View source for Geography of Bolivia

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[[File:Bolivia_Topography.png|thumb|Topographic map of Bolivia showing (east to west) plains of [[Amazon Basin]] in green, [[Geology of Bolivia#Lowlands and Sub-Andean zone|Sub-Andean Zone]] in red, [[Cordillera Oriental (Bolivia)|Eastern Cordillera]] in white, [[Altiplano]] in gray, and [[Cordillera Occidental (Central Andes)|Western Cordillera]] in white, with [[Lake Titicaca]] in blue along the northwest border]]

The '''geography of Bolivia''' includes the [[Cordillera Oriental (Bolivia)|Eastern Andes Mountain Range]] (also called the Cordillera Oriental) which bisects [[Bolivia]] roughly from north to south. To the east of that mountain chain are lowland plains of the [[Amazon Basin]], and to the west is the [[Altiplano]] which is a highland [[plateau]] where [[Lake Titicaca]] is located. Bolivia's geography has features similar to those of [[Peru]] which abuts Bolivia's northwest border; like Bolivia, Peru is bisected from north to south by the Eastern Andes Mountains, and these two countries share Lake Titicaca which is the highest navigable lake on Earth. Unlike Peru, however, Bolivia is one of the two [[landlocked]] countries in South America, the other being [[Paraguay]], which is located along Bolivia's southeast border.

==Overview==
[[File:Colors of Altiplano Boliviano 4340m Bolivia Luca Galuzzi 2006.jpg|thumb|300px|Colors of Altiplano Boliviano.]]
The most prominent feature of the [[Altiplano]] is the large lake at its northern end, [[Lake Titicaca]]. At {{convert|3811|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level. With a surface area of {{convert|9064|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, it is larger than [[Puerto Rico]] and is South America's second-largest lake by surface area. Lake Titicaca is also deep, about {{convert|370|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} at its deepest, with an average depth of {{convert|215|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}; its volume of water is large enough to maintain a constant temperature of {{convert|10|°C|°F}}. The lake actually moderates the climate for a considerable distance around it, making crops of maize and wheat possible in sheltered areas.

[[Lake Titicaca]] drains southward through the slow-moving, [[Phragmites|reed]]-filled [[Desaguadero River (Bolivia)|Desaguadero River]] to [[Lake Poopó]]. In contrast to the [[freshwater]] Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopó is salty and shallow, with depths seldom more than {{convert|4|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.

[[File:Mapa de Bolivia (regiones naturales).svg|thumb|right|Natural regions of Bolivia]]
In western Bolivia, the [[Cordillera Occidental (Bolivia)|Cordillera Occidental]] is a chain of dormant [[volcano]]es and [[solfatara]]s, [[volcanic vent]]s emitting [[sulfur]]ous gases. Bolivia's highest peak, the snowcapped [[Nevado Sajama]] {{convert|6542|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, is located here. The entire Cordillera is of volcanic origin and an extension of the volcanic region found in southern Peru. Most of the northern part of this range has an elevation of about {{convert|4000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}; the southern part is somewhat lower. Rainfall, although scanty everywhere, is greater in the northern half, where the land is covered with [[scrubland|scrub]] vegetation. The southern area receives almost no [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]], and the landscape consists mostly of barren rocks. All of the Cordillera Occidental regions are sparsely populated, and the south is virtually uninhabited.

The [[Altiplano]], the high [[plateau]] between the previous range, and the [[Cordillera Oriental (Bolivia)|Cordillera Oriental]], comprises four major basins formed by mountainous spurs that jut eastward from the Cordillera Occidental about halfway to the Cordillera Oriental. Along the Altiplano's eastern side is a continuous flat area, which has served as Bolivia's principal north–south transport corridor since colonial times. The entire Altiplano was originally a deep [[rift]] between the cordilleras that gradually filled with highly porous [[sediment]]ary debris washed down from the peaks. This sedimentary origin explains its gradual slope from north to south; greater rainfall in the north has washed a larger quantity of debris onto the platform floor.

Rainfall in the Altiplano decreases towards the south, and the scrub vegetation grows more sparse, eventually giving way to barren rocks and dry red clay. The land contains several [[Salt pan (geology)|salt flat]]s, the dried remnants of ancient lakes. The largest of these – and the world's largest salt concentration – is the [[Salar de Uyuni|Uyuni]] Saltpan, which covers over 9,000 square kilometers. The salt is more than five meters deep in the center of this flat. In the dry season, the lake bed can be traversed by heavy trucks. Near the Argentine border, the floor of the Altiplano rises again, creating hills and volcanoes that span the gap between the eastern and western cordilleras of the Andes.

The much older Cordillera Oriental enters Bolivia on the north side of Lake Titicaca, extends southeastward to approximately 17 south latitude, then broadens and stretches south to the Argentine border. The northernmost part of the Cordillera Oriental, the [[Cordillera Real (Bolivia)|Cordillera Real]], is an impressive snow-capped series of [[granite]] mountains. Some of these peaks exceed  {{convert|6000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and two – [[Illimani]]  {{convert|6424|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, which overlooks the city of [[La Paz]], and [[Illampu]]  {{convert|6424|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} – have large [[glacier]]s on their upper slopes. South of 17 south latitudes, the range changes character. Called the [[Cordillera Central, Bolivia|Cordillera Central]] here, the land is a large block of the Earth's crust that has been lifted and tilted eastward. The western edge of this block rises in a series of cliffs from the Altiplano. The backbone of the cordillera is a high, rolling plain, with elevations from {{convert|4200|to|4400|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, interspersed with irregularly spaced high peaks. Too high to be exploited for large-scale commercial grazing, this area takes its name from the predominant [[vegetation type]], the [[puna grassland|puna]].
Bolivia has three [[drainage basin]]s:

