², of which 14,190 km ² are water. This corresponds to about twice the size of Spain. The country is located in west-central South America, bordering with a length of 6743 km in five countries:

Geographical regions

The Andes attract a wide arc through the West in Bolivia and thus determine the three geographical zones of the country: the mountains and the Altiplano in the west, the subtropical Yungas and temperate valleys of the eastern foothills of the mountains, and the tropical lowlands ( llanos ) in the east of the country ( Oriente ). The Andes run in two large, parallel mountain ranges ( cordilleras ). The western range (Cordillera Occidental) runs along the borders with Peru and Chile. The eastern range (Cordillera Oriental ) mountain range is very wide and extends from Peru to Argentina. Between these two features is the Altiplano, a high plateau of 805 km in length and 129 km in width.

Climate

Although Bolivia lies entirely in the tropical latitude, the climatic conditions vary; from tropical in the lowlands to the polar climate in the highest regions of the Andes. Temperatures depend largely on the amount and seasonal change only slightly. In most parts of the country the rainfall during the summer in the southern hemisphere is the strongest. The total rainfall decreases from north to south.

The northern lowlands have a tropical humid climate with year round high temperatures, high humidity and heavy rainfall. The maximum daily values ​​of most places in this region are in the year-round average over 30 ° C. The northeast trade winds, blowing across the Amazon basin, brings high rainfall with it. The rain often falls in brief thunderstorms and is sometimes accompanied by strong gusts and hail.

The central lowlands has both a wet and a dry tropical climate. From October to April, the northeast trade winds makes for hot, humid and rainy weather. From May to September, dominated the Southwest Passat and ensures minimal rainfall. During the dry season sunny days and clear nights for extreme daily maximum and minimum temperatures - care. In winter, occasional strong winds from the south ( Surazos ) may occur, which provide refrigeration for several days.

The Chaco has either a tropical or a dry climate. The northeast trade winds makes for rain and hot, humid conditions from January to March. In the remaining months they remain dry with hot days and cold nights. The highest temperature ever measured in Bolivia, 47 ° C, was measured here. The Surazos reach the Chaco; their arrival is usually indicated by a strong storm front.

The temperatures and precipitation in the mountains vary to a considerable degree. In the Yungas, where the moist northeast trade winds is displaced from the mountains in height, the wettest and rainiest area of up to 1520 mm of rainfall is cloudiest, annually. In sheltered valleys and basins in the Cordillera Oriental have mild temperatures and moderate rainfall ( 640-760 mm per year). Of course the altitude increases, the temperatures drop. At altitudes above 2,000 m snow is possible above 4,600 m and is permanently snow. In areas above 5,500 m, there is a polar climate with partial glaciation. The Cordillera Occidental is a high desert with cold, wind-shaped peaks.

The Altiplano, which is also influenced by strong, cold winds, has a dry and cool climate with large daily fluctuations in temperature and decreasing rainfall from north to south. The mean daily maximum temperatures are between 15 and 20 ° C, even up to 27 ° C can sometimes be achieved by the tropical summer sun. After sunset the air stores only little heat and cools rapidly to just above the freezing point. Lake Titicaca has a moderate influence on the climate, but even on its banks appear almost monthly on frosty nights and snow is not uncommon.

Lake Titicaca

The most famous feature of the Altiplano is the large lake at the northern end of Lake Titicaca. In 3,810 m above sea level it is the highest commercially navigable waterway of the earth. With an area of ​​9064 km ² it is roughly half the size of axes and the largest lake in South America. The lake is also well up to 281 m deep, with an average depth of 215 m, the amount of water is large enough to obtain a constant temperature of 10 ° C. From the lake for a considerable radius goes from a moderate climate that allows the cultivation of wheat and corn in protected areas.

The waters of Lake Titicaca slowly flows south through the Río Desaguadero, an overgrown with reeds river, in the Poopósee. In contrast to the freshwater lake Titicaca, the Poopósee is salty and flat; the depth rarely exceeds four meters. Because of the perfect dependence on seasonal rainfall and the water level of Lake Titicaca varies the size of the Poopósees to a considerable extent. Due to low rainfall, or the silting of the Desaguaredoflusses Poopósee quite a few times in the 20th century was almost completely dried up. In years of heavy rainfall, however, the Poopósee flooded the west lies Coipasa - salt pool.

The Mountains

The Cordillera Occidental is a chain of extinct volcanoes with the occurrence of mud volcanoes and volcanic sources, escape from which sulphurous gases. The snow-covered Sajama, with 6,542 meters of the highest point of Bolivia is, like the other high peaks of volcanic origin. The exception of the volcanic cones, moderately in relief mountain range in the north has an approximate altitude of 4,000 m, in the south a little less. The rainfall is low, especially to the south. Chance, usually in damp locations, shrub vegetation is found. In extremely arid south, the landscape is very sparse, cold-and salt-tolerant vegetation types. The entire Cordillera Occidental is sparsely populated, the south is over long distances uninhabited.

