Bolivia
...olutionary Left (MIR), the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR), and Nationalist Democratic Action Party (ADN). Bolivia is divided into nine departments, which are then divided into provinces. The Supreme Court, which is composed of twelve members, administers justice. The members are elected by Congress for ten-year terms. Bolivia’s nickname is the “Rooftop of the World” due to its high elevation in the Andes Mountains. The Andes mountain range is the main physical feature of the country. Bolivia’s landscape consists of mountains topped with snow and broad plateaus that are about four kilometers above sea level. Many Bolivians live in the Andes Mountains, which take up about a third of the country. Bolivia has a wide range of climate due to its varied elevation. Bolivia is divided into three different regions. These regions are the Altiplano, the Yungas, and the llanos. The Altiplano is the plateau area that lies between the Cordillera, Occidental, and Cordillera Oriental. The Yungas is a series of forested valleys. The llanos is the Amazon-Chaco lowlands. In the northern part of the Altiplano is Lake Titicaca, which is the highest large navigable lake in the world. Some other rivers that run through Bolivia are The Mamoré River, the Pilcomayo River, and the Beni River. The climate of Bolivia is cold and dry in the higher areas, such as the Andes Mountains. In the lower sections, the climate is warmer. The average annual temperatures range from 47°F in the Altiplano to 79°F in the eastern lowlands. Mining has played a significant role in in Bolivian economy since the early colonial times. In the first thirty years of mining, $1.5 million worth of silver was sent to the King of Spain. Wealthy miners built churches with gold and silver altars. Some of the natural resources of Bolivia are tin, lead, silver, copper, antimony, zinc, sulfur, bismuth, gold, and tungsten. Petroleum, salt, and natural gas are also found. Another major part of Bolivia’s economy is agriculture. Agriculture employs two percent of Bolivia’s labor force. Forestry, farming, and fishing accounted for twenty-two percent for the gross domestic product in 2000. Bolivia’s agriculture suffers from ancient farming methods, unreasonable means of transportation, and uneven population distribution. Bolivia is self-reliant in the production of rice, meat, and sugar. However, it must still import certain food items. Its major imports are capitol goods, raw materials, and food. Bolivia’s major exports are soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, and wood. Art plays an exceedingly important position in Bolivian culture. Some forms of Bolivian art are sculptures, paintings, dance, and music. The world of sculpture began with stone sculptures. However, later on during the colonial period, softer materials were used, though only to enhance the sculpture. This is how Tito Yupanqui sculpted “Our Lady of Copacabana in 1576. Some of the earliest forms of Bolivian paintings were oil paintings of religious subjects and majestic portraits, also done in oil. Some notable painters include Reque Meruvia, Victor Cuevas Pabon, David Crespo Gasteld, Antonio Sotomayor, the muralist Robert Berdecio, and Gil Coimbra. Many of Bolivia’s artists have been influenced by indigenous artwork. One of the most popular cultural expressions found in Bolivia is dance and music. Bolivians are able to express joy through dance and music, especially during regional celebrations of the Kollas and Yungas and also during carnivals. There are also many night club shows in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, and La Paz. There are several outdoor cafes, which are places where people go to see folkloric dancing and hear folkloric music. There are also discotheques for people who like disco dancing. So, undoubtedly, there is a little bit for everyone. Food is extremely important in Bolivian daily life. It is the central part of Bolivian fiestas. In the rural highland, the food is quite bland. On the other hand, in the lowlands and urban centers, the food is very exciting and original. Bolivians are most definitely meat lovers. Bolivian dishes include beef, poultry, lamb, and pork. A popular dish is empando salteña, or meat pie. One of the most exciting places to eat in Bolivia is in any city’s central market. The most popular drink of average Bolivians is chicha beer. This beverage is made from fermented corn and is very strong. Another important part of Bolivian daily life ...