*The first is the [[Amazon River|Amazon Basin]], also called the North Basin ({{convert|724000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}/66% of the territory). The rivers of this basin generally have big [[meander]]s which form lakes such as [[Murillo Lake]] in [[Pando Department]]. The main Bolivian [[tributary]] to the Amazon basin is the [[Mamoré River]], with a length of {{convert|2000|km|mi|abbr=on}} running north to the confluence with the [[Beni River]], {{convert|1113|km|mi|abbr=on}} in length and the second most important river of the country. The Beni River, along with the [[Madeira River]], forms the main tributary of the [[Amazon River]]. From east to west, the basin is formed by other important rivers, such as the [[Madre de Dios River]], the [[Orthon River]], the [[Abuna River]], the [[Yata River]], and the [[Guaporé River]]. The most important lakes are [[Rogaguado Lake]], [[Rogagua Lake]], and [[Jara Lake]].
*The second is the [[Río de la Plata Basin]], also called the South Basin ({{convert|229500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}/21% of the territory). The tributaries in this basin are in general less abundant than the ones forming the Amazon Basin. The Rio de la Plata Basin is mainly formed by the [[Paraguay River]], [[Pilcomayo River]], and [[Bermejo River]]. The most important lakes are [[Uberaba Lake]] and [[Mandioré Lake]], both located in the Bolivian marshland.
*The third basin is the '''Central Basin''', which is an [[endorheic basin]] ({{convert|145081|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}/13% of the territory). The ''[[Altiplano]]'' has large numbers of lakes and rivers that do not run into any ocean because they are enclosed by the Andean mountains. The most important river is the [[Desaguadero River (Bolivia)|Desaguadero River]], with a length of {{convert|436|km|mi|abbr=on}}, the longest river of the ''Altiplano''; it begins in [[Lake Titicaca]] and then runs in a southeast direction to [[Poopó Lake]]. The basin is then formed by Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopó, the Desaguadero River, and great salt flats, including the ''[[Salar de Uyuni]]'' and [[Coipasa Lake]].
In Bolivia [[forest cover]] is around 47% of the total land area, equivalent to 50,833,760 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 57,804,720 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 50,771,160 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 62,600 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 24% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under [[State ownership|public ownership]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref>

==Valleys==

The northeastern flank of the [[Cordillera Real (Bolivia)|Cordillera Real]] is known as the [[Yungas]], from the [[Aymara language|Aymara]] and [[Quechua language|Quechua]] word ''yunka'' meaning "warm valley".<ref>{{Ref Bertonio}}</ref><ref>Teofilo Laime Ajacopa, Diccionario Bilingüe Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha, La Paz, 2007 (Quechua-Spanish dictionary)</ref> The steep, almost inaccessible slopes and peaks of this mainly semitropical valley area northeast of [[La Paz]] offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Bolivia. Rainfall is heavy, and lush vegetation clings to the sides of narrow river valleys. The land is among the most fertile in Bolivia, but poor transport has hindered its agricultural development. The government attempted to build a railway through the Yungas in 1917 to connect La Paz with the eastern lowlands. The railway was abandoned, however, after completion of only 150 kilometres.

The eastern slopes of the [[Cordillera Central (Bolivia)|Cordillera Central]] descend gradually in a series of complex north–south ranges and hills. Rivers, draining to the east, have cut long narrow valleys; these valleys and the basins between the ranges are favorable areas for crops and settlement. Rich alluvial soils fill the low areas, but erosion has followed the removal of vegetation in some places. The valley floors range from 2,000 to 3,000 metres above sea level, and this lower elevation means milder temperatures than those of the Altiplano. The cities of [[Sucre]], [[Cochabamba]] and the upper area of [[Tarija department]], are located in basins of this vast region.

==Lowlands==
The eastern lowlands include all of Bolivia north and east of the Andes. Although comprising over two-thirds of the national territory, the region is sparsely populated and, until recently, has played a minor role in the [[Economy of Bolivia|economy]].

Differences in topography and climate separate the lowlands into three areas. The flat northern area, made up of [[Beni Department|Beni]] and [[Pando Department]]s and the northern part of [[Cochabamba Department]], consists of [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|rainforest]]. Because much of the [[topsoil]] is underlain by [[claypan]], drainage is poor, and heavy rainfall periodically converts vast parts of the region to [[swamp]]. The central area, comprising the northern half of [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz Department]], has gently rolling hills and a drier climate than the north. Forests alternate with [[Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|savanna]], and much of the land has been cleared for cultivation. Santa Cruz, the largest city in the lowlands, is located here, as are most of Bolivia's petroleum and natural gas reserves. The southeastern part of the lowlands is part of the [[Gran Chaco]]. Virtually rainless for nine months of the year, this area becomes [[Flooded grasslands and savannas|flooded]] for the three months of heavy rains. The extreme variation in rainfall supports only thorny scrub vegetation and cattle grazing, although recent discoveries of natural gas and petroleum near the foothills of the Andes have attracted some settlers to the region.

