Elevated and isolated are two adjectives used in connection with the landlocked South American country of Bolivia. The country's natural beauty lies in its picturesque mountains and national parks within the Amazon rain forest, while man-made beauty can be found in its colonial architecture.
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the world's largest high-altitude lake, at approximately 12,506 feet above sea level. The lake extends over 118 miles and borders Peru on the north. Plant your feet on Titicaca's southern shores and you're in the town of Copacabana, Bolivia. The lake's wondrous natural landscape within the Andean mountains, including its plentiful islands, help boost its rank as a popular and beautiful Bolivian tourist attraction. Visitors are also fascinated with the ancient Inca legends surrounding the region, including that the first Incan king was born there,
Cordillera Real
Cordillera Real is a major mountain range in Bolivia. It extends through Bolivia, running north and south for 93 miles. The mountains are readily accessible traveling northeast from La Paz, the seat of Bolivian government and the country's most popular tourist destination. Cordillera Real contains summits that reach up to 19,685 feet. Visiting hikers and climbers often accept the challenge of scaling the heights of the mountain peaks.
National Parks
Bolivia contains over 20 national parks, reserves and sanctuaries filled with natural scenery, wildlife and hiking opportunities. Parque Nacional Madidi, or Madidi National Park, is distinct among the many parks. With its lush rain forests, abundant wildlife, tropical rivers and jungle terrain, the area offers a taste of the "real" Amazonian experience. Also noteworthy are Amboro National Park, located about three hours northwest of the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz; and Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, about 372 miles northeast of Santa Cruz, which contains exotic animals such as pink river dolphins.
Sucre
The city of Sucre contains the finest examples of colonial architecture to be found in the country. The city is named after Mariscal Antonio Jose de Sucre, who fought to help attain independence from the rule of the Spanish, who had conquered the Incas to take possession of the land. Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1991, Sucre contains beautiful churches, museums and other buildings of significance, including the Casa de la Libertad, a house where Bolivia's declaration of independence was signed.
References
Photo Credits
- Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images