<text><span class="style42"></span><span class="style12">BOLIVIA</span><span class="style42"></span><span class="style14"></span><span class="style42">Official name:</span><span class="style13"> Républica de Bolivia (Republic of Bolivia)</span><span class="style42">Member of:</span><span class="style13"> UN, OAS, ALADI, Andean Pact</span><span class="style42">Area: </span><span class="style13">1098581 km2 (424164 sq mi)</span><span class="style42">Population: </span><span class="style13">7715000 (1993 est)</span><span class="style42">Capital: </span><span class="style13">La Paz (administrative capital) 1050000, Sucre (legal capital) 96000 (1988 est)</span><span class="style42">Other major cities:</span><span class="style13"> Santa Cruz 615000, Cochabamba 377000 (1988 est)</span><span class="style42">Languages: </span><span class="style13">Spanish (55%), Aymara (22%), Quéchua (5%) – all official</span><span class="style42">Religion: </span><span class="style13">Roman Catholic (official; 95%)</span><span class="style42">GOVERNMENT</span><span class="style13">The President (who appoints a Cabinet), the 27-member Senate and the 130-member Chamber of Deputies are elected for four-year terms by universal adult suffrage.</span><span class="style42">GEOGRAPHY</span><span class="style13">The Andes – whose highest point in Bolivia is Sajama (6542 m / 21 463 ft) – divide into two parallel chains between which is an extensive undulating depression (the Altiplano), containing Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. The lowlands in the east and northeast include tropical rain forests (the Llanos), subtropical plains and semiarid grasslands (the Chaco). </span><span class="style42">Climate: </span><span class="style13">Rainfall is negligible in the southwest, and heavy in the northeast. Temperature varies with altitude from the cold Andean summits and cool, windy Altiplano to the tropical northeast.</span><span class="style42">ECONOMY</span><span class="style13">Bolivia is relatively poor, despite being rich in natural resources such as petroleum and tin. Lack of investment, past political instability and high mining costs have retarded development. Agriculture is labor intensive, producing domestic foodstuffs (potatoes and maize), and export crops (sugar cane and cotton). The illegal cultivation of coca (for cocaine) is causing concern. </span><span class="style42">Currency: </span><span class="style13">Boliviano.</span><span class="style42">HISTORY</span><span class="style13">Until conquered by Spain in 1535, Bolivia was part of the Inca Empire. As Upper Peru, Bolivia was ruled from Lima until 1776, when it became part of a viceroyalty based on Buenos Aires. A revolt against Spanish rule (1809) led to a power struggle between loyalists and nationalists, ending in independence in 1825. The remainder of the 19th century was characterized by political instability. In three devastating wars – the War of the Pacific (1879–83), alongside Peru against Chile, and the Chaco Wars (1928–30 and 1933–35) against Paraguay – Bolivia sustained great human and territorial losses. After 1935, political instability continued with a succession of military and civilian governments. Since 1982, however, Bolivia has had democratically elected governments.</span></text>