The Altiplano, the high plateau between the two Cordilleras, comprises four main basin. These are bounded by mountain ranges that extend from the Cordillera Occidental in the east to about the half of the distance to the Cordillera Oriental. The Altiplano is in the eastern part even and represents, not only since the colonial period, for transports an important north-south Korridior Represents the entire Altiplano is a reduction zone between the Cordilleras, which continually with loose sediment fills up the mountain flanks, with an inner drainage ending in large salt flats in the south.

Rainfall in the Altiplano take in a southerly direction from, the shrub vegetation is sparse, sometimes only a mere stone and dry, red clay is present. In the region several salt flats exist as remnants of past, glacial lakes. The largest of them is the Uyuni salt pan ( Salar de Uyuni ), which covers over 9,000 km ². The salt crust in this plane is in the center up to five meters thick. In the dry season the seabed can be traversed by heavy trucks. Located near the Argentine border the main basin of the Altiplano ends.

The much older Cordillera Oriental reached Bolivia on the north shore of Lake Titicaca and continues in a southeasterly direction to approximately 17 ° south latitude continues to be in another southern course are becoming more widely to the Argentine border. The northernmost part of the Cordillera Oriental, the Cordillera Real, is an impressive, snowy granite massif. Many of the peaks are over 6,000 m and have extensive glaciations on. The best-known also mark the endpoints of the chain - in the northwest of Illampu ( 6,368 m) and the valley of La Paz outstanding, the Illimani with 6,439 meters the second highest mountain in Bolivia.

Just south of the 17th parallel changes of character. Here the mountain is called Cordillera Central; active tectonic fractures are divided by high cliffs obvious, the landscape in different high plateau. The Cordillera is here, high, slightly undulating surfaces 4200-4400 m with some peaks of volcanic origin. At this height level, the Puna, similar to the vegetation of a dry steppe. Here is just modest arable and pasture farming possible ( subsistence farming ).

The Valleys

The northeastern flank of the Cordillera Real is known as the Yungas ( from aymarischen word for " warm valleys "). The steep, almost inaccessible walls and peaks of this largely semi-tropical area northeast of La Paz offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Bolivia. There is heavy rain and rich vegetation climbs the sides of narrow river valleys. This region is the most fertile throughout Bolivia, but due to difficult transportation conditions for agricultural development was hindered. The government launched in 1917 the attempt to build a railway line through the Yungas of La Paz to connect to the eastern lowlands. The construction of the track, however, was canceled and left after only 150 km completion.

The eastern foothills of the Cordillera Central are always lower in mountain ranges and hills in the north-south direction. Rivers that flow eastwards have long, narrow valleys cut into the landscape. These valleys and the plains between the mountain ranges provide excellent conditions for agriculture and animal husbandry. Fertile alluvial soils have filled the low areas. In some areas, has come in the wake of clearcutting to erosion. The valleys are located between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level and this lower height allows milder temperatures in contrast to the Altiplano. Two of the main cities of Bolivia, Sucre and Cochabamba, located in the plains of the region.

Lowlands

The eastern lowlands include the entire area of Bolivia to the north and east of the Andes. Although they thus occupy two thirds of the nation, the region outside the city of Santa Cruz is still sparsely populated but economically playing a growing role.

Topographic and climatic differences divide the lowlands into three areas. The flat northern area, consisting of the departments of Beni and Pando, and the northern part of the department of Cochabamba, consists of Tropical rainforest. As the topsoil is on a Lehmuntergrund, water can hardly be stored and heavy rains transform the area regularly in a swamp.

The central area consisting of the northern half of the department of Santa Cruz has soft round hills and a drier climate than the north. Forests alternate with savanna and the country was largely cleared for agriculture. Santa Cruz, the largest city of the lowlands is also located here, as most of the Bolivian oil and gas reserves. The southeastern part of the lowlands is the continuation of the Chaco of Paraguay. For nine months, a year, this area is largely dry and is due to heavy rains for the remaining three months a wetland. These extreme changes in rainfall allow only bush and shrub vegetation and livestock. Recently the Andes petroleum and natural gas deposits were discovered here in the outermost foothills and some settlers attracted.

Most of the main Bolivian rivers are found in the water-rich northern part of the lowlands, such as in the Alto Beni, where the country allows for the cultivation of coffee and cocoa. The northern lowlands are traversed by slow-flowing, wide rivers, the three largest - Mamoré, Beni and Madre de Dios - all flow northward into the Madeira and thence to the Amazon. Riverboats along the Beni and Mamoré carry both passengers and freight. However, the rapids in the course of the Madeira into a prevent further transport to Brazil. Located near the Paraguayan border sandy streams carry the seasonal rain in the Pilcomayo River or the Río Paraguay.

Facts and Figures

• Geographical location: 9 ° 0 ' - 23 ° 0' S, 57 ° 30 ' - 70 ° 0' W ( gross values)
• Climate: varies with altitude; of feuchttropisch to cold dry
• Topography: Mountain ranges of the Andes with a high plateau ( Altiplano ), hills and lowlands of the Amazon Basin
• Lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
• Highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
• Natural resources: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber and hydropower
• Land use: arable land: 2%
• Permanent crops: 0%
• Permanent pastures: 24%
• Forests: 53%
• Other: 21%