Bolivia
If you look at a map of South America you will notice that Bolivia is a landlocked country. But it wasn’t always this way. Between 1879 and 1884 Bolivia, with the help of Peru, tried to defend land that bordered the ocean from a Chilean invasion. This was known as the War of the Pacific, and the resulting loss for Bolivia was the valuable coastal land and port, but also the rich copper and sodium nitrate deposits located here. To this day Bolivians long to reacquire that lost land. But the War of the Pacific was just one of many conflicts or disputes which would slowly eat away at Bolivia’s sovereign territory. Bolivia once possessed over two million square kilometers of land, but since its independence in 1825 the country lost almost half of that land to neighboring Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile. Essentially the natural resources that abound within Bolivia proved to be too enticing to its neighbors and without the means to defend it, concessions were made.
Bolivia is the highest nation in the western hemisphere and its remarkable landscapes are a contradiction to the senses. Bolivia defines extreme simply because so many geologic changes occur in one place. From the largest high altitude lake in the world, to the steamy tropical forest of the Amazon Basin, to the rugged and densely glaciated peaks of the cordilleras, to the otherworldly scenes of the Altiplano where endless salt flats stretch to the horizon in complete whiteness and solitary volcanoes punctuate the sky, it’s all here in one country. And the extremes don’t stop there.
The rugged and extreme geography of Bolivia has kept the country isolated and considerably undeveloped. The benefits of this have helped endangered species to thrive here, it’s also the reason Bolivia remains the cradle of South American culture. Ancient traditions also still thrive here because the indigenous people represent 60% of the population and still carry on their heritage. But the drawbacks to this isolation and ruggedness have effectively contributed to Bolivia’s ranking as one of the poorest nations in the world, with nearly 90% of the population living below the poverty line.
Bolivia is indeed a country of extremes. Its natural beauty and cultural heritage are rich and inviting to the traveler, but the poverty level, literacy rate, and lack of medical access are poor and in a state of need and development. That’s why organizations like Mano a Mano International are making a difference in Bolivia and why we want to be a part of that.
Regardless of Bolivia’s stature as one of the poorest countries in the world, it is truly one of the richest when it comes to impressive landscapes and colorful cultures. Bolivia is a fantastic destination for the adventure traveler seeking less traveled and remote treasures.