Posted
on July 16, 2013
Today
there will be processions (parades) and dance competitions in
Bolivia's largest city, La Paz.
I
was surprised to learn that La Paz (which means peace)
isn't the official capital city of Bolivia. Instead, a city named
Sucre (which means sugar
in French) is the official capital – but most of the government's
buildings and functions are located in La Paz! La Paz is considered
the “de facto” capital, which means that it really acts as the
capital, even thought another city is “supposed to be” the
capital!
Keeping
the “de facto” in mind, La Paz is the highest capital city in the
world! It is from 10,500 to 13,500 feet above sea level. The reason
I'm telling you the range of altitude instead of just one number
(such as my hometown being 720 feet above sea level) is that La Paz
crawls up and down hills!
The
international airport is also the world's highest. It is almost half
as high as a jet plane's cruising altitude! Surprising to me is the
fact that the runways at this airport have to be longer than those of
other airports—because the air is thinner!
People
who fly to La Paz are warned not to hurry through the airport to
immigration, to beat the lines. As I said, the air is thinner.
Visitors need to walk sl-o-o-o-w-ly to immigration! Altitude sickness
is a very real complaint that means that your cells are not getting
as much oxygen as they need. But don't worry, if you don't try to
move too quickly too soon, your body will start making more red blood
cells to carry oxygen—and after a day or two of rest, you will
become acclimatized.
Check
out this extreme-downhill view of La Paz and this quick overview of the nation of Bolivia.
Also
on this date:
Plan
ahead:
Check
out my Pinterest pages on July
holidays, historical
anniversaries in July,
and July
birthdays.
And
here are my Pinterest pages on August
holidays, historical
anniversaries in August,
and August
birthdays.
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