La Paz city Facts, Climate and History

Interesting Trivia

• La Paz is the highest capital in the world. At an altitude ranging from 3,600 meters(11,811 feet) to 4050 meters(13,287 feet) in El Alto, where the highest international airport is located.
• La Paz is in the Andean Mountains. The city is situated in the valley of the Choqueyapu River, with higher Andean peaks surrounding the city.
• The population of La Paz is about 1.5 million inhabitants and is the second largest city in Bolivia.
• La Paz has the world's highest golf course. The air is so thin that a well-hit shot will travel several meters farther than at sea level.
• The Yungas Road connecting La Paz to Coroico is known as the World's Most Dangerous Road.

Climate

Due to the high altitude at which the city is located, temperatures are usually cool throughout the year. Temperatures remain fairly consistent throughout the year. The average temperature in winter is 56F(13C) and 60F(15C) in summer.

Rain is likely over the summer months occurring mainly from November to March. In the winter, April to October, days are slightly cooler, but the sky is mostly clear and sunny. Temperatures can get down to freezing on winter nights. Check out the current weather around Bolivia.

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History

La Paz was once an ancient Aymara village(native Bolivians). Spanish settlers soon discovered gold in the Choqueyapu River that runs through present day La Paz. In 1548, Alonso de Mendoza, a Spanish settler founded La Paz and named the city Nuestra Señora de La Paz(Our Lady of Peace). The Spaniards forced the Aymara people to supply labor for the gold mines.

Though the gold slowly diminished, the city's location between Potosi and Lima grew very important, as La Paz became a main stop on the trade route. Soon La Paz was the most flourishing town in the Andes.

In 1825, Bolivia gained independence from Spain. Bolivia was victorus at Ayacucho over the Spanish army. La Paz's name was changed to La Paz de Ayacucho.

In 1898, La Paz becomes Bolivia's administrative capital and the seat of the government as it remains today.