BOLIVIALa Paz
FOUR
La Paz (lah pahth; local pronunciation, lah pahs´) is a most unusual city. It is the highest capital city in the world—for although Sucre is the official capital, La Paz is really the capital city of Bolivia. It lies in a great mountain hollow nearly 13,000 feet above the sea. This altitude closely approaches that of Pike’s Peak; but whereas such an altitude in our country would mean perpetual snow, here it brings only a temperate climate, where flowers blossom throughout the year and the little snow that falls quickly vanishes in the morning sunlight.
The city’s official name is La Paz de Ayacucho (eiah-koo´cho). It is built in a deeply worn valley of the Cordillera Real, which is believed to have formed an outlet of Lake Titicaca (tee-tee-kah´kah). La Paz is built on both banks of the Rio de La Paz, or Rio Chuquiapu, thirty miles southeast of Lake Titicaca. The valley in which the city lies is about ten miles long and three miles wide. It is very barren and forbidding, and its precipitous sides, gullied by rains and colored by mineral ores, rise 1,500 feet above the city. Above Illimani (eel-yee-mah´-nee) and other giant mountains of the Bolivian Cordilleras rear their snow-capped peaks. The upper edge of the valley is called the Alto de La Paz, or Heights of La Paz.
The city is surprisingly large, its population being about 80,000. Two-thirds of the population consists of Indians. They give a picturesqueness to the place, the women of the Cholos (cho´los), or half-breeds, being especially gaily attired.
The greater part of La Paz lies on the left bank of the river. Both banks rise steeply from the stream, and the streets at right angles to the river are very precipitous. All the streets are narrow, and paved with small cobblestones. The sidewalks also are so narrow that only two may go abreast. Many of the inhabitants prefer to walk in the middle of the street. The only things likely to be met are either pedestrians or llamas, the latter used in great numbers in this part of the country as pack animals.
La Paz was founded in 1548 by the Spaniard, Alonzo de Mendoza (ahlon´tho day men-do´-thah), on the site of an Indian village called Chuquiapu (choo-ku-ah´-poo). It soon became an important colony. At the end of the war of independence, in 1825, it was re-named La Paz de Ayacucho, in honor of the last decisive battle of the revolution. La Paz was then made one of the four capitals of the Bolivian republic. When the Bolivian Congress, however, attempted to designate Sucre as the permanent capital, the citizens of La Paz revolted; and by this revolution of 1898 the seat of government was permanently established there.
One of the most interesting parts of the city to visitors is the Alameda (ah-lah-may´-dah). This is a handsome thoroughfare, with rows of trees, shrubs and flowers. It also has a wide central walk with pools, in which are swans and goldfish. Along the Alameda are many new and rather pretty residences. Most of the houses are painted in tints of pale blue, green, yellow and strawberry, giving the street a gay and pleasing appearance.
The Plaza Murillo is so named from the patriot Pedro Domingo Murillo, who was executed there in 1810. This spot is also the place where independence was first declared in 1809. It has been the scene of many turbulent episodes. On one side of the plaza is the Government Palace, erected in 1885. This contains the offices of many state officials, and, in the upper story, the office and residence of the president and his family.
The Cathedral of La Paz, on the same side of the plaza as the Government Palace, is still in process of construction. The foundations were laid in 1843. When finished it will be one of the largest and most expensive cathedrals in South America. It is to be built in the Græco-Roman style, will have towers nearly 200 feet high, a dome the top of which will be 150 feet above the floor, and will be capable of seating 12,000 persons.
Across the corner from the Government Palace is the Hall of Congress. Another interesting spot is the market place. Here come thousands of Indians to buy and sell.
Other buildings of note are the old University of San Andrés (ahn-dres´), the Church of San Francisco, the Church of Santo Domingo, the Museum of Natural History, rich in relics of the Inca and colonial periods, the very much up-to-date theater, and the Municipal Library.
The houses of the poorer classes in La Paz are usually built with mud walls and covered with tiles. The better class dwellings, however, are constructed of stone and brick.
La Paz is an important commercial center. It is connected with the Pacific coast by the Bolivian Railway from Mollendo (mol-yen´-do), to Puno (poo´-no) and a Bolivian extension from Guaqui (gwah´-kee) to Alto de La Paz—the two lines being connected by a steamship service across Lake Titicaca. An electric railway, five miles long, runs from the Alto de La Paz to the city.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATIONILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 5, No. 18, SERIAL No. 142COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
PHOTOGRAPH BY I. F. SCHEELERSTREET SCENE AND MARKET, SUCRE, BOLIVIA
PHOTOGRAPH BY I. F. SCHEELER
STREET SCENE AND MARKET, SUCRE, BOLIVIA