La Paz

La Paz, officiallyNuestra Señora de La Paz(Aymara:ChuqiyapuorChuqi Yapu), is the seat of government of thePlurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024,La Paz is thethird-most populous city in Bolivia. Its metropolitan area, which is formed by La Paz,El Alto,Achocalla,Viacha, andMecapacamakes up the second most populous urban area in Bolivia, with a population of 2.2 million, afterSanta Cruz de la Sierrawith a population of 2.3 million.It is also the capital of theLa Paz Department.
The city, in west-central Bolivia 68 km (42 mi) southeast ofLake Titicaca, is set in a canyon created by theChoqueyapu River. It is in a bowl-like depression, part of the Amazon basin, surrounded by the high mountains of theAltiplano. Overlooking the city is the triple-peakedIllimani. Its peaks are always snow-covered and can be seen from many parts of the city. At an elevation of roughly 3,650 m (11,975 ft)above sea level, La Paz is thehighest capital city in the world.Due to its altitude, La Paz has an unusualsubtropical highland climate, with rainy summers and dry winters.
La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by the SpanishconquistadorCaptainAlonso de Mendoza, at the site of theIncasettlement ofLajaas a connecting point between the commercial routes that led fromPotosíandOrurotoLima; the full name of the city was originallyNuestra Señora de La Paz(meaningOur Lady of Peace) in commemoration of the restoration of peace following theinsurrectionofGonzalo Pizarroand fellow conquistadors against the firstviceroyofPeru. The city was later moved to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago Marka.La Paz was under Spanish colonial rule as part of theViceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, before Bolivia gained independence. Since its founding, the city was the site of numerous revolts. In 1781, theindigenousleader and independence activistTúpac Katarilaid siege to the city for a total of six months, but was finally defeated. On 16 July 1809, the Bolivian patriotPedro Domingo Murilloignited a revolution for independence, marking the beginning of theSpanish American Wars of Independence, which gained the freedom of South American states in 1821.
As the seat of the government of Bolivia, La Paz is the site of thePalacio Quemado, the presidential palace. It is also the seat of the Bolivianlegislature, thePlurinational Legislative Assembly, and numerous government departments and agencies. The constitutional capital of Bolivia,Sucre, retains thejudicial power.The city hosts all theforeign embassiesas well as international missions in the country. La Paz is an important political, administrative, economic, and sports center of Bolivia; it generates 24% of the nation'sgross domestic productand serves as the headquarters for numerous Bolivian companies and industries.
La Paz is also an important cultural center ofSouth America, as it hosts several landmarks dating from colonial times, such as theSan Francisco Church, theMetropolitan Cathedral, thePlaza Murilloand Jaén Street. La Paz is also situated at the confluence of archaeological regions of theTiwanakuandInca Empire. The city is renowned for its markets, particularly theWitches' Market, and for its nightlife.Its topography offers views of the city and the surrounding mountains of theCordillera Realfrom numerous naturalviewing points. La Paz is home to the largesturban cable car networkin the world.
The Spanish conquistadors founded the city in 1548 with the nameNuestra Señora de La Paz(meaningOur LadyofPeace). The name commemorated the restoration of peace following the insurrection ofGonzalo Pizarroand fellow conquistadors four years earlier againstBlasco Núñez Vela, the firstviceroyofPeru.
In 1825, after the decisive victory of therepublicansatAyacuchoover the Spanish army in the course of theSpanish American wars of independence, the city's full name was changed toLa Paz de Ayacucho(meaningThe Peace of Ayacucho).
The region in which La Paz is located in was known as Chuquiago Marka (markameans village;Chuqi Yapumeans 'gold farm', probably due to the exploitation of gold nuggets in the small rivers of the place;spelling differences due to Aymara writing compared to Spanish transliteration) in the Aymara language, leading formerPresident of BoliviaEvo Moralesto suggest renaming the city to "Chuquiago Marka" in a speech in 2017.
This area had been the site of an Inca city on a major trading route.
