GeoFroggy

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Background

In December 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the nation's poor, indigenous majority. In December 2009 and October 2014, President MORALES easily won reelection. His party maintained control of the legislative branch of the government, which has allowed him to continue his process of change. In October 2011, the country held its first judicial elections to select judges for the four highest courts. MORALES has publicly described the elected judiciary as a failed experiment that has not resolved judicial backlogs or extended pre-trial detention. He has called for a public referendum on the judicial system.

Location

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Area Comparative

Slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

Varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Natural Hazards

Flooding in the northeast (March to April)

Environment Current Issues

The clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography Note

Landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

South America

Irrigated Land 2003

1,282 sq km

Area 2015

Total

1,098,581 sq km
Land

1,083,301 sq km
Water

15,280 sq km

Coastline

0 km

Geographical Coordinates

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Land use 2015

Agricultural Land
34.3%;
Forest
52.5%
Other
13.2%

Terrain

Rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano)
Hills
Lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Land Boundaries

Total
7,252 km
Argentina km
Brazil
3,403 km
Chile
942 km
Paraguay
753 km
Peru
1,212 km

Natural Resources

Tin
Natural gas
Petroleum
Zinc
Tungsten
Antimony

Silver
Iron
Lead
Gold
Timber
Hydropower

BOLIVIA