Bolivia

Bolivia spans about 1.1 million km² and features highly diverse geography, including the Andean highlands (Altiplano), the eastern lowland plains (Llanos), and the tropical Amazon basin. Elevations range from ~90 meters in the lowlands to over 6,500 meters in the Andes, including peaks like Nevado Sajama. Climate varies accordingly: the highlands are cool and arid, while lowland regions receive 1,500–3,000 mm of rainfall annually, supporting rich biodiversity and agriculture.

Historically, Bolivia was part of the Spanish Empire until independence in 1825, with its economy shaped by mining, indigenous agriculture, and trade across the Andes. Post-independence, the country experienced territorial losses and political instability but maintained traditional agrarian practices in highland and lowland communities.

Agriculture employs about 30–35% of the population and remains vital, though limited by terrain. Key crops include potatoes, quinoa, maize, and soybeans, while livestock such as llamas and cattle are important in highland and lowland zones respectively. Fertile valleys and subtropical lowlands enable more intensive farming, making Bolivia a case study in adaptation to extreme geographic and climatic variation.

Gerold was 1987 in Bolivia, coming from Curumba, Pantanal, Brazil. In Puerto Aguirre he visited the local market. The official border was between the border posts, the illegal outside of the border posts. The border guards did not bother much about who went through where. It was only astonishing for them that we wanted a stamp, they had to move for it from their hammocks.