Most of Bolivia's important rivers are found in the water-rich northern parts of the lowlands, particularly in the Alto Beni (Upper Beni), where the land is suitable for crops such as coffee and [[Theobroma cacao|cacao]]. The northern lowlands are drained by wide, slow-moving rivers, the three largest of which—the [[Mamoré River|Mamoré]], [[Beni River|Beni]], and [[Madre de Dios River|Madre de Dios]]—all flow northward into the [[Madeira River]] in Brazil and eventually into the [[Amazon River|River Amazon]]. Riverboats along the Beni and the Mamoré carry both passenger and freight traffic; rapids on the Madeira prevent river traffic farther into Brazil. Near the Paraguayan border, shallow sandy streams carry the seasonal runoff into the [[Pilcomayo River|Pilcomayo]] or [[Paraguay River|Paraguay]] rivers. Also, the [[Pantanal]], the world's largest wetland of any kind, has some of its area in Bolivia.

Despite the fact that eastern Bolivia is described as lowland there are some mountains and mountain ranges well beyond the Andes. The most notable of these mountains are the forested [[Serranías Chiquitanas]] in eastern [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz Department]].

== Climate ==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_BOL_1991–2020.svg|thumb|300px|Bolivia map of Köppen climate classification zones<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sánchez-Dávila |first1=Gabriel |title=Clasificación climática de Sudamérica |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b74200791dda49958d6d39eddaca74a0 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |access-date=6 November 2024 |language=Spanish |date=15 Sep 2022}}</ref>]]
Bolivia has several geographical areas and climates, and the three predominant ones are Andean (28% of the territory), sub-Andean (13%), and plains (59%).<ref name=paho/> The climate of Bolivia, especially temperature, is strongly influenced by surface elevation.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Abadi|first1=Azar M.|last2=Rowe|first2=Clinton M.|last3=Andrade|first3=Marcos|date=2020|title=Climate regionalization in Bolivia: A combination of non-hierarchical and consensus clustering analyses based on precipitation and temperature|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/joc.6464|journal=International Journal of Climatology|language=en|volume=40|issue=10|pages=4408–4421|doi=10.1002/joc.6464|s2cid=214147442 |issn=0899-8418|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The climate of Bolivia varies drastically from one ecoregion to the other, from the tropics in the eastern ''[[Plain|llanos]]'' to [[polar climate]]s in the western Andes. The summers are warm, humid in the east and dry in the west, with rains that often modify temperatures, humidity, winds, [[atmospheric pressure]] and evaporation, giving place to very different climates. When the climatological phenomenon known as'' [[El Niño-Southern Oscillation|El Niño]]''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050308110026/http://www.itdg.org.pe/archivos/desastres/reportemarzo.pdf Fortalecimiento de las Capacidades locales para enfrentar El Fenómeno del Niño en Perú y Bolivia]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/ElFinanciero/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=48449&docTipo=1&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC |title=Deja 56 muertos "El Niño" en Bolivia |access-date=2014-01-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708225400/http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/ElFinanciero/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=48449&docTipo=1&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC |archive-date=2009-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> takes place, it provokes great alterations in the weather. Winters are very cold in the west, and it snows around the mountain ranges, while in the western regions, windy days are more usual. The autumn is dry in the non-tropical regions.

* ''Llanos''. A [[Humidity|humid]] [[tropical climate]] with an average temperature of {{convert|30|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The wind coming from the [[Amazon rainforest]] causes significant rainfall. Starting in May, there is low precipitation because of dry winds, and most days have clear skies. Even so, winds from the south, called ''surazos'', can bring cooler temperatures lasting several days. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 1,100mm to 2,000mm per year, with some areas bordering the [[Southwestern Amazonian moist forests]] receiving up to 3,000mm per year.
* ''Chiquitanía''. A [[Humidity|humid]] [[tropical climate]] with an average temperature of {{convert|30|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The wind coming from the [[Amazon rainforest]] causes considerable rainfall, with a short but noticeable dry season typically starting in May. "Surazos" can bring cooler temperatures lasting several days. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 750mm to 1,500mm per year, with remote areas in central eastern Santa Cruz receiving up to 2,000mm per year.
* ''Selva''. A [[Humidity|humid]] [[tropical climate]] with an average temperature of {{convert|30|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The Southwestern Bands of the [[Amazon rainforest]] for the central and northwestern areas of Bolivia, where temperatures are hot for a majority of the year, with slightly milder winters. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 2,000mm to 4,000mm per year, with some areas around Tunari receiving up to 7,000mm per year.
* ''Humid [[Altiplano]]''. [[Subtropical highland climate]]-[[Polar climate|Polar]] climates, with strong and cold winds. The average temperature ranges from {{convert|15|to|20|C|F}}. At night, temperatures descend drastically to slightly above {{convert|0|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, while during the day, the weather is dry and [[Sunlight|solar radiation]] is high. [[Ground frost]]s occur every month, and snow is frequent. Precipitation in these areas ranges between 450mm to 1,300mm per year, with local areas in Lake Titicaca receiving up to 2,000mm per year.
* ''Dry [[Altiplano]]''. [[Desert climate|Desert]]-[[Polar climate|Polar]] climates, with strong and cold winds. The average temperature ranges from {{convert|15|to|20|C|F}}. At night, temperatures descend drastically to slightly above {{convert|0|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, while during the day, the weather is dry and [[Sunlight|solar radiation]] is high. [[Ground frost]]s occur every month, and snow is frequent. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 50mm to 400mm per year.
* Temperate Valleys and [[Yungas]]. [[Temperateness|Temperate]] climate. The humid northeastern winds are pushed to the mountains, making this region very humid and rainy. Temperatures are cooler at higher elevations. Snow occurs at altitudes of 2,000 meters. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 600mm to 2,000mm per year.
* Xeric Valleys. [[Semiarid climate]]. The wind shadows created by the steep Bolivian central highlands make these regions dry for much of the year, with bursts of precipitation in summer thunderstorms. Temperatures are cooler at higher elevations. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 350mm to 600mm per year.
* ''[[Gran Chaco|Chaco]]''. [[Subtropics|Subtropical]] [[Semi-arid climate]]. Rain and humidity in January and the rest of the year, with warm days and cool nights. Precipitation in these areas ranges from 450mm to 1,500mm per year.