Although theSpanishconquistadorsentered the area in 1535, they did not found La Paz until 1548. Originally it was to be at the site of theNative Americansettlement,Laja. The town site was moved a few days later to its present location in the valley of Chuquiago, which is more clement.
Control over the formerIncalands had been entrusted toPedro de la Gascaby the Spanish king (and Holy Roman Emperor)Emperor Charles V. Gasca commandedAlonso de Mendozato found a new city commemorating the end of the civil wars in Peru; the city of La Paz was founded on 20 October 1548, by Alonzo de Mendoza, with Juan de Vargas appointed as its first mayor.
In 1549, Juan Gutierrez Paniagua was commanded to design an urban plan that would designate sites for public areas, plazas, official buildings, and a cathedral. These were meant to express the ideals and relationships of Spanish colonial society.La Plaza de los Españoles, which is known today as the Plaza Murillo, was chosen as the location for government buildings as well as the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Spaincontrolled La Paz with a firm grip and the Spanish king had the last word in all matters political, but consultation was extended, taking months or longer by sea. Indigenous and other unrest was repeated around the turn of the nineteenth century.In 1781, for a total of six months, a group ofAymara peoplelaid siege to La Paz. Under the leadership ofTupac Katari, they destroyed churches and government property. Thirty years later Indians conducted a two-month siege against La Paz. This incident was the setting for the origin of the legend of theEkeko. In 1809, the struggle for independence from the Spanish rule brought uprisings against the royalist forces.On 16 July 1809,Pedro Domingo Murillosaid that the Bolivian revolution was igniting a lamp that nobody would be able to turn off. This uprising formally marked the beginning of the liberation of South America from Spain. The first open rebellions against the Spanish Crown took place in La Paz and the city of Sucre simultaneously.This event is known as the Primer Grito Libertario de América and brought about theBolivian War of Independence.
Pedro Domingo Murillo was hanged at the Plaza de los Españoles several months later, on 29 January 1810.After Bolivia gained independence, La Paz named this plaza after him, to commemorate him always. He is remembered as the voice of revolution across South America.
In 1898, La Paz was made thede factoseat of the national government, with Sucre remaining the nominal historical as well as judiciary capital. This change reflected the shift of the Bolivian economy away from the largely exhaustedsilverminesofPotosíto the exploitation oftinnearOruro, and resulting shifts in the distribution of economic and political power among various nationalelites.
ThesegregationofCholitas(women ofAndeanindigenous background) continued until the 1980s. They were not allowed to enter certain public places and were banned from cinemas and some restaurants, with more emphasis in Bolivian eastern cities likeSanta Cruz De La Sierra.
La Paz is in the valleys ofthe Andes, close to the Eastern split of theAltiplanoregion. The metropolitan area is near to theCordillera Realrange, which includes such notable mountains asIllimani(guardian of La Paz),Mururata,Huayna Potosi,Chacaltaya,Kunturiri,Llamp'u,Chachakumani,Chearoco, andAncohuma.
La Paz is built in a canyon created by theChoqueyapu River(now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado.
The geography of La Paz (in particular the altitude) is marked by social differences. The more affluent residents live in the lower, central areas of the city southwest of the Prado. Many middle-class residents live in high-rise condos near the center. Lower-income residents live in makeshift brick houses in the surrounding hills. The satellite city of El Alto, where the airport is, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the Altiplano.
Anearthquake in July 1994rated at 8.2 struck 200 miles (322 km) north of La Paz. It could be felt near La Paz and caused damage throughout the villages of the area. In February 2002 the city was subjected to a hail and rainstorm that resulted infloodingcausing serious damage and over 50 deaths.
At more than 4,000 meters (13,000 ft) above sea level, higher parts of La Paz have asubalpine subtropical highland climate(Köppen:Cwc), bordering on atundra climate(Köppen:ET). At this altitude, night-time temperatures range from cold to very cold.Snow flurriescan occur in winter, especially at dawn and usually melts before noon. Despite being located only 16 degrees from the equator, this part of the city has average temperatures  similar to that of cities such asBergen,NorwayorTórshavn,Faroe Islands.
