Oruro
Department located south of La Paz, in the Andean high plateau, where the crops of the
quinoa, called the “golden grain" break the monotony of the landscape. Oruro is
bounded on the south with Potosi, on the east with the department of Cochabamba and
west by the Republic of Chile. It covers an area of 53,558 km2 with a population of
391,870 inhabitants.
Its capital, the city of Oruro (3.706 m is surrounded by a mountain chain of 10 peaks.
Cradle of the famous Oruro Carnival, which has been nominated by UNESCO as a
Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, been the Dance of the Devil,
the most outstanding one.
Mining has always been the activity that has sustained the economy of Orur0. Gold, tin,
and Wolfram mines, together with boric acid production, have been booming and
activated the life of this zone.
Tourist Attractions:
Two hours far from the city of Oruro is the Sajama National Park, which gets its name
from the snowcapped Sajama Mountain (6,542 meters) one of the highest in Bolivia. The
scenery is magnificent, the wildlife moves and wonders. The stay in the ecolodges who
complete a tour full of the Andean plateau’s magic. The region is natural habitat for
famous camelids such as, llamas, alpacas, vicuna and guanacos. You can see
hundreds of them graze as you pass by Oruro’s ways. You can also find pumas,
vizcachas, armadillos, and ostriches.
In this park are also located Huayñakota Lagoon and the chain of geysers that are the
product of volcanic activity.
There are as well archaeological monuments and you can see “chullpares” (mortuary
monuments), or places where ancient civilizations buried their dead.
In the department of Oruro is the Coipasa Salar, second in importance in our country. It
is surrounded by towering mountains that are cactus.
Near the capital also is Lake Uru Uru, being on its banks Machacamarca Town. You can
browse it and go fishing.
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