===Examples===
<div align=center>
<!-- map gallery -->
{| class="toc" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=2 width=800px style="float:center; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em 1em; padding: 0.5e"
|colspan=8 style="background:#green; color:white; font-size:100%" align=center bgcolor="green"|'''Bioclimatic landscapes of Bolivia'''
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Los Yungas La Paz - Bolivia.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Desierto Salvador Dalí, Bolivia.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Floresta Bolivia.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Valle de Samaipata, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.jpg|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Tropical rainforest]]<br />Los Yungas, [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Desert|Cold desert]]<br />[[Salvador Dalí Desert|Dalí Desert]], [[Potosí Department|Potosí]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|Dry broadleaf forest]]<br />[[Gran Chaco Province|Chaqueño Forest]], [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Valley|Temperate valley]]<br />[[Samaipata, Bolivia|Samaipata]], [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz]]
|-
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Chapare´s river.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Altiplano.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Isla del pescado.jpg|125px]]
|align=center valign=center bgcolor="white"|[[File:Laguna Glaciar Bolivia.png|125px]]
|-
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Rainforest]]<br />[[Amazon rainforest]], [[Cochabamba Department|Cochabamba]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Altiplano|Humid Altiplano]]<br />Collao Plateau, [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Altiplano|Dry Altiplano]]<br />[[Isla del Pescado]], [[Potosí Department|Potosí]]
|style="background:#e9e9e9;" align=center|[[Glacier|Andean glacier]]<br />[[Glaciar Lake]], [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz]]
|-
|}
</div>

{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location=[[El Alto]], near [[La Paz]] (Elevation 4,058 m)
|collapsed=Yes
|metric first=yes 
|single line=yes 
|Jan record high C = 25.4
|Feb record high C = 22.8
|Mar record high C = 25.1
|Apr record high C = 22.9
|May record high C = 24.0
|Jun record high C = 20.0
|Jul record high C = 23.0
|Aug record high C = 21.0
|Sep record high C = 23.0
|Oct record high C = 23.0
|Nov record high C = 24.2
|Dec record high C = 22.0
|year record high C = 25.4
|Jan high C = 14.3
|Feb high C = 14.3
|Mar high C = 14.2
|Apr high C = 14.4
|May high C = 14.4
|Jun high C = 14.0
|Jul high C = 13.5
|Aug high C = 13.7
|Sep high C = 15.3
|Oct high C = 15.3
|Nov high C = 17.0
|Dec high C = 15.7
|year high C = 15.0
|Jan mean C = 9.3
|Feb mean C = 9.0
|Mar mean C = 8.9
|Apr mean C = 8.8
|May mean C = 8.2
|Jun mean C = 7.3
|Jul mean C = 6.8
|Aug mean C = 8.2
|Sep mean C = 8.7
|Oct mean C = 10.0
|Nov mean C = 10.5
|Dec mean C = 9.7
|year mean C = 8.8
|Jan low C = 4.4
|Feb low C = 4.4
|Mar low C = 3.6
|Apr low C = 1.0
|May low C = -1.9
|Jun low C = −4.3
|Jul low C = −4.4
|Aug low C = −3.0
|Sep low C = -1.0
|Oct low C = 1.5
|Nov low C = 2.1
|Dec low C = 3.6
|year low C = 0.5
|Jan record low C = -3.3
|Feb record low C = -3.3
|Mar record low C = −2.7
|Apr record low C = −4.7
|May record low C = −10.3
|Jun record low C = −12.4
|Jul record low C = −11.9
|Aug record low C = −10.0
|Sep record low C = −10.0
|Oct record low C = −5.4
|Nov record low C = −5.0
|Dec record low C = −2.8
|year record low C = -12.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 133.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 104.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 71.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 31.7
|May precipitation mm = 14.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 5.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 7.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 15.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 35.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 38.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 50.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 94.9
|year precipitation mm = 602.5
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 59
|May humidity = 48
|Jun humidity = 42
|Jul humidity = 43
|Aug humidity = 42
|Sep humidity = 48
|Oct humidity = 49
|Nov humidity = 51
|Dec humidity = 60
|year humidity = 54
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20.7
|Feb precipitation days = 15.8
|Mar precipitation days = 14.2
|Apr precipitation days = 9.8
|May precipitation days = 3.6
|Jun precipitation days = 2.8
|Jul precipitation days = 2.8
|Aug precipitation days = 5.1
|Sep precipitation days = 8.2
|Oct precipitation days = 10.4
|Nov precipitation days = 11.5
|Dec precipitation days = 15.5
|year precipitation days = 120.3
|Jan snow days = 0.07
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.03
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.03
|Jul snow days = 0.13
|Aug snow days = 0.67
|Sep snow days = 0.37
|Oct snow days = 0.17
|Nov snow days = 0.17
|Dec snow days = 0.03
|year snow days = 1.67
|Jan sun = 179.8
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 148.8
|Apr sun = 165.0
|May sun = 229.4
|Jun sun = 240.0
|Jul sun = 235.6
|Aug sun = 226.3
|Sep sun = 192.0
|Oct sun = 179.8
|Nov sun = 171.0
|Dec sun = 180.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 5.8
|Febd sun = 5.5
|Mard sun = 4.8
|Aprd sun = 5.5
|Mayd sun = 7.4
|Jund sun = 8.0
|Juld sun = 7.6
|Augd sun = 7.3
|Sepd sun = 6.4
|Octd sun = 5.8
|Novd sun = 5.7
|Decd sun = 6.0
|yeard sun = 6.3
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]],<ref name = DWDlapaz>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_852010_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von La Paz – El Alto (Int. Flugh.) / Bolivien
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 24 January 2016}}</ref> Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia (snowy days 1981–2010)<ref name="SENAMHI el alto">{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190921144951/http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet
| archive-date = 21 September 2019
| url = http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet
| title = Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET
| publisher = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia
| language = es
| access-date = 22 September 2019
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (extremes 1942–present)<ref name = meteoclimalapazt>
{{cite web 
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=75
| title = Station La Paz 
| publisher = Meteo Climat 
|language = fr 
| access-date = 11 June 2016}}</ref>

