Bolivia

Republic in central South America, bounded on the north and east by Brazil, on the southeast by Paraguay, on the south by Argentina, and on the west by Chile and Peru. Bolivia and Paraguay are the only South American countries without direct access to the sea.

The constitutional capital of Bolivia is Sucre; La Paz is the largest city and administrative capital.

Santa Cruz:

The city of Santa Cruz is a major trade center in an area producing cattle, cotton, sugarcane, coffee, tobacco, rice, fruit, sunflower, sorghum and corn. Oil and gas fields lie nearby. Local industries include oil refining, sugar and textile milling, tanning, sawmilling, and the manufacture of alcohol, tobacco products, and confectionery.

Language:

The official languages of Bolivia are Spanish and two Native South American languages, Quechua and Aymara; of those the Native American languages are more commonly spoken.

Religion:

Roman Catholicism is the religion of the great majority of the population.

Geography:

The principal physical feature of Bolivia is the Andes mountain range, which extends generally north to south across the western part of the country. Stretching east and northeast from the mountains are the great Amazonian plains (llanos) containing large grassy tracts and, along the rivers, dense tropical forests. Much of this region becomes swampland during the wet season (December through February); large areas, however, lie above the flood line and are rich grazing lands. In the southeast, separated from the Amazonian plains by the Chiquitos highlands (about 1,070 m/about 3,500 ft), are the dry, semitropical plains of the Chaco. Because of the wide variations in elevation, plant and animal species of nearly every climatic zone are found in Bolivia. Wildlife is abundant and includes jaguar, ocelot, tapir, anteater, capybara and peccary. Bird, reptile, and insect life is also diverse.

Climate:

Although situated entirely within the tropics.Bolivia has, as a result of its varied elevation, a wide range of climate. In the higher regions the climate is cold and dry. In the lower-lying regions the climate is warmer. The mean annual temperatures range from 8° C (47° F) in the highlands to 26° C (79° F) in the eastern lowlands.

Population:

The population of Bolivia is roughly 8´000.000 people , giving the country a population density of 18 per sq mi, the lowest in South America. . Most of the people are native americans (55%), and live in the Andes; the remaining inhabitants are a mix between Native American and European ancestry called "mestizo"(30%) and white (15%). Since the 1950s, however, the sparsely settled, eastern lowland plains have gradually become more populous because of significant discoveries of oil and gas.