There isn´t much I can say about this city. I know so little and learned so much less visiting La Paz de Ayacucho. However, these photos do some kind of justice in capturing the pure, almost unbelievable nature of Bolivia´s administrative capital. It is huddled in under Cuidad Alta or El Alto that stands above and around it on three sides. To visit is to believe!
a. It was originally called Laja.
b. The Spanish founded La Paz in 1548.
c. In 1825, after the decisive victory in Ayacucho, where the Republicans beat the Spanish army ending a generation of battles in the Spanish American wars of independence, the city's full name was changed to La Paz de Ayacucho (meaning The Peace of Ayacucho).
d. La Paz is deep set in the valleys of the Andes, and is closer to the Eastern split of the Altiplano region. Therefore, it is closer to the famous mountains such as the Illimani (guardian of La Paz), Huayna Potosi, Mururata, and Illampu.
e. With altitudes between 3.2km above sea level and 4+km a.s.l. the cities' temperatures are consistently cool throughout the year, though the diurnal temperature variation is typically large. Daytime temperatures can occasionally be below freezing. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March. It can snow anytime.
f. There are 3 principle football clubs; The Strongest, founded in 1908, Club Bolivar, founded in 1925 and La Paz Football Club, founded in 1989.
g. La Paz has the highest elevation of any government city in the world and El Alto International Airport is unsurprisingly also the global highest at 4061 metres.
h. Water boils in La Paz at 88 °C.
i. La Paz has the highest certified Olympic stadium. FIFA issued a rule forbidding the organisation of official matches in stadiums with an altitude above 2.5km because they think players may be at greater health risk due to decreased oxygen pressure, but excluded La Paz's Hernando Siles Stadium from that regulation after intense lobbying by Bolivian authorities.
j. The La Paz central bus station was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
k. The transportation system includes multiple lane motorways, 3 cable car lines rising above the terrestrial alternative with 6 more in planning.
l. The esteemed beer is Paceña.
m. About 25% of water is supplied from glaciers, including Chacaltaya, Condiriri, Tuni and Zongo. With global warming they are all shrinking and the diminutive Chacaltaya is the first, most likely to disappear.
n. The cultural wealth of this capital is unquestionable with at least 23 recognised festivals and 13 museums and cultural centres.
o. There are 10 universities.
p. After a few weeks or months in the capital, Tihuanaco and Titicaca are close and easily visited.
q. At the world´s highest altitude golf course your balls will go further than anywhere else.
r. You won´t get a suntan.
s. You can go ski-ing, mountaineering, hiking and almost any other imaginable activity is possible.
t. Cycling 'el camiño de muerte' is popular, although it is well beyond the cities' municipalities.
u. You ought to visit 'Valle de La Luna'.