}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location = [[Santa Cruz de la Sierra]]
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 38.1
|Feb record high C = 37.8
|Mar record high C = 39.3
|Apr record high C = 38.0
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 32.2
|Jul record high C = 32.0
|Aug record high C = 35.0
|Sep record high C = 36.4
|Oct record high C = 38.4
|Nov record high C = 40.3
|Dec record high C = 38.4
|year record high C = 40.3
|Jan high C = 30.2
|Feb high C = 30.5
|Mar high C = 29.5
|Apr high C = 27.7
|May high C = 24.9
|Jun high C = 23.1
|Jul high C = 23.9
|Aug high C = 27.7
|Sep high C = 29.4
|Oct high C = 29.8
|Nov high C = 30.7
|Dec high C = 31.4
|year high C = 28.2
|Jan mean C = 26.8
|Feb mean C = 26.6
|Mar mean C = 26.2
|Apr mean C = 24.7
|May mean C = 22.8
|Jun mean C = 20.4
|Jul mean C = 21.1
|Aug mean C = 23.0
|Sep mean C = 25.2
|Oct mean C = 26.4
|Nov mean C = 27.1
|Dec mean C = 27.0
|year mean C = 24.8
|Jan low C = 21.3
|Feb low C = 21.3
|Mar low C = 20.5
|Apr low C = 18.9
|May low C = 16.5
|Jun low C = 15.4
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 16.3
|Sep low C = 18.7
|Oct low C = 19.8
|Nov low C = 20.3
|Dec low C = 20.9
|year low C = 18.7
|Jan record low C = 11.6
|Feb record low C = 6.5
|Mar record low C = 5.0
|Apr record low C = 9.9
|May record low C = 4.0
|Jun record low C = 1.0
|Jul record low C = 0.0
|Aug record low C = 2.5
|Sep record low C = 5.6
|Oct record low C = 11.9
|Nov record low C = 7.8
|Dec record low C = 14.0
|year record low C = 0.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 227.3
|Feb rain mm = 206.8
|Mar rain mm = 188.4
|Apr rain mm = 89.8
|May rain mm = 28.4
|Jun rain mm = 41.7
|Jul rain mm = 40
|Aug rain mm = 72.8
|Sep rain mm = 104.2
|Oct rain mm = 152.8
|Nov rain mm = 131.6
|Dec rain mm = 156.4
|year rain mm = 1441
|unit rain days = 1.0&nbsp;mm
|Jan rain days = 14.0
|Feb rain days = 11.1
|Mar rain days = 12.7
|Apr rain days = 9.4
|May rain days = 11.4
|Jun rain days = 3.4
|Jul rain days = 1.0
|Aug rain days = 4.0
|Sep rain days = 5.6
|Oct rain days = 7.4
|Nov rain days = 9.4
|Dec rain days = 11.9
|year rain days = 111.6
|Jan humidity = 79
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 79
|Apr humidity = 78
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 78
|Jul humidity = 73
|Aug humidity = 65
|Sep humidity = 64
|Oct humidity = 67
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 74
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWDSantaCruz>{{cite web
| url = http://www.senamhi.gob.bo/sismet
| title = SISMET SENAMHI
| publisher = SENAMHI
| language = es
| access-date = 15 October 2021
| archive-date = 18 May 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240518033314/http://www.senamhi.gob.bo/sismet
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto 
|location = [[Sucre]]
|single line = yes
|metric first = yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 34.0
|Feb record high C = 33.5
|Mar record high C = 33.0
|Apr record high C = 32.6
|May record high C = 32.1
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 29.7
|Aug record high C = 28.0
|Sep record high C = 31.0
|Oct record high C = 33.2
|Nov record high C = 34.9
|Dec record high C = 34.2
|year record high C = 34.9
|Jan high C = 19.5
|Feb high C = 19.0
|Mar high C = 19.4
|Apr high C = 19.3
|May high C = 19.6
|Jun high C = 19.1
|Jul high C = 19.4
|Aug high C = 19.9
|Sep high C = 20.6
|Oct high C = 20.8
|Nov high C = 21.2
|Dec high C = 20.0
|year high C = 19.8
|Jan mean C = 16.2
|Feb mean C = 15.7
|Mar mean C = 15.8
|Apr mean C = 15.5
|May mean C = 14.9
|Jun mean C = 13.8
|Jul mean C = 13.9
|Aug mean C = 14.9
|Sep mean C = 16.2
|Oct mean C = 16.9
|Nov mean C = 17.3
|Dec mean C = 16.7
|year mean C = 15.6
|Jan low C = 12.8
|Feb low C = 12.3
|Mar low C = 12.2
|Apr low C = 11.6
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 8.5
|Jul low C = 8.3
|Aug low C = 9.9
|Sep low C = 11.2
|Oct low C = 12.4
|Nov low C = 12.8
|Dec low C = 12.9
|year low C = 11.3
|Jan record low C = 4.4
|Feb record low C = 5.0
|Mar record low C = 3.3
|Apr record low C = 1.7
|May record low C = -3.9
|Jun record low C = -2.8
|Jul record low C = -4.4
|Aug record low C = -2.2
|Sep record low C = -1.7
|Oct record low C = -3.3
|Nov record low C = -3.3
|Dec record low C = -1.1
|year record low C = -4.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 150
|Feb precipitation mm = 126
|Mar precipitation mm = 108
|Apr precipitation mm = 46
|May precipitation mm = 10
|Jun precipitation mm = 4
|Jul precipitation mm = 2
|Aug precipitation mm = 14
|Sep precipitation mm = 23
|Oct precipitation mm = 56
|Nov precipitation mm = 72
|Dec precipitation mm = 124
|year precipitation mm = 735
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 15
|Feb precipitation days = 13
|Mar precipitation days = 12
|Apr precipitation days = 5
|May precipitation days = 1
|Jun precipitation days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 0
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 4
|Oct precipitation days = 8
|Nov precipitation days = 10
|Dec precipitation days = 12
|year precipitation days = 82
|Jan humidity = 67
|Feb humidity = 70
|Mar humidity = 68
|Apr humidity = 62
