Peaks and Valleys.

Bolivia's charm is found in its spectacular landscapes and rich cultural history

At the breathtaking altitude of 12,000 feet (3,600 meters), La Paz is most travelers' first glimpse of Bolivia Mountains ascend sharply from the fringes of the city, the highest seat of government on the globe.

Take it easy the first few days to adjust to the thin air because altitude sickness is a real possibility It's why they call La Paz the "Tibet of the Americas."

Named after the South American hero of liberation Simon Bolivar, Bolivia has been landlocked since losing its route to the ocean in a war with Chile in 1879. That's not to say that Bolivia lacks diversity: It's said you can travel from sky-scraping mountain peaks to subtropical rain forest in a matter of three hours.

Lake Titicaca, once regarded as the highest navigable lake in the world, is home to the ancient Tiahuanaco ruins, a highly developed civilization that influenced the Nazca and the Incas. The vast Uyuni saltflats sprawl more than 3,800 square miles. The cities of Sucre and Potosi are famed for their well-preserved Spanish Colonial architecture.

La Paz, home to 1 million, is set on an arid plain surrounded by mountains, including 21,000-foot-high Mt. Illimani. The main street, Avenida 16 de Julio, and also known as El Prado, runs through the center of town, changing names to become the Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz. It ends at the famous Cathedral of San Francisco, built in 1549. Nearby is the main plaza, where artesans show off their handcrafted wares, weavings and other folk art. At the so-called witches' market on Calle Linares, women sell herbs and talismans.

Be prepared for inclement weather: Summer months (June through September) in La Paz are cold, with temperatures dropping to freezing, and icy winds can make it seem even colder Snow is possible. November through March is rainy.

Sparsely populated, Bolivia did not lose its indigenous people during the years since the conquest. A majority of Bolivians are of Indian origin, and many speak Aymara or Quechua Spanish is the official language, though Bolivian law requires that corporate documents be translated to Spanish, but many business people are fluent in English. Offices typically close from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Landlocked Bolivia is rich in natural resources, but it has only recently begun to exploit its economic potential. The focus is on hydrocarbons (including a natural gas export pipeline to Brazil that opened in 1999), mining, ranching, farming and agribusiness.

Outside La Paz, travel by road is hazardous. La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba are linked by highways, but 95% of Bolivian roads are unpaved, according to the U.S. State Department. In the mountains, you'll need a four-wheel drive vehicle. From November through March, rain brings additional dangers. For information concerning road conditions, call the Servicio Nacional de Caminos at telephone [phone].

POPULATION: 7.9 million * AREA: 1 million sq. Km. * GDP [*] (1998): US$ 7.7 billion * GDP [*] PER CAPITA: US$ 962 * EXPORTS (1998): US$ 1,109 million * IMPORTS (1998): US$ 1,759 million * LITERACY RATE: 83.1% * LIFE EXPECTANCY: 64 YEARS * LANGUAGE: Spanish. Quechua, Aymara * TELEPHONE COUNTRY CODE: 591 * TELEPHONE CITY CODE: La Paz: 2 * CURRENCY: US$1= 5.75 Bolivianos (As of May 21,1999) * JANUARY MEDIAN TEMPERATURE: La Paz: 12 Centigrade, 53.6 Fahrenheit * JULY MEDIAN TEMPERATURE: La Paz: 9 Centigrade, 48.2 Fahrenheit

(*.) 1995 constast prices