In these rough-edged neighborhoods of raw masonry buildings and potholed streets two worlds meet the metropolitan and the traditional. From Lake Titicaca in the north to Tarija in the south, from the lowlands to the mountains, indigenous people from all over Bolivia come here to seek opportunities and a better life. Just 20 years ago, El Alto consisted of little more than a few businesses clustered around the airport. In just 10 years, the upstart city s population had swelled to 200,000, and today it stands at 700,000. It continues to grow at an annual rate of 12 percent.
El Alto is a vibrant urban phenomenon.
From behind the high walls lining the sidewalks, one hears the hiss of the welding torch, the hum of a sewing machine, the clanging of metal against metal. Nearly 70 percent of El Alto s population consists of rural migrants. Although they are poor, they are busy, many running their own enterprises. Many El Alto residents remain in touch with their ancestral communities. Street vendor Tomasita Apaza, who receives small loans through an IDB-financed credit program, periodically visits her old community for important celebrations, to catch up on family gossip and to stock up on freshly dug potatoes.