|May humidity = 46
|Jun humidity = 43
|Jul humidity = 39
|Aug humidity = 44
|Sep humidity = 46
|Oct humidity = 47
|Nov humidity = 52
|Dec humidity = 60
|year humidity = 54
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = SucreDWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_852830_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Sucre, Prov. Chiquisaca / Bolivien
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 27 January 2016}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Potosí]] (2000–2012)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan high C = 15
|Feb high C = 15
|Mar high C = 16
|Apr high C = 17
|May high C = 15
|Jun high C = 14
|Jul high C = 14
|Aug high C = 15
|Sep high C = 16
|Oct high C = 18
|Nov high C = 18
|Dec high C = 17
|year high C = 15.8
|Jan mean C = 9
|Feb mean C = 9
|Mar mean C = 9
|Apr mean C = 8.5
|May mean C = 6.5
|Jun mean C = 5.5
|Jul mean C = 5
|Aug mean C = 6
|Sep mean C = 6.5
|Oct mean C = 9.5
|Nov mean C = 10
|Dec mean C = 10
|year mean C = 7.9
|Jan low C = 3
|Feb low C = 3
|Mar low C = 2
|Apr low C = 0
|May low C = -2
|Jun low C = -3
|Jul low C = -4
|Aug low C = -3
|Sep low C = -1
|Oct low C = 1
|Nov low C = 2
|Dec low C = 3
|year low C = 0.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 107.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 97.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 60.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 18.3
|May precipitation mm = 3.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 3.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 3.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 8.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 28.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 32.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 65.8
|year precipitation mm = 430.7
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 17
|Feb precipitation days = 16
|Mar precipitation days = 12
|Apr precipitation days = 5
|May precipitation days = 1
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 0
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 2
|Oct precipitation days = 5
|Nov precipitation days = 7
|Dec precipitation days = 14
|year precipitation days = 80
|Jand sun = 6
|Febd sun = 6
|Mard sun = 7
|Aprd sun = 8
|Mayd sun = 9
|Jund sun = 9
|Juld sun = 9
|Augd sun = 9
|Sepd sun = 8
|Octd sun = 8
|Novd sun = 7
|Decd sun = 7
|yeard sun = 7.75
|source 1 = WeatherWorld<ref name="climatePotosi">{{cite web
| url = http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/bolivia/potosi.php
| title = Climate Data and Activities
| publisher = WeatherWorldOnline 
| access-date = 15 October 2013}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Cochabamba]]
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = auto 
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 35.0
|Feb record high C = 30.0
|Mar record high C = 30.6
|Apr record high C = 30.0
|May record high C = 28.9
|Jun record high C = 30.0
|Jul record high C = 28.3
|Aug record high C = 30.6
|Sep record high C = 30.6
|Oct record high C = 32.8
|Nov record high C = 31.7
|Dec record high C = 32.8
|Jan high C = 23.9
|Feb high C = 23.3
|Mar high C = 24.4
|Apr high C = 25.0
|May high C = 24.4
|Jun high C = 23.3
|Jul high C = 23.3
|Aug high C = 23.9
|Sep high C = 25.6
|Oct high C = 26.1
|Nov high C = 25.6
|Dec high C = 25.0
|year high C = 24.5
|Jan mean C = 18.1
|Feb mean C = 17.5
|Mar mean C = 17.5
|Apr mean C = 16.4
|May mean C = 14.2
|Jun mean C = 12.2
|Jul mean C = 12.5
|Aug mean C = 13.9
|Sep mean C = 16.7
|Oct mean C = 18.1
|Nov mean C = 18.3
|Dec mean C = 18.3
|year mean C = 16.1
|Jan low C = 12.2
|Feb low C = 11.7
|Mar low C = 10.6
|Apr low C = 7.8
|May low C = 3.9
|Jun low C = 1.1
|Jul low C = 1.7
|Aug low C = 3.9
|Sep low C = 7.8
|Oct low C = 10.0
|Nov low C = 11.1
|Dec low C = 11.7
|year low C = 7.8
|Jan record low C = 7.2
|Feb record low C = 3.3
|Mar record low C = 2.2
|Apr record low C = -1.1
|May record low C = -4.4
|Jun record low C = -6.7
|Jul record low C = -5.0
|Aug record low C = -5.6
|Sep record low C = -3.3
|Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov record low C = 5.0
|Dec record low C = 5.6
|precipitation colour= green
|Jan precipitation mm = 75.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 137.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 39.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 9.9
|May precipitation mm = 6.56
|Jun precipitation mm = 2.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 7.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 7.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 2.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 26.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 29.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 81.8
|year precipitation mm = 462.2
|source 1= Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial<ref name = climatecochabamba >{{Cite web | url=http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/bo-cocha.htm | title=Bolivia – Cochabamba | publisher=Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial | access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref>
|date=October 2012}}

