BOTANICAL TRIP HITCHCOCK 349 



TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE OF BOLIVIA 



The high plateau of southern Peru between the western chain of 

 the Andes which southward is the boundary between Bolivia and 

 Chile, and the eastern chain, or Cordillera Real, broadens out in 

 Bolivia to form a great central high plain about 500 miles long and 

 with an average altitude of about 12,000 feet. East of the plateau 

 there is a lower plain about 500 miles wide extending to the Para- 

 guay river, sloping from 1,000 feet to nearly zero. 



The climate corresponds to the altitude. The wet season is from 

 December to May, and the months from November to January are 

 called summer. 



At La Paz (12,000 feet) the average annual temperature is 9.4° 

 (49.° F), the average for June 6.7° (44°F.), and for November 

 11.5° (53° F.). The average annual rainfall is 538 mm. (22 inches) 

 of which 322 mm. fall in the summer months December to February. 



At Cochabamba (8,500 feet) the average annual temperature is 

 17.3° (63° F.), the average for June 14° (57° F.), for November 20° 

 (68° F.). The rainfall is 462 mm. (18 inches), 208 mm. of which 

 come in December and January. 



CITIES AND RAILROADS OF BOLIVIA 



La Paz, the capital, has a population of 107,000, while Cocha- 

 bamba, Oruro, Potosi, Sucre, and Santa Cruz have a population of 

 about 30,000 each. 



The main line of railroad goes from La Paz to Uyuni in the 

 south, where it connects with the Chilean Railroad to Antofasgasta. 

 "V^Tien the portion between Uyuni and La Quiaca, Argentina, is 

 finished there will be through service from La Paz to Buenos Aires. 

 Trains now run to Atocha. The distance between Atocha and La 

 Quiaca is about 125 miles, a part of which is now covered by com- 

 pleted railroad, but not yet available for traffic. From this main 

 line there is a branch to Cochabamba and another to Postosi. Sucre 

 is the official capital of Bolivia, but the seat of government is in 

 La Paz. Sucre is connected with Postosi by automobile service 

 during the dry season, the time being about 10 hours. La Paz 

 is connected with Mollendo, Peru, by rail, as previously noted. A 

 third line to the coast is from La Paz to Arica in northern Chile. 



PRODUCTS OF BOLIVIA 



The chief products of Bolivia are minerals, of which tin, copper, 

 and silver take the lead, although several others are important. 



The agricultural products include those that have been mentioned 

 for Peru, but none are exported in important amounts. 

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