FACTS

Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Area (only Total) total: 6,940 km

Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Population: 9,247,816 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Spanish

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): La Paz (administrative capital)

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+4

Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)