{{Weather box
| location = [[Tarija]] (Elevation {{convert|1875|m}}, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–present)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| width = auto
| collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 36.5
|Feb record high C = 37.4
|Mar record high C = 37.5
|Apr record high C = 37.3
|May record high C = 36.2
|Jun record high C = 34.6
|Jul record high C = 36.0
|Aug record high C = 37.4
|Sep record high C = 39.5
|Oct record high C = 39.7
|Nov record high C = 37.8
|Dec record high C = 38.8
|year record high C = 39.7
|Jan high C = 27.1
|Feb high C = 26.6
|Mar high C = 26.6
|Apr high C = 25.9
|May high C = 24.8
|Jun high C = 24.4
|Jul high C = 23.9
|Aug high C = 25.6
|Sep high C = 26.1
|Oct high C = 27.5
|Nov high C = 27.4
|Dec high C = 27.5
|year high C = 26.1
|Jan mean C = 20.8
|Feb mean C = 20.3
|Mar mean C = 20.2
|Apr mean C = 18.6
|May mean C = 15.5
|Jun mean C = 13.6
|Jul mean C = 13.2
|Aug mean C = 15.4
|Sep mean C = 17.0
|Oct mean C = 19.7
|Nov mean C = 20.3
|Dec mean C = 21.0
|year mean C = 18.0
|Jan low C = 14.7
|Feb low C = 14.1
|Mar low C = 13.8
|Apr low C = 11.3
|May low C = 6.3
|Jun low C = 2.7
|Jul low C = 2.5
|Aug low C = 5.2
|Sep low C = 7.9
|Oct low C = 11.9
|Nov low C = 13.3
|Dec low C = 14.4
|year low C = 9.8
|Jan record low C = 6.0
|Feb record low C = 4.0
|Mar record low C = 5.0
|Apr record low C = -2.0
|May record low C = -3.0
|Jun record low C = -7.7
|Jul record low C = -9.2
|Aug record low C = -8.0
|Sep record low C = -4.2
|Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov record low C = 3.0
|Dec record low C = 0.0
|year record low C = -9.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 130.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 100.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 90.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 16.1
|May precipitation mm = 1.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 1.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 7.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 37.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 73.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 125.9
|year precipitation mm = 584.3
|Jan precipitation days = 14.8
|Feb precipitation days = 12.5
|Mar precipitation days = 11.2
|Apr precipitation days = 4.0
|May precipitation days = 1.1
|Jun precipitation days = 0.3
|Jul precipitation days = 0.3
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 2.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.8
|Nov precipitation days = 10.4
|Dec precipitation days = 12.8
|year precipitation days = 77.6
|Jan humidity = 67.1
|Feb humidity = 68.9
|Mar humidity = 68.6
|Apr humidity = 65.6
|May humidity = 58.9
|Jun humidity = 53.0
|Jul humidity = 51.9
|Aug humidity = 50.0
|Sep humidity = 50.8
|Oct humidity = 54.6
|Nov humidity = 59.6
|Dec humidity = 64.1
|year humidity = 59.2
|source 1 = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia<ref name="SENAMHI tarija">
{{cite web 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190921144951/http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet
| archive-date = 21 September 2019
| url = http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet
| title = Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET
| publisher = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia
| language = es
| access-date = 21 September 2019}}</ref>
}}

