Sur Lípez Province

Sur Lípez / Sud Lípez
Province

Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca as senn from Licancabur, Sud Lípez Province

Flag
Seal

Location of the Sud Lípez Province within Bolivia

Provinces of the Potosí Department
Coordinates: 22°04′0″S 67°07′0″W / 22.06667°S 67.11667°W
Country Bolivia
Department Potosí Department
Capital San Pablo
Area
 • Total 8,631 sq mi (22,355 km2)
Population (2001)
 • Total 4,905
 • Density 0.8/sq mi (0.3/km2)
 • Ethnicities Quechua

Sur Lípez (or: Sud Lípez) is a province in the Potosí Department in Bolivia. The seat of the province is San Pablo de Lípez.

Location

Sur Lípez is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. Also the southwesternmost point of Bolivia is located here, at 22° 49' 41.016" South, 67° 52' 35.004" West, at an elevation of approximately 5,400 m on the northeastern slope of the Licancabur volcano.

It is bordered by the Nor Lípez Province in the north and northwest, Enrique Baldivieso Province in the west, the Republic of Chile in the southwest and south, the Republic of Argentina in the southeast and east, and Sud Chichas Province in the northeast.

The province extends from the northeast to the southwest, at a length of 230 km and an average width of 100 km.

Geography

In its southwestern part, the Quetena Grande Canton, the province has a couple of lakes and salt pans, the largest being Laguna Colorada, which is 6 km in diameter at an elevation of 4,278 m. Other lakes, such as Laguna Verde, Laguna Blanca and Laguna Celeste are also well known for their respectively green, white and blue colors.

There is a geyser field called "Sol de Mañana" in south-western Sur Lípez.[1]

The tourist circuit La Ruta de las Joyas Altoandinas passes through the spectacular geography of this area.

Division

The province comprises three municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.

Section Municipality Seat
1st San Pablo de Lípez Municipality San Pablo de Lípez
2nd Mojinete Municipality Mojinete
3rd San Antonio de Esmoruco Municipality San Antonio de Esmoruco

Population

The population increased from 4,158 (1992 census) to 4,905 inhabitants (2001 census), an increase of 18%.

99.4% of the population have no access to electricity, 90% have no sanitary facilities. 69% of the population are employed in agriculture, 4% in mining, 4% in industry, 23% in general services. 86% of the population are Catholics, 9% Protestants.

The people are predominantly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent.[2]

Ethnic group San Pablo de Lípez Municipality (%) Mojinete Municipality (%) San Antonio de Esmoruco Municipality (%)
Quechua 81.5 98.3 88.4
Aymara 0.8 1.0 0.5
Guaraní, Chiquitos, Moxos 0.0 0.0 0.0
Not indigenous 17.5 0.37 10.9
Other indigenous groups 0.1 0.0 0.02

Languages

The languages spoken in the province are mainly Spanish and Quechua.

Language San Pablo de Lípez Municipality Mojinete Municipality San Antonio de Esmoruco Municipality
Quechua 1,722 595 1,344
Aymara 24 3 9
Guaraní 0 0 1
Another native 0 0 1
Spanish 2,043 571 1,315
Foreign 9 0 0
Only native 313 95 204
Native and Spanish 1,419 503 1,146
Only Spanish 624 68 169

Places of interest

A view of the Sur Lipez desert

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sol de Mañana
  2. ↑ obd.descentralizacion.gov.bo

External links

Coordinates: 22°04′S 67°07′W / 22.067°S 67.117°W