1. The name Bolivia comes from the Venezuelan military and political leader Simon Bolivar who led Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia to independence from Spain in 1825.
2. At 11,975 feet above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world.
3. The Camino de las Yungas road is known as the “world’s most dangerous road.” There are an estimated 200 to 300 fatalities every year on this stretch of road less than 50 miles long.
4. Dead animals including dried llama fetuses are sold on the streets of Bolivia to citizens so they can offer them up to Pachamama (Mother Nature) in return for blessings.
5. Bolivia is one of two landlocked South American countries, the other being Paraguay. Bolivia lost 420 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline to Chile in The War of the Pacific in the 1880s.
6. Lake Titicaca, which straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia, is the world’s highest navigable lake. It sits 12,507 feet above sea level and is also South America’s largest lake by volume.
7. Bolivia has 37 official languages! The main languages are Spanish, Quechua, Aymara and Guaraní with an additional 33 recognized languages.
8. Guinea pig is used and eaten as a traditional meat. It continues to be a major part of the diet in Bolivia, particularly in the Andes highlands.

* Source: Atlas & Boots. For more interesting facts, visit the Atlas & Boots blog.