Fact 1: Home to the Highest City in the World
Bolivia’s city of Potosà is the highest city in the world. Located at an elevation of around 4,090 meters (13,419 feet), it was once the wealthiest city in the world due to its rich silver mines.
Fact 2: Bolivia Houses the Largest Salt Flat
The Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, spans over 10,000 square kilometers in southwest Bolivia. This surreal landscape is one of Bolivia's most attractions. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water turns the area into a spectacular mirror.
Fact 3: Bolivians Celebrate Alasitas
Every January, Bolivians take part in an unusual ceremony called Alasitas. During this festival, people buy miniature versions of things they hope to receive in the coming year, such as houses, cars, or degrees. They offer these miniatures to Ekeko, the Andean god of abundance.
Fact 4: Bolivia has 37 Official Languages
Bolivia recognizes 37 official languages. Along with Spanish, indigenous languages such as Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani are recognized by the constitution.
Fact 5: Bolivia has a "Day of the Sea"
Even though it's landlocked, Bolivia doesn't lose hope of regaining coastline. Each year, on March 23rd, Bolivians observe the "Day of the Sea" to lament their country’s loss of access to the Pacific Ocean during the War of the Pacific (1879–83) with Chile.
Fact 6: Cholita Wrestling is Popular
One of the most prevalent forms of entertainment in Bolivia is Cholita wrestling, starring Aymara Indigenous women in traditional "Chola" attire. These wrestling matches, a blend of tradition, feminism, and spectacle, draw huge crowds every Sunday.
Fact 7: Bolivia is Home to Unique Wildlife
Bolivia is the habitat of unique animal species such as pink river dolphins (Inia boliviensis), which can only be found in Bolivian rivers, and the world’s smallest bird, the plovercrest hummingbird.
Fact 8: Bolivia’s Flag Has a Unique Companion
Bolivia’s main flag is recognizable for its horizontal bands of red, yellow, and green. However, there's a second official flag, the Wiphala. The Wiphala, a square that consists of 49 smaller squares arranged in a checkered pattern, represents the Indigenous Andean peoples.
Fact 9: No McDonald's Exists in Bolivia
In 2002, Bolivia made headlines when McDonald's closed all its branches in the country due to low profits. The fast-food giant failed to adapt to the culinary tastes of Bolivians.
Fact 10: Home of Witchcraft Market
In La Paz, Bolivia's de facto capital, witches’ market or "Mercado de las Brujas," can be found. Here, Indigenous witch doctors known as yatiris sell herbs and spells and provide readings for tourists and locals.
Fact 11: Bolivia and the Amazon Rainforest
While the Amazon Rainforest is synonymous with Brazil, it’s worth noting that parts of the rainforest also stretch into Bolivia and several other countries.
Fact 12: World Leader of Quinoa Export
Bolivia is a world leader in quinoa production, exporting more than 20,000 tons of this nutritious grain every year.
Fact 13: Bolivian Traditional Dress
Bolivian women, known as Cholitas, are known for their distinctive style of wearing bowler hats, ornate shawls, and voluminous skirts, which is a mix of Indigenous and Spanish influences.
Fact 14: A Country with Two Capitals
Bolivia is one of the few countries in the world with two capitals: La Paz and Sucre. Sucre is the constitutional capital, while La Paz is the seat of government.
Fact 15: School Year Affected by Climate
In Bolivia, the academic year runs from February to November, which falls during the cooler, drier winter months. It's to avoid the rainy summer which can make travel difficult in the more rural areas.
Fact 16: Home to a Peculiar Island
Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), located on Lake Titicaca, plays a significant part in Inca mythology. It's believed to be the birthplace of the first Inca emperor.
Fact 17: Bolivia Has Dramatic Geographical Variance
Bolivia’s geography varies dramatically from the peaks of the Andes in the West, to the Eastern Lowlands, situated within the Amazon Basin.
Fact 18: Cerro Rico: The Mountain That Eats Men
The Cerro Rico mountain in Potosà has yielded a large amount of silver since the colonial era. It's estimated that the mining conditions have claimed the lives of around 8 million Indigenous miners in 300 years, earning it the nickname “the mountain that eats men.”
Fact 19: Bolivia Boasts a Unique Dance Festival
Every August, over 30,000 dancers and 10,000 musicians fill the streets of Bolivia's cultural capital, La Paz, for a 20-hour long parade to honor the Virgin of Candelaria.
Fact 20: Bolivia is Named After a Freedom Fighter
The Republic of Bolivia is named after a Venezuelan soldier, Simón BolÃvar, who played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire.