Ms. Soles Social Studies

1. Ms. SolesSocial Studies Lesson 19 South America: BOLIVIA

2. Are you ready to tour another fascinating country in South America? What are we waiting for?

3. Where in the world is BOLIVIA?

5. Flag of Bolivia

6. At 1,098,580 square kilometres (424,160 sq mi), Bolivia is the world's 28th-largest country

7. Many ecological zones are represented within Bolivia's territory. The western highlands of the country are situated in the Andes and include the Bolivian Altiplano. The eastern lowlands include large sections of Amazonian rainforests and the Chaco Plain.

8. The highest peak is Nevado Sajama at 6,542 metres (21,463 ft) located in the Oruro Department. Lake Titicaca is located on the border between Bolivia and Peru. The Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, lies in the southwest corner of the country, in Potosí Department.

9. Climate of Bolivia The weather in Bolivia can vary drastically from one climatic zone to another. The summer months in Bolivia are November through March. The weather is typically warmer and wetter during these months. April through October, the winter months, are typically colder and drier.

10. In the highlands, the weather can be very cold and temperatures frequently go below zero at night, especially on the Altiplano. Snow is common in Potosí during the winter months and sometimes also falls on La Paz and Oruro. Dust Storm Over Bolivia

11. The weather in the rainforest is usually very hot and often very wet. The drier period of the year is May to October. The section of the rainforest that borders Cordillera Real of the Andes Mountains is a bit cooler,still very wet. Cliffs along Tuichi River, Madidi National Park

12. Facts About Bolivia CAPITALS La Paz &Sucre POPULATION 8.5 Million LAND AREA 418,683 mi;1,084,390 sq km ETHNIC GROUPS Quecha, Mestizo, Aymara, White RELIGIONS Roman Catholic, Protestant

13. GOVERNMENT Republic CURRENCY Boliviano MAIN EXPORTS Soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood, salt LANGUAGES Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)

14. The following video gives you a glimpse into Bolivia’s early history: http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=2184&CategoryID=5618

15. La Paz: Highest Capital in the World

16. Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca.

17. Uro person on floating an islet in Titicaca. Bolivians in La Paz city Centre People of Bolivia

18. Bolivia has the highest percentage of the native indigenous people of any South American country. Many of them continue to follow customs and lifestyles that have existed for centuries. Traditional styles may include long full skirts with derby hats for the women and striped ponchos for the men.

20. Aymara Woman Praying Cristo se la Concordia, Symbol of Catholic Influence Religion in Bolivia

21. Bolivia has been governed by democratically elected governments since 1982, when a long string of military coups came to an end. National Congress of Bolivia, La Paz Bolivia’s Government

22. Bolivia’s Economy Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America. Almost 2/3 of its people, many of whom are subsistence farmers, live in poverty. Population density ranges from less than one person per square kilometre in the southeastern plains to about ten per square kilometre (25 per sq. mi) in the central highlands.

23. Why are they less developed? The first major blow to the Bolivian economy came with a dramatic fall in the price of tin during the early 1980s, which impacted one of Bolivia's main sources of income and one of its major mining-industries.

24. The second major economic blow came at the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s as economic aid was withdrawn by western countries who had previously tried to keep a market-liberal regime in power through financial support.

25. The US Geological Service estimates that Bolivia has 5.4 million cubic tonnes of lithium which represents 50%–70% of world reserves. It is used to make high-capacity batteries used in electric cars and such. Bolivia also has the largest natural gas reserves in South America. Most Common Resources/Exports

26. Agriculture accounts for roughly 15% of Bolivia's GDP. Soybeans are the major cash crop, sold into the Andean Community market. Salt mounds in Salar de Uyuni. Each mound is about a meter high.

27. The income from tourism becomes more important. Bolivia's tourist industry has grown gradually since about 1990. Lake Titicaca from the Bolivian shore

28. Bolivian culture has been heavily influenced by the Quechua, the Aymara, as well as by the popular cultures of Latin America. The Diablada, typical of Carnival of Oruro Bolivia’s Culture

29. Bolivia has a rich folklore. Its regional folk music is distinctive and varied. The "devil dances" at the annual carnival of Oruro are one of the great folkloric events of South America. Diablada Dancer

30. Before we leave Bolivia, I have a fantastic visit planned for you! http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/41691-lake-titicaca-video.htm

31. Say “Good-bye” to Bolivia, as we look forward to visiting one of my favorite South American countries! I’ll give you a hint, it has the world’s largest rainforest!

32. Resources http://www.wikipedia.org www.GoogleEarth.com http://www.watchlearnknow.org http://www.howstuffworks.com http://www.worldatlas.com