The Santa Cruz Department occupies a large part of the east of Bolivia a. The south belongs to the level of the so-called Chaco, a subtropical savannah and dry forest landscape, the north is covered by rainforest.
In the second half of the 20th century, the region changed from a backward, underdeveloped peripheral region to the richest part of Bolivia. The reasons are a boom in tropical agriculture and the production of oil and natural gas.
Regions
places
Most of the larger cities are within 100 km of Santa Cruz, the rest of the department is sparsely populated.
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 1.3 million inhabitants, making it the largest single city in Bolivia and the country's industrial center
- Montero, 100,000 inhabitants, headquarters of the sugar industry
- San Julian, 70,000 inhabitants
- Mineros, 60,000 inhabitants
- La Guardia, 50,000 inhabitants
- Samaipata
Other goals
background
Today Santa Cruz is the richest and fastest growing department of Bolivia in terms of population. The favorable climate, which makes agriculture possible all year round, as well as large natural gas reserves are the engine of growth. Associated with this is a rivalry with the highlands, whose best days seem to be over due to the slow decline of mining.
The department hit the headlines in 2008 when it became the leader of an autonomy movement that aims to give the departments more independence, both politically and financially. So far, Bolivia has been a centrally governed state. It was not until 2005 that Evo Morales introduced the democratic election of regional governments as a first step towards decentralization - they had previously been appointed by the president. However, this reform does not go far enough for the rulers in Santa Cruz. Another reason is that the elites fear that they will be disadvantaged by Morales' course to the left.
language
In addition to Spanish, Guaraní is also spoken regionally, a language from the Tupi family, which is mainly in the Amazon region, in Paraguay and is native to western Brazil.
getting there
By bus
From La Paz there are buses to Santa Cruz, there is a tarred highway (the longest in Bolivia).
By train
A train is leaving Yacuiba (Department Tarija) to Santa Cruz. However, it is considered slow and old-fashioned. There is also a train from Santa Cruz to Puerto Suarez in the far east of Bolivia on the border with Brazil.
mobility
In addition to the train, buses are the main form of transport.
Tourist Attractions
activities
kitchen
nightlife
security
climate
The north of the department has a tropical climate. In the south, however, there are frequent cold spells in winter, during which even the daytime temperature can sometimes drop below 10 ° C (surazos). However, this only lasts for a short time and soon gives way to summer weather with around 25 ° C. Winter is the best time to travel as it is the driest time, while summer can be very humid and rainy.
literature
Web links
http://www.santacruz.gob.bo/ - Santa Cruz Official Website
