| South America's primary mountain range, the | | | | domination, however that influence has not |
| Andes, attains one of its widest points in | | | | affected some of the Amerindian population |
| Bolivia. Here the Andes are divided into two | | | | clusters. But these indigenous Bolivians |
| subranges, Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera | | | | still lost their land as did their Peruvian |
| Occidental. Peaks in these areas are in | | | | and Ecuadorian counterparts. However, what |
| excess of 20,000 feet. Between these | | | | made the richer Europeans in Bolivia wealthy |
| subranges lies the Altiplano which contains | | | | was not land but minerals. |
| the highest navigable lake on earth. Lake | | | | |
| Titicaca, which also lies in Peru, is 12,507 | | | | The city of Potosi in the Cordillera Oriental |
| feet above sea level. | | | | became well--known for the huge silver |
| | | | deposits in its surroundings. Zinc, copper, |
| Also in the Altiplano is one of Bolivia's | | | | and other ores were found there. Bolivia's |
| capitals, La Paz. At 11,700 feet it is one of | | | | tin deposits provided a large portion of the |
| the highest cities in the world. This region | | | | country's export income throughout most of |
| is home to one of the centers of Inca | | | | the twentieth century. But in the 1980's, tin |
| civilization and pre--Inca cultures. | | | | reserves declined and that along with weak |
| | | | world prices reached the point where |
| Lake Titicaca is what helps make the | | | | Bolivia's antiquated mining methods forced |
| Altiplano livable. This body of water is | | | | the industry to all but shut down. |
| large enough to temper the coldness in its | | | | |
| vicinity. Grains have been raised for | | | | Oil and gas are now accounting for an |
| centuries on the surrounding arable land up | | | | increasing portion of foreign revenues. |
| to the amazing elevation of 12,800 feet. The | | | | Bolivia exports much of it gas to Argentina |
| area supports a major group of subsistence | | | | and Brazil. In return, Brazil is commtted to |
| farmers to this day. | | | | assisting the development of the corridor |
| | | | between Santa Cruz and Corumba, Brazil, in |
| Bolivia has had a troubled history. Aside | | | | the southeastern lowlands. It is here that |
| from numerous internal struggles, the country | | | | commercial agriculture--especially |
| first lost its access to the Pacific Ocean in | | | | soybeans--is on the rise. |
| a conflict with Chile. It then lost its | | | | |
| northern territory of Acre to Brazil in a | | | | Comparatively democratic civilian rule was |
| dispute involving the rubber industry in the | | | | established in 1982, but leaders have faced |
| Amazon Basin. On top of all that, Bolivia was | | | | difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, |
| forced to give up 55,000 square miles of | | | | social unrest, and drug production. Current |
| southeastern Gran Chaco territory to | | | | goals include attracting foreign investment, |
| Paraguay. Bolivia has reactivated its claim | | | | strengthening the educational system, |
| to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to | | | | resolving disputes with coca growers over |
| Chile in 1884, to secure sovereign maritime | | | | Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, and waging an |
| access for Bolivian natural gas. | | | | anticorruption campaign. The country does |
| | | | have its problems, but it also has its |
| Modern Bolivia is the product of European | | | | optimism. |