==Statistics==
'''Terrain:'''
rugged [[Andes Mountains]] with a highland plateau ([[Altiplano]]), hills, lowland plains of the [[Amazon Basin]]
[[File:Bolivia Resource Map.png|thumb|Map showing the location of mines in Bolivia]]
'''Natural resources:'''
tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydro-power

'''Land borders''': Argentina (942&nbsp;km), Brazil (3,403&nbsp;km), Chile (942&nbsp;km), Paraguay (753&nbsp;km), Peru (1,212&nbsp;km)

'''Land use:'''
As of 2016, the population of Bolivia was more urban (66%) than rural (34%).<ref name=paho>[https://www.paho.org/salud-en-las-americas-2017/?p=3974 "Health in the Americas: Bolivia"], Pan American Health Organization.</ref>
<br>''arable land:''
3.97%
<br>''permanent crops:''
0.20%
<br>''other:''
95.83% (2012)

'''Irrigated land:'''
1,282&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2003)

'''Total renewable water resources:'''
622.5 cu km (2011)

'''Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural:'''
<br>''total:'' 2.64&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>/yr (25%/14%/61%)
<br>''per capita:'' 305.8 m<sup>3</sup>/yr (2005)

'''Natural hazards:'''
flooding in the northeast (March–April)

'''Environment – current issues:'''
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to [[deforestation]]; [[soil erosion]] from [[overgrazing]] and poor cultivation methods (including [[slash-and-burn]] agriculture); [[desertification]]; [[Biodiversity loss|loss of biodiversity]]; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

'''Environment – international agreements:'''
<br>''party to:''
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]], [[Desertification]], [[Endangered Species]], [[Hazardous Waste]]s, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, [[Wetland]]s
<br>''signed, but not ratified:''
Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

'''Geography – note:'''
landlocked; separated from the Pacific Ocean via Chile. Bolivia shares control of [[Lake Titicaca|Lago Titicaca]], world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with [[Peru]]

== Location and extreme points ==
[[File:Bolivia north.jpg|thumb|250px|The northernmost point of [[Bolivia]]]]Bolivia is bordered in the northwest by [[Peru]], and in the southwest by Chile; both Peru and Bolivia are split by the [[Andes Mountains]] roughly from north to south, and those two countries therefore have very similar geographic regions, except that Bolivia's Pacific coast was lost to Chile during the [[War of the Pacific]] in 1880.<ref>Koester, DH.  ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=7k_kAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA319 And There I Was Volume I: A Backpacking Adventure in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia]'', p. 319 (Outskirts Press, 2012).</ref> Bolivia is also bordered by Brazil in the north and east, by [[Paraguay]] in the southeast, and by [[Argentina]] in the south.

* Northernmost point – the [[Madeira River]] on the border with Brazil, near Ponte sobre o Rio Abunã, [[Federico Román Province]], [[Pando Department]]
* Southernmost point – southern tip of the [[Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve]], [[Sur Lípez Province]], [[Potosí Department]]
* Westernmost point – on the border with Peru, [[José Manuel Pando Province]], [[La Paz Department (Bolivia)|La Paz Department]]
*Easternmost point – on the border with Brazil, [[Germán Busch Province]], [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz Department]]
* Highest point – [[Nevado Sajama]]: 6,542 m
* Lowest point – [[Rio paraguay]]: 90 m

==Climate policy==

Bolivia has also implemented the Bolivian Strategy on Climate Change, which is based on taking action in these four areas:

# Promoting clean development in Bolivia by introducing technological changes in the agriculture, forestry, and industrial sectors, aimed to reduce GHG emissions with a positive impact on development.
# Contributing to carbon management in forests, wetlands and other managed natural ecosystems.
# Increasing effectiveness in energy supply and use to mitigate effects of GHG emissions and risk of contingencies.
# Focus on increased and efficient observations, and understanding of environmental changes in Bolivia to develop effective and timely responses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adaptation-undp.org/explore/south-america/bolivia |title=Bolivia |website=UNDP Climate Change Adaptation |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927154417/http://adaptation-undp.org/explore/south-america/bolivia |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Bolivia comprises about 20% of the world's tropical [[glacier]]s, along with the [[Andes Mountains]]. However, they are vulnerable to global warming and have lost 43% of their surface area between 1986 and 2014. Some Bolivian glaciers have lost more than two-thirds of their mass since the 1980s points out [[UNESCO]] in 2018. While the temperature in the tropical Andes is expected to rise by two to five degrees by the end of the 21st century, glaciers would still lose between 78% and 97% of their mass. Glaciers account for between 60% and 85% of La Paz's water supply, depending on the year.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-08-01 |title=Bolivia's melting glaciers |url=https://mondediplo.com/2020/08/06bolivia |access-date= |website= |language=en}}</ref>
Scientists began alerting the Bolivian government to the problem of [[melting glaciers]] in the 1990s, but it was not until 2012 that the authorities responded with real protection policies. A Project for Adaptation to the Impact of Accelerated Glacier Recession in the Tropical Andes (PRAA) was then set up, with the mission to "strengthen the monitoring network" and "generate information useful for decision-making." The glaciers have since been monitored by cameras, probes, drones and satellite. Authorities have also developed programs to educate the population about the consequences of global warming to push back on certain harmful agricultural practices.<ref name=":2" />

In February 2017, the government mobilized $200&nbsp;million to combat drought and global warming.<ref name=":2" />

==See also==

*[[Geology of Bolivia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{StateDept}}
* {{CIA World Factbook}}
* Hudson, Rex A. and Hanratty, Dennis M., ed. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/botoc.html Bolivia: A Country Study]. Washington: GPO for the [[Library of Congress]], 1989.

==External links==
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11315/ Map of Bolivia] from 1894
{{Commons|Atlas of Bolivia}}

{{Bolivia topics}}
{{Geography of South America}}
{{South America topic|Climate of}}
{{coord|17|00|S|65|00|W|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Bolivia}}
[[Category:Geography of Bolivia| ]]