Exploring The Heights of La Paz, Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
Not only is La Paz the highest capital in the world, it also has one of the most unusual locations. When you look from the rim of the canyon down to the city below, the view is dumfounding. The city appears to be encapsulated by the walls of the large canyon. Brick, multi-story buildings climb up the steep canyon walls filling in every available gap. It is a bizarre and improbable looking city.
Much of Bolivia, including La Paz, sits on the Altiplano or Andean Plateau. This unusual plateau was created when the Andes were formed. As the mountain ranges were pushed up to high elevations, the basins between were raised as well. Sitting on those basins are what is now a large section of Bolivia as well as parts of Chile and Peru. With an average elevation of 4,000 m (13,120 ft) this land mass is dominated by volcanoes, dramatic canyons and in the south, by dried-up salt lakes and deserts.
Even though La Paz city centre is at or near the bottom of a deep canyon in the Altiplano, the city is still at the very high altitude of 3,650 m (11,975 ft). The canyon bottom is very hilly though and neighbourhoods in the city vary between 3,250 m and 4,100 m (10,660 ft and 13,451 ft). It feels as if every place you need to go to is on a different hill and to get anywhere you have to walk up hill. The elevation makes getting around even more tiring. Unlike the stories told by most of our dads, residents of La Paz can honestly tell their children that they walked up hill both ways to school, because they probably did! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
Much of Bolivia, including La Paz, sits on the Altiplano or Andean Plateau. This unusual plateau was created when the Andes were formed. As the mountain ranges were pushed up to high elevations, the basins between were raised as well. Sitting on those basins are what is now a large section of Bolivia as well as parts of Chile and Peru. With an average elevation of 4,000 m (13,120 ft) this land mass is dominated by volcanoes, dramatic canyons and in the south, by dried-up salt lakes and deserts.
Even though La Paz city centre is at or near the bottom of a deep canyon in the Altiplano, the city is still at the very high altitude of 3,650 m (11,975 ft). The canyon bottom is very hilly though and neighbourhoods in the city vary between 3,250 m and 4,100 m (10,660 ft and 13,451 ft). It feels as if every place you need to go to is on a different hill and to get anywhere you have to walk up hill. The elevation makes getting around even more tiring. Unlike the stories told by most of our dads, residents of La Paz can honestly tell their children that they walked up hill both ways to school, because they probably did! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).
How it works: The full article is featured in the app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Download the app to your mobile device to read the article offline and create a self-guided walking tour to visit the sights featured in this article. The app's navigation functions guide you from one sight to the next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Sights Featured in This Article
Guide Name: Exploring The Heights of La Paz, Bolivia
Guide Location: Bolivia » La Paz
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Maggie Kayes
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Bolivia » La Paz
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Maggie Kayes
Read it on Author's Website:
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- General Cemetario
- Calle Jaen
- Plaza Murillo
- Calle Linares
- Witches Market
- Killi Killi Mirador
- Basilica San Francisco
- Cathedral of Our Lady Peace
- Presidential Palace
The Most Popular Cities
/ view all