Where in the World? You are surrounded by salt – 4,674 square miles (12,000 sq km) of it. Salt, but no ocean. The country you here in is landlocked. Back at your hotel – made entirely of salt (the floors, walls, and even the chairs, tables and beds!) – you think about all the amazing things in this country that is named for a famous liberator. Before you leave, you will make a special trip to see the ruins of a city of a people who lived before the time of the Incas and were so advanced that they performed brain surgery. You know there are llamas here, but can there really be bears.

Where on Earth are you? Can you find your place? Bolivia

Welcome to Bolivia

Named after the famed liberator Simon Bolivar, Bolivia is a country rich with diversity, both natural and cultural. There are the rugged Andean Mountains and thick tropical rain forests. With Native Americans making up a little over half of the population. Bolivia has the largest percentage of indigenous people than any other Latin American country.

Who is Simon Bolivar? Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was a revolutionary leader who liberated much of South America from Spanish rule. He became president of Gran Colombia (Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador were part of Gran Colombia). Cooperating with Sucre and San Martin and other rebel leaders, Bolivar won victories against the Spanish in Peru and created Bolivia in 1825. Bolivar’s vision of a unified South America was not to be, partly because of his dictatorial methods, but he is recognized today as a great hero and liberator.

The salt in Bolivia is found in a salt pan. What is a salt pan? It is an accumulation of salt on the floor of a desert basin. It is estimated that the Salar de Uyuni salt pan has more than 10 billion tons (9,072kg) of fine salt. Chainsaws were used to cut out the blocks of salt to make the hotel, but local farmers use pickaxes and shovels. In the middle of the salt pan, 50 miles (0km) from shore, there is an isolated volcanic island with cactus growing 40 feet (12M) tall and a stranded colony of viscachas which are long-tailed rodents. Would you rather be stranded on that island or one in the ocean?

The spectacled bear is the only species of bear in South America The spectacled bear is the only species of bear in South America. Does this rare bear hibernate? Would you change your answer if you knew that the bear is primarily a vegetarian? Ninety-five percent of the spectacled bears’ diet is vegetarian, and because its food sources are available throughout the year, it does not hibernate.

The Tiwanakans (1600 B. C. – A. C. 1000) were expert hydrologists The Tiwanakans (1600 B.C. – A.C. 1000) were expert hydrologists. What is a hydrologist? A hydrologist is an expert on the property of water. The Tiwanakans were able to grow plants on a barren plain by raising fields that were 656 feet (200m) long and 50 feet (15m) wide. Below the top layer of rich organic topsoil, were three distinct layers of gravel for drainage, a layer of clay to retain water, and finally, cobblestones. Water irrigation canals were between the beds; and at night, the hear released from the canal water kept the plants from suffering from frost damage. The fields and canals covered 30,000 acres (12,146 hectares) and supported 50,00 people! Scientists think a long drought caused the Tiwanakans to abandon their city.

FAST FACTS – Bolivia Capital city Sucre (constitutional capital) La Paz (administrative capital) Leader of country President: Evo Morales Major towns Santa Cruz de la Sierra, El Alto, Cochabamba Population 9,930,000 people Currency Boliviano (Bs.) Official language Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Major religion Roman Catholic Life expectancy 65 years (men) 69 years (women) Hello Hola Please Por favor Thank you Gracias Goodbye Adiós Yes Si No No

Where in the World? It’s your turn: Complete your “Where in the World?” page. 1 – fill in the country and continent. 2 – write a paragraph about Bolivia with at least 5 interesting details (important details). 3 – colour in Bolivia on the world map.