Bolivia

A landlocked country of west-central South America, Bolivia is bordered by to the north and east by Brazil, to the southeast by Paraguay, to the south by Argentina, to the southwest and west by Chile, and to the northwest by Peru.

Bolivia has two capitals, Sucre and La Paz.

Spanish and 36 indigenous languages are the official languages of Bolivia.

Population, 12,153,180. Size, 1,098,581 km^2.

The official currency is the Bolivian Boliviano (BOB).

The predominant religion is Roman Catholic.

Major cities include Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Oruro, and Sacaba.

The salteña is the national dish of Bolivia. It refers to a baked Bolivian empanada made with beef or chicken mixed with olives, potatoes, vegetables, hard-boiled egg, raisins, and spices in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce. Principal crops include potatoes, corn, barley, quinoa, habas (broad beans), wheat, alfalfa, and oca (a tuber).

There are different types of climate depending on area and altitude. In plains and lowlands, the climate is almost equatorial (i.e. hot all year round and with a short dry season) in the far north and tropical in the center-south. In the plateau and the Andean mountain peaks, the climate is instead colder and generally quite arid. Bolivia lies in the Southern Hemisphere, albeit at tropical latitudes, so its seasons are reversed in comparison with the Northern Hemisphere.

Guinea pigs are served as a delicacy in Bolivia. Pink dolphins are native to Bolivia. Bolivia is the highest and most isolated country in South America. La Paz is the highest administrative capital in the world. Married people can vote at 18, while single people can only vote at 21. Bolivian culture treasures honesty, gentleness, kindness, and concern for others. Bolivia’s dead animal trade includes dried llama fetuses, which citizens use as offerings to Mother Nature. Bolivians eat cocoa to fight the effects of altitude sickness common in the highlands. 70% of the world's Brazil nut supply comes from Bolivia. Bolivia is home to the largest butterfly sanctuary in the world. Cal Orko features 5,055 footprints from 8 dinosaurs species. Bolivia is home to the largest salt flat in the world. The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia holds 50-70% of the lithium reserves of the world. Bolivia is home to the most dangerous road in the world. The Camino de las Yungas Road is also branded as the Death Road or the Road of Fate. Each year, around 200-300 people fall to their deaths from the 56-km long road.