Columbus Global Village Team leads Habitat for Humanity Mission Trips: Bolivia 2008: About Bolivia

About Bolivia

Three llamas on a plain in front of a mountain under a blue sky
Photo courtesy of András Janscik

Bolivia, the world's largest producer of tin, is located at the very center of South America. Unfortunately, it is among continent's poorest countries with 64% of its 9 million people living in poverty.

You can zoom in on this Expedia Map and see details down to the names of small towns. There are several types of maps at WorldAtlas.com, and a very detailed collection at the University of Texas.

Habitat for Humanity has been active in Bolivia since 1985, and now serves the country through 9 affiliates building over 600 houses per year according to the http://www.habitat.org/intl/lac/24.aspxBolivia profile at Habitat for Humanity International.

Here is an http://www.habitat.org/hw/dec_2008/feature3f.htmlarticle about one Bolivian family's Habitat home ownership experience.

Get a tourist view at Viva Travel Guides.

Here is a profile from BBC News.

The CIA World Factbook contains a multitude of information.

The official currency is the Bolivian Boliviano. The average exchange rate from August 2006 through August 2007 has been 8.2 Bolivianos per US Dollar, with easing to a level of 7.9 in late August 2007.

Bolivia - The Heart Of South America

This profile was provided by the offices of Habitat for Humanity Bolivia

Geographic location

Bolivia is nestled deep in the heart of South America, sharing borders to the north and east with Brazil, to the west with Peru and Chile, and to the south with Paraguay and Argentina.

History of Bolivia

Archaeological evidence indicates that towards the year 2500 B.C. the first cultures had begun to appear in the area of South America now known as Bolivia.

One of the most fascinating and mysterious of these cultures was the Tiahuanacos. The Tiahuanacota hegemony was based on military power maintained by a disciplined army heavily supplied with bronze weaponry.

The Tiahuanacota Empire later disappeared due to serious climatic problems that caused a rapid decrease in both harvests and populations, and was later replaced by the "señorío" or kingdom of the Colla or Collasuyo, which was characterized by its advanced architectural techniques, especially in religious monuments. The Collasuyo was later conquered by the Incas.

After several indigenous revolts incited to rebellion in Alto, Peru, Bolivar and Sucre (political liberators) united by an ideal, and with their brave armies in tow, crossed plains, valleys, and mountains, swords raised to release the oppressed towns of South America. In the battles of Junín and Ayacucho, they then forged the Bolivian nation that we now know today.

Bolivia is often characterized by its diversity of flora and fauna, as well as its parallel diversity of culture. There are many different ethnic groups in Bolivia, which are divided into two main branches: the Andean group, which settled in altiplano and valley regions of Bolivia, and those of the warmer regions. There are many other ethnic groups in Bolivia, each with their own unique characteristics, and all are part of the historical-cultural antecedents of the country.

Among these smaller sub-groups are: in the valleys, the Yampara or Ampara and the Mojocoyas; in the Eastern Zone, the Chiriguanos, Guarayos, Moxeños, Chapacuras, Itonomas, Movimas, Paraguaras, Iténez, Tacanas, Mosetenes and Sirionós.

The mountain range of the Andes crosses through Bolivia, providing numerous peaks and mountainous areas.

Mountain ranges and higher Mountains of Bolivia

Name	Department	Meters (above sea level)	Feet (above sea level)
Sajama	Oruro	6.542	21.464
Illampu	La Paz	6.421	21.067
Illimani	La Paz	6.402	21.006
Hanko Uma	La Paz	6.380	20.933
Chiaraco	La Paz	6.240	20.473
Pomerape	Oruro	6.222	20.414
Chachacomani	La Paz	6.150	20.178

Significant Lakes

Name	Department	Area Km²	Altitude (mts. above sea level)
Titicaca	La Paz	8.030	3.810
Poopó	Oruro	1.337	3.686
Huaynatunas	Beni	360	200
Rogagua	Beni	350	200

Main salt esplanades

Name

Department

Area Km²

Altitude

(mts. above sea level)

Uyuni

Potosí

10.582

3.656

Coipasa

Oruro

2.218

3.680

Native Symbols


National Flower- Kantuta	National Shield	National flag

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS

Bolivia has a population of 8,274,325 inhabitants.

4.150.475 are women, representing 50.16% of the population

4,123,850 are men, representing 49,84% of the population

62.43% of the population (5,165,882 inhabitants) lives in urban areas, leaving 37.57% (3,108,443 inhabitants) residing in the rural areas.

58 - 60 % of the population lives beneath the poverty line.

Population per department

Department	Inhabitants
Chuquisaca	531.522
La Paz	2.350.466
Cochabamba	1.455.711
Oruro	391.870
Potosí	709.013
Tarija	391.226
Santa Cruz	2.029.471
Beni	362.521
Pando	52.525

Source: INE

TERRITORIAL AREA

Bolivia has a territorial area of 1.098.581 Km2

Departure	Area Km²	Height in meters
Chuquisaca	51.524	2.790
La Paz	133.985	3.640
Cochabamba	55.631	2.558
Oruro	53.588	3.709
Potosí	118.218	4.070
Tarija	37.623	1.866
Santa Cruz	370.621	416
Beni	213.564	236
Pando	63.827	221

HOUSING

A percentage equivalent to 4,695,464 inhabitants live in houses that do not fulfill the appropriate sanitary conditions.

Types of Housing in Bolivia

House / hut / pahuichi	77.33 %
Single Rooms	18.95 %
Apartment	3.60 %
Improvised House or Mobile House	0.12 %

Number of People per Room

No People	Percentage
1 or 2	45.59 %
2 or 3	22.45 %
3 more	31.95 %

LANGUAGES

The official language in Bolivia is Spanish, nevertheless quechua, aymara and guaraní are also spoken.

INTERNATIONAL AREA CODE

The international calling code for Bolivia is 591.

CURRENT PRESIDENT

Evo Morales Ayma

SEASONS IN BOLIVIA

Spring September 21st to December 20th
Summer December 21st to March 20th
Autumn March 21st to June 20th
Winter June 21st to September 20th

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BOLIVIA

Habitat for Humanity Bolivia (HPHB) has built more than 6,204 houses since its inception in December 2005. Habitat Bolivia currently builds out of 9 Affiliate offices throughout the country: Alto Beni, El Alto, Cochabamba, Chimoré, Santa Cruz, San Julian, Ichilo, Oruro and Tarija.

Habitat Bolivia is working through several different Projects in order to reach the populations most readily in need of shelter, which has led to the development of the "Progressive" house model. With this design, the family is able to build the in several individual progressions, as they return portions of the loan granted by Habitat Bolivia. In this way, discrimination can be better eliminated towards lower income families.

The first, and main module is 60m² (646 ft²), and consists of sub modules (A-B-C-D), which will follow norms and requirements for living space (kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedrooms 1- 2 -3).