Sur Lípez Province

Sur Lípez (or: "Sud Lípez") is a province in the Bolivian department of Potosí.

Location

"Sur Lípez" province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 21° 16' and 22° 53' South and between 66° 13' und 68° 00' West.

It borders Nor Lípez Province in the North and Northwest, Enrique Baldivieso Province in the West, the Republic of Chile in the Southwest and South, the Republic of Argentina in the Southeast and East, and Sud Chichas Province in the Northeast.

The province extends from the Northeast to the Southwest, at a length of 230 km and an average width of 100 km.

Geography

In its southwestern parts, in the "Quetena Grande" District, the province has a couple of lakes and salt pans, the largest being Laguna Colorada of 6 km in diameter at an elevation of 4,278 m.

Among the lakes, the largest one is Laguna Colorada, which has a red color and is 6 km in diameter at an elevation of 4,278 metres. Other lakes, such as Laguna Verde and Laguna Celeste are also well known for there respectively green and blue colors.

There is a geyser field called "Sol de Mañana" in south-western Sur Lípez [ [http://www.giscover.com/tours/tour/display/4574 Sol de Mañana] ] .

The tourist circuit La Ruta de las Joyas Altoandinas passes through the spectacular geography of this area.

Population

Main idioms of the province are Spanish and Quechua, being spoken by 88 % of the population alike. The population increased from 4,158 (1992 census) to 4,905 inhabitants (2001 census), an increase of 18 %. The capital of the province is San Pablo de Lípez.

99.4 % of the population have no access to electricity, 90 % have no sanitary facilities. 69 % of the population are employed in agriculture, 4 % in mining, 4 % in industry, 23 % in general services. 86 % of the population are Catholics, 9 % Protestants.

Division

The province comprises three municipios:
*Mojinete Municipio
*San Antonio de Esmoruco Municipio
*San Pablo de Lípez Municipio

References

External links

* [http://www.aguabolivia.org/situacionaguaX/Riego/mapas/potosi/t_surlipez.htm General map of province]
* [http://www.aguabolivia.org/situacionaguaX/Riego/mapas/potosi/surlipez.htm Detailed map of province towns and rivers]
* [http://www.ine.gov.bo/cgi-bin/PIWDGEOxx.EXE Population data (Spanish)]
* [http://www.rasquin.com/panoramic/#Bolivia Panoramic pictures of the province]