Major Land Regions of Bolivia

Bolivia's extreme topography creates four distinct physiographic regions:

1. Andean Region (Western ~28%):

• Altiplano: High plateau (3,600–4,000 m) between two cordilleras. Lake Titicaca (world's highest navigable lake), salt flats (Salar de Uyuni), sparse puna grassland. La Paz/El Alto sit here.
• Cordillera Occidental: Volcanic peaks on Chilean border (Sajama 6,542 m, Bolivia's highest).
• Cordillera Oriental (Real): Rugged, glaciated peaks (Illimani, Huayna Potosí) descending to Yungas.
• Yungas: Steep, cloud-forested eastern Andean slopes (1,000–3,500 m); coca, coffee, fruit; high biodiversity; dangerous roads (Death Road).

2. Sub-Andean / Valleys Region (Central ~13%):

• Temperate, fertile intermontane valleys: Cochabamba Valley (breadbasket), Tarija Valley (wine), Sucre (constitutional capital). Agriculture, moderate climate.

3. Llanos Orientales / Amazon Basin (Northern/Eastern ~59%):

• Llanos de Moxos / Beni Savanna: Seasonally flooded grasslands, wetlands, gallery forests. Cattle ranching.
• Amazon Rainforest (Selva): Northwest (Pando, Beni, N. La Paz). Pristine biodiversity, indigenous territories (Tsimane, Mosetén), Brazil nut, timber.

4. Gran Chaco (Southeastern ~12%):

• Semi-arid, thorny scrub forest, seasonal wetlands. Extreme heat. Gas/oil fields. Pantanal wetlands extend into SE corner. Indigenous groups (Guaraní, Ayoreo).

This dramatic vertical zonation—from 6,500m peaks to 200m Amazon—drives Bolivia's extraordinary biodiversity and cultural diversity.