Nuestra Señora de La Paz or Chuquiyapu ('chuqui', 'gold', 'yapu', 'farm') is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. As of the 2001 census, the city of La Paz had a population of around one million.
GeographyLa Paz is situated in the valley of the Choqueyapu River below a plateau with an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,811 feet). Atop the plateau is the city of El Alto, where the international airport is located. Transportation links between the two cities have improved in recent years. The city is located at 16°30' South, 68°8' West (-16.5, -68.1333). Its name is translated into English as 'Our Lady of Peace'
La Paz is renowned for its unique markets, very unusual topography, and traditional culture. It is the capital of a country that is often referred to as the 'Tibet of the Americas'.
ClimateDue the the high altitude in which the city is located, cold and dry temperatures are a common throughout the year, specially in winter time where the temperature can reach -5ºC (23ºF). The average temperature in winter is 15ºC (59ºF) and 22C (72ºF) in summer. In the summer, rain falls on most afternoons. It is interesting to point that the climate in La Paz is totally unpredictable: storms and cold weathers could be followed by sunny warm or windy days in any given day of the year.
