Bolivia

Bolivia, with its capital La Paz, encompasses a total area of 1,098,580 sq km. Comparatively, it is slightly less than three times the size of Montana. The climate varies with altitude and ranges from humid and tropical to cold and semiarid. The Andes Mountains are rugged with a highland plateau (Altiplano) with hills and lowland plains of the Amazon Basin. Natural resources include: tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, and hydro power. The clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber contributing to deforestation is a major environmental issue within the country. Soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture), desertification, loss of biodiversity, and the industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation are current issues that Bolivia is seeking to resolve.

The population of Bolivia was estimated to be 8,300,463 as of July 2001. Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara are the official languages of the country. The main industries include; mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, and clothing. Soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes and timber are common agricultural products.

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