By: Humberto Lopez, Malcolm Lamirault Bolivia By: Humberto Lopez, Malcolm Lamirault

Basic Geography Capital: La PAZ Other important cities: Trinidad, Santa Cruz, Cobija, Oruro Important Landforms: Lago Titicaca, world’s highest navigable lake, The Andes, the world’s largest mountain range Size of Bolivia: Total: 1,098,580 sq. km. Climate: Semiarid, humid Borderline Countries: Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay Natural resources: Tin, Natural gas, Petroleum, Gold, Iron, Lead, Silver

Demographics and Economy Population: 9,775,246 Death Rate:7.35/1,000 population Area: 1 098 580 km²/424 052 sq mi Currency Name: 1 Boliviano (BOB) = 100 centavos GDP: $22.33 billion, Bolivia’s exchange rate: $18.94 billion, United States’ GDP: $14.29 trillion Bolivia’s constitution: "Social Unitarian State" Bolivia’s leadership: Gualberto Villarroel López, Néstor Guillén Olmos, Tomás Monje Gutiérrez Exchange rate: bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar - 7.253 (2008 est.), 7.8616 (2007), 8.0159 (2006), 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363 (2004

Government and leadership Important events: The war of the pacific(1879-1884), the construction of the panama canal (1881-1893, 1904-1914) President: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006) Government: Republic

Society Languages: Quecha, Aymara, Tupi Guaraní, Plautdietsch and Spanish. Religions: Catholic 77.99%, Protestant 19.46% Food: In the highlands, the primary staple is the potato. Others foods, oca, quina, barley, and legumes, cassava, peanuts, bananas, fish, poultry and beef. Customs: The most elaborate and hearty meals with abundant fresh vegetables and beef, chicken, or pork, are eaten at ceremonial occasions. Baptism, marriage and death. On souls day, meals are prepared for the recently deceased and those who are ill. Dating and marriage customs: Men usually marry at 20 to 25 and women marry at 19 to 23. Bolivian people don’t marry until they have acquired some financial security. A church wedding often follows the legal civil ceremony after, there is a reception and dance. Children live with parents until married or after marriage. Mostly wealthy couples have one or two children. Poorer Families are tradinally larger. The father makes most family decisions, the mother is in charge of households affairs. Women work outside of home 37.7% of the time.

President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma