Bolivia is located in the west-central part of South America and is the fifth largest country of the continent having an area about twice the size of Spain. Bolivia is landlockedbordering five countries; Brazil on the northeast, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina onthe south, and Chile and Peru on the west. The main physical feature of Bolivia is theAndes Mountains, which define the country's three geographic zones. First is theAltiplano, or plateau region, which lies between the Cordillera Occidental (west) and theCordillera Real (northeast). On the northern end of the Altiplano lies the Lake Titicaca,the highest navigable body of water in the world. Secondly are the Yungas which form atransition zone between the peaks of the Andes and the Amazonian forest. Lastly are theLowlands which make up over two-thirds of the national territory; north and east of theAndes. Most of Bolivia's important rivers are found in the northern lowlands all whicheventually flow into the Amazon. (Box 234, 277, 314)The area of modern Bolivia was controlled by Spanish conquest in 1525. Theterritory of Bolivia, a part of the ancient empire of the Incas, was conquered in 1538 bythe Spanish conquistador Hernando Pizarro. As Spanish royal authority weakened duringthe Napoleonic wars, judgment against colonial rule grew. Between 1808 and 1810, theWars of Independence took place in Upper Peru which constituted efforts to achieveindependence. The revolt on May 25, 1809 was one of the first in Latin America. On July16, 1809, Upper Peru proclaimed itself an independent state. The Battle of Ayacucho in1824 was the final battle that effectively ended Spanish rule in Upper Peru. On August 6,1825, Bolivia achieved independence from Spain after a struggle led by Simon Bolvar andAntonio Jos de Sucre. To satisfy Bolvar's reservations about the independence of UpperPeru, the new nation was named after him. Five days after Bolivia declared itsindependence from...
