Bolivia’s government has its headquarters in Nuestra Señora de La Paz city, which is also the capital city of La Paz department. According to the 2001 census, about one million and five hundred people live here.

The city stands 3650 masl and together with El Alto (4100 masl) make the biggest urban area of Bolivia.

Lying at the bottom of a steep canyon and ringed by mounts and high mountains, La Paz is located between the Andean plateau and low valleys.

The altitude of the city ranges from 4000 to 2200 masl. Hence, it has an irregular shape and sharply inclined streets and less steep canyons can be found within the urban area itself.

The south area of the city is located at a lower altitude and has a similar landscaped although mountains are not so high.

In the Andes mountain range, on the west area, the Mount Illimani rises above the city to 6465 meters. With its three snow-covered peaks, fully visible from the city, this mount has been an icon ever since its foundation.

Santa Cruz is Bolivia’s largest department, covering an area of 370.621 square kilometres (33.74% of the whole country). According to the 2005 census, it has a population of 2.433.602 and its capital city is named Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

While Santa Cruz Department was created after a Decree issued on the 23rd January 1826, its capital city was founded on the 26th February 1561 by Spanish captain Ñuflo de Chávez. It became part of “Chiquitos” province, which belonged to the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata.

Santa Cruz is located in the east area of the country and it is bordered by Beni Department and Brazil to the north, by Chuquisaca Department and Paraguay to the south, by Brazil to the east as well and, finally, by Cochabamba and Chuquisaca departments to the west.

This is a highly industrialized area and the main centre of domestic consumption. Moreover, it has the country’s largest per capita income and a high growth rate. Lumber production as well as farming and agricultural production are the main economic activities in the area. Finally, the production of hydrocarbons has high importance in the area.