Area 1,098,580 square kilometers (424,164 square miles)
About one-third of the area of India
Topography The principal physical feature of Bolivia is the Andes mountain
range, which extends generally north to south across the western
part of the country. On the west, near the border with Chile,
is the Cordillera Occidental, or western range, and on the northeast
is the Cordillera Real, the main range of the Andes. Bolivia is
divided into three distinct regions: the altiplano, or plateau
region; the yungas, a series of forested and well-watered valleys
embracing the eastern mountain slopes and valleys; and the llanos,
or the Amazon-Gran Chaco lowlands. The altiplano lies between
the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Central. The northern
part contains, at its end, Lago Titicaca, the highest large navigable
lake in the world.
The southern part of the plateau is arid as a desert with the
most big salt lake's of the world, the Salar de Uyuni and Coipasa.
Lying on the eastern slopes of the Andes are the yungas. Stretching
east and northeast from the mountains are the great Amazonian
llanos, containing large grassy tracts and, along the rivers,
dense tropical forests. Much of this region becomes swampland
during the wet season (December, January, and 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, are the dry, semitropical plains of the
Gran Chaco.
Major Rivers and Lakes Four rivers comprise Bolivia's drainage system in the northern
and northeastern valleys and plains: the Río Beni and its main
affluent, the Río Madre de Dios; the Rio Guaporé, which forms
part of the boundary with Brazil; and the Río Mamoré. In the southeast,
the chief river is the Río Pilcomayo, which flows through the
Gran Chaco region to feed the Río Paraguay, eventually draining
into the Río de la Plata. The Desaguadero River, outlet for Lago
Titicaca, feeds Lago Poopó to the southeast. Bolivia shares control
of Lago Titicaca with its neighbor Peru.
Climate Bolivia is situated entirely within the tropics, but because of
its varied elevation it has a wide range of climate. In the higher
elevations, the climate is cold and dry but generally healthful,
in spite of the cutting winds, the thinness of the atmosphere,
and the daily extremes of temperature. In the lower-lying regions,
the climate is warmer. The mean annual temperatures range from
about 8°C (about 46°F) in the Altiplano to about 26°C (about 79°F)
in the eastern lowlands.
The principal physical feature of Bolivia is the Andes mountain
range, which extends generally north to south across the western
part of the country. On the west, near the border with Chile,
is the Cordillera Occidental, or western range, and on the northeast
is the Cordillera Real, the main range of the Andes. Bolivia is
divided into three distinct regions: the altiplano, or plateau
region; the yungas, a series of forested and well-watered valleys
embracing the eastern mountain slopes and valleys; and the llanos,
or the Amazon-Gran Chaco lowlands. The altiplano lies between
the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Central. The northern
part contains, at its end, Lago Titicaca, the highest large navigable
lake in the world.
The southern part of the plateau is arid as a desert with the
most big salt lake's of the world, the Salar de Uyuni and Coipasa.
Lying on the eastern slopes of the Andes are the yungas. Stretching
east and northeast from the mountains are the great Amazonian
llanos, containing large grassy tracts and, along the rivers,
dense tropical forests. Much of this region becomes swampland
during the wet season (December, January, and 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, are the dry, semitropical plains of the
Gran Chaco.
Four rivers comprise Bolivia's drainage system in the northern
and northeastern valleys and plains: the Río Beni and its main
affluent, the Río Madre de Dios; the Rio Guaporé, which forms
part of the boundary with Brazil; and the Río Mamoré. In the southeast,
the chief river is the Río Pilcomayo, which flows through the
Gran Chaco region to feed the Río Paraguay, eventually draining
into the Río de la Plata. The Desaguadero River, outlet for Lago
Titicaca, feeds Lago Poopó to the southeast. Bolivia shares control
of Lago Titicaca with its neighbor Peru.
Bolivia is situated entirely within the tropics, but because of
its varied elevation it has a wide range of climate. In the higher
elevations, the climate is cold and dry but generally healthful,
in spite of the cutting winds, the thinness of the atmosphere,
and the daily extremes of temperature. In the lower-lying regions,
the climate is warmer. The mean annual temperatures range from
about 8°C (about 46°F) in the Altiplano to about 26°C (about 79°F)
in the eastern lowlands.