La Paz is the world’s highest national capital, at roughly 3,650 metres above sea level.
The Bolivian city sits in a steep canyon in the Andes, while the nearby city of El Alto occupies the high Altiplano. La Paz is Bolivia’s administrative capital and seat of government, although Sucre is the country’s constitutional and judicial capital. This distinction explains why different lists may name Sucre when discussing Bolivia’s capital.
At La Paz’s elevation, air pressure is much lower than at sea level, and visitors can notice reduced oxygen availability. The city’s location also shapes its climate: despite being near the tropics, its high altitude produces cool conditions year-round. Quito, Ecuador, is another very high capital but lies lower, at about 2,850 metres.