Nuestra Señora de La Paz or Chuquiyapu ("chuqui", 'gold', "yapu", 'farm') is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. As of the 2001 census, the city of La Paz had a population of around one million.
Geography
La Paz is situated in the valley of the Choqueyapu River below a plateau with an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,811 feet). At this elevation, as a governmental capital, it is the highest capital in the world. However, the legal capital is Sucre so this fact can be disputed. Atop the plateau is the city of El Alto, where the international airport is located. Transportation links between the two cities have improved in recent years. The city is located at 16°30' South, 68°8' West (-16.5, -68.1333). Its name is translated into English as "Our Lady of Peace"
La Paz is renowned for its unique markets, very unusual topography, and traditional culture. It is the capital of a country that is often referred to as the "Tibet of the Americas".
La Paz is one of the world's most fire-resistant cities. Because of its altitude, the oxygen content of the air is about a third less than at sea level, making it difficult for a small flame to sustain itself.
History
Founded in 1548 by Alonso de Mendoza at the site of the Native American settlement called Chuquiago, the full name of the city was originally Nuestra Señora de La Paz (meaning Our Lady of Peace). The name commemorated the restoration of peace following the insurrection of Gonzalo Pizarro and fellow conquistadors four years earlier against Blasco Núñez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru. In 1825, after the decisive victory of the republicans at Ayacucho over the Spanish army in the course of the South American Wars of Independence, the city's full name was changed to LaPaz de Ayacucho (meaning The Peace of Ayacucho).
In 1898, La Paz was made the de facto seat of the national government, with Sucre remaining the nominal capital only. This change reflected the shift of the Bolivian economy away from the largely exhausted silver mines of Potosí to the exploitation of tin near Oruro, and resulting shifts in the distribution of economic and political power among various national elites.
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, and is home to the world's highest golf course. The air is so thin that a well-hit shot will travel several meters farther than at sea level.
The main road from La Paz to the Yungas was named the 'World's most dangerous road', with hundreds of casualties yearly on only a 10 mile stretch.
Climate
Due the the high altitude in which the city is located, cold and dry temperatures are a common throughout the year, especially in winter time where the temperature can reach -5 ºC (23 ºF). In the summer, rain falls on most afternoons.
The average temperatures in the coldest month, July, are a maximum of 17 Degrees Celsius and a minimum of 1 Degree Celsius. November is the warmest month in La Paz, with an average high of 19 Degrees Celsius, and an average low of 6 Degrees Celsius.
Gallery
Image:Banco Central de Bolivia.png|Bolivan Central Bank in La Paz
Image:La_Paz_Bolivia_directed_to_El_Alto.jpg|View towards El Alto
Image:LaPazBolivia.jpg|Panoramic view of La Paz
Image:Lapaz noche.JPG
Image:Center of La Paz 02.jpg|Center of La Paz
Image:LaPaz Plaza Pedro Di Murillo 10.2004.jpg|Plaza San Pedro in La Paz
Image:SAN JORGE Bolivia.jpg|San Jorge, La Paz
Image:Place of San-Francisco Bolivia.jpg|Place of San Francisco
Image:La Paz-center.jpg|Center of La Paz
Image:ZONA SUR LA PAZ.jpg|La Paz
See also
External links