Temperatures in central La Paz, at 3,600 meters (11,811 feet), and in theZona Sur(Southern Zone), at 3,250 m (10,663 ft) above sea level are warmer and are classified assubtropical highland climates(Köppen:Cwb).Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructivemudslides. At an altitude of 3,250 meters, in the southern part of the city, the wettest month is January with a monthly average of 114 mm (4.5 in), and the driest is July with 8 mm (0.3 in).
The whole city has rainy summers and dry winters. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March. Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructivemudslides. The wettest month is January with a monthly average of 100–140 mm (3.9–5.5 in) of precipitation, and the driest months are June and July with around 5 mm (0.2 in) of precipitation.
In the highest part of the city, above 4,000 meters, the two cloudiest months are February and March, in late summer, when sunshine averages around 5 hours per day. The two sunniest months are June and July, in winter, when sunshine averages around 8 hours per day.
The city of La Paz has a consistently decreasing volume of colonial buildings, mostly centered around the vicinity of the Plaza Murillo. Due to a lack of funds and the inability of property owners to pay for restorations to colonial buildings, many have been torn down, or are in a dilapidated state. As historic buildings are more expensive to keep, land owners find it less of a burden to construct more modern buildings as opposed to keeping the old ones. Although there has been an increasing number of projects and propositions to restore some of the city's colonial buildings, the future of these historic edifices remains uncertain.
The economy of La Paz has improved greatly in recent years,mainly as a result of improved political stability. Due to the long period of high inflation and economic struggle faced by Bolivians in the 1980s and early 1990s, a large informal economy developed. Evidence of this is provided by the markets found all around the city.
While there are stable markets, almost every street in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods has at least one vendor on it.
La Paz remains the principal center of manufacturing enterprises that produce finished-product goods for the country, with about two-thirds of Bolivia's manufacturing located nearby. Historically, industry in Bolivia has been dominated by mineral processing and the preparation of agricultural products. However, in the urban center of La Paz, small plants carry out a large portion of the industry. Food, tobacco products, clothing, various consumer goods, building materials, and agricultural tools are produced. "The tin quotations from London are watched in La Paz with close interest as an index of the country's prosperity; a third of the national revenue and more than half of the total customs in 1925 were derived from tin; in short, that humble but indispensable metal is the hub around which Bolivia's economic life revolves. The tin deposits of Bolivia, second largest in the world, ... invite development."
La Paz is the home of some of the biggest football teams in Bolivia.
The city is host to several other teams that play in the first and second divisions such as:
With the exception of Deportivo Municipal and Unión Maestranza, all the other teams play the majority of their games in the city stadium, theEstadio Hernando Siles, which also hosts thenational football teamand international games. Always Ready frequently play at theEstadio Rafael Mendozawhich belongs to The Strongest, who rarely use the stadium due to its relatively small capacity.
The city hosts some of the most important universities of the country:
La Paz is an important cultural center of Bolivia. The city hosts several cathedrals belonging to the colonial times, such as the San Francisco Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral, this last one located on Murillo Square, which is also home of the political and administrative power of the country. Hundreds of different museums can be found across the city, the most notable ones on Jaén Street, which street design has been preserved from the Spanish days and is home of 10 different museums.
The home of the Bolivian government is located on Murillo Square and is known as "Palacio Quemado" (Burnt Palace) as it has been on fire several times. The palace has been restored many times since, but the name has remained untouched.
Popular food from La Paz includes:
Automobiles andpublic transportationare the main means to get into the city. In March 2012, more than 1.5 million vehicles were registered.Heavy traffic is common in the city center andtraffic jamsoccur on peak hours.
The La Paz-El Alto Highway is atoll roadthat connects the city of La Paz with the neighboring city ofEl Alto. It is the city's main highway. It allows easy access toEl Alto International Airport. The highway runs 11,7 km and crosses the city of El Alto:
The Southern District, one of La Paz's most affluent and commercial neighborhoods, is relatively separated from the rest of the city, including theCBD. The Avenida Costanera and Avenida Kantutani (Costanera and Kantutani Avenues) connect the southern district with the rest of the metropolitan area.
