At about 2,850 meters above sea level, which capital is often called the second-highest official capital? Quito, Ecuador.
Quito stands at roughly 2,850 meters, or about 9,350 feet, in a long Andean valley on the slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano. That altitude makes it one of the world’s highest national capitals and gives the city a cool, highland climate despite its location near the Equator.
The wording “second-highest” reflects a constitutional and geographic qualification. La Paz, Bolivia, is commonly described as the world’s highest capital because it is the seat of Bolivia’s government. Bolivia’s constitutional capital, however, is Sucre, which is lower than Quito. Depending on whether one ranks governmental seats or constitutional capitals, Quito may be described as second-highest or even highest official capital.
Quito’s elevation is not the same as the height of nearby mountain peaks; it refers to the city’s position above sea level. The city’s historic center, founded by the Spanish in 1534, is also notable for becoming one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.