Bolivia contains La Paz, the world’s highest national capital.
La Paz stands in a steep valley of the Andes, at roughly 3,650 metres (11,975 feet) above sea level. The city is commonly described as the world’s highest national capital, although Bolivia’s constitutional capital is Sucre. La Paz is the country’s seat of government and its principal administrative centre.
The city developed near the edge of the high Altiplano and was founded by Spanish colonists in 1548. Its elevation affects daily life, architecture, transport and visitors, who may need time to adjust to the thinner air. The nearby city of El Alto sits even higher on the Altiplano plateau and forms part of the same metropolitan area.
A common mix-up is calling La Paz Bolivia’s official capital without qualification. Sucre retains the constitutional designation, while La Paz houses the executive and legislative branches. This unusual division gives Bolivia two important capital-city roles.