El Alto International Airport(IATA code: LPB) is La Paz's national and international airport and a principalhubforLínea Aérea AmaszonasandTransporte Aéreo Militar. It also serves as a focus city forBoliviana de Aviación, Bolivia'sflag-carrierand largest airline. The airport is located in the city ofEl Altoand is (13 km) south-west of La Paz's city center. At an elevation of 4,061 meters (13,323 feet), it is the highest international airport and fifth highest commercial airport in the world.The runway has a length of 4,000 meters (2.5 mi). It is one of Bolivia's three main international gateways, along withJorge Wilstermann International AirportandViru Viru International Airport.
International carriers serving El Alto International Airport includeAviancaandLATAM Airlines, which offer direct flights from La Paz to cities such asBogotá,Lima, andSantiago. However, most international traffic, including flights toEurope, operated out of Viru Viru International Airport inSanta Cruz de la Sierrawhich is at a much lower altitude and is capable of handling larger aircraft.
Additionally, the airport supplies travelers withoxygenfor those who suffer fromaltitude sickness.
La Paz Bus Station, originally a bus and train station, was built by the French architectGustave Eiffel. It is the main gateway for inter-city buses with several daily departures to all the main Bolivian cities, and routes toChileandPeru. The city is connected by road with the city ofOrurofrom where there are routes to Sucre,Potosíand the south of the country. Another highway branches off before Oruro to reachCochabambaandSanta Cruz. Roads to the west go toCopacabanaandTiwanaku, nearLake Titicaca, and continue toCuzco, Peru via the border town ofDesaguadero. There are also roads north to get toYungascrossing theAndes Mountains.
Departures to smaller cities and towns within the department use informal stations located in Villa Fátima (departures to Los Yungas,BeniandPando), Upper San Pedro (forApolo) and near the General Cemetery (for Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, or via Tiwanaku to Desaguadero on the Peruvian border).
A system of urban transitaerial cable carscalled Mi Teleférico ("My Cable Car") was opened in 2014. Eight lines are in operation, and three more lines are in the planning stage. The initial three lines were built by theAustriancompanyDoppelmayr. The first two lines (Red and Yellow) connected La Paz withEl Alto. All stations have both aSpanishname and anAymaraname.
Thewater supplyof La Paz is threatened by the impact ofclimate changethrough the melting of glaciers. The city receives its drinking water from three water systems: El Alto, Achachicala and Pampahasi. La Paz shares the first and largest of these systems with its sister cityEl Alto. All three systems are fed by glaciers and rivers in theCordilleramountain range. 20–28% of its water is fed by glaciers, the remainder coming from rainfall and snowmelt. The glaciers recede as a result of climate change, initially increasing water availability during the dry season, but ultimately threatening a substantial decrease in dry season run-off when they completely disappear. A small glacier, theChacaltayanear El Alto, already disappeared in 2008. The El Alto system receives its water from the Tuni Dam and two water channels. These channels divert water that flows from the Zongo Glacier on the slopes ofHuayna Potosiand fromCondoririNorth of El Alto.The 2.9 km long Zongo glacier retreats at a rate of about 18 meters per year.The Tuni and Condoriri glaciers have lost 39% of their area between 1983 and 2006. According to a study by theStockholm Environment Institute(SEI), the El Alto system is the least resilient against the impact of climate change among the three systems. The study says that reducing water distribution losses is the most effective short-term strategy to deal withwater scarcity.New water sources further to the North in the Cordillera include the Khara Kota and Taypicacha, but they are expensive to develop and their water supply is also affected by glacier melt.
La Paz is part of theUnion of Ibero-American Capital Citiesfrom 12 October 1982.
La Paz is also a member of Merco Ciudades, a group of 180 cities withinMercosur,since 1999.
La Paz istwinnedwith: