The highest national capital in the world, La Paz lies thousands of feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. Technically, La Paz is one of two capital cities in Bolivia. La Paz is Bolivia's administrative capital, where the president and Congress meet, but the city of Sucre is the judicial capital, where the Supreme Court is located.

Places of interest

Most of La Paz is located within a canyon, and breathtaking views can be enjoyed while descending into the city from above. La Paz is the country's main center for museums, art, and tourism.

The Church of San Francisco, which was begun in 1549, is a popular meeting place. Nearby is the Witches' Market, where people can buy jewelry, candies, and potions and other items that are claimed to be magical. The main cultural institutions are the University of San Andrés, which opened in 1830, the Bolivian Catholic University, the National Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Archaeology.

Outside of La Paz is the Valley of the Moon, with spectacular eroded rock formations. Bolivia's most famous archaeological site is also nearby—the ancient ruined city of Tiwanaku, which is also spelled Tiahuanaco. The Tiwanaku civilization existed hundreds of years before the Inca empire, and it was one of South America's most important cultures.

Lake Titicaca, the world's highest major lake, is located to the west of the city, within a few hours by road. The lake is famous for its Island of the Sun and Island of the Moon, which were sacred places to the Incas and other ancient peoples in the area. The Yungas region, with its subtropical forests and abundant plant and animal life, is east of the city.

Economy

La Paz is Bolivia's main service center. Thousands of people there have jobs in government agencies, schools, hotels, stores, banks, and business offices. Factories in La Paz make foods, drinks, clothes, and consumer goods.

History

Aymara-speaking people lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. The Spanish conquistador Alonso de Mendoza started a new city there in 1548. He named it Nuestra Señora de La Paz, which means “Our Lady of Peace.” La Paz grew because of Bolivia's huge silver mines at Potosí during the 1700s, but much of the silver was gone by the late 1800s.

The city was renamed La Paz de Ayacucho in 1825. It became Bolivia's administrative capital, for the president and legislators, in 1898.

In the 1900s hundreds of thousands of people moved to La Paz, and the city spread up the canyon walls. La Paz has continued to grow, especially in the lower parts of the canyon, where new neighborhoods have been built for middle-class and upper-class residents. Population (2001 estimate), 792,500.