Altiplano, Bolivia |
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The Altiplano (Spanish for high plain) is the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside of Tibet. It is an area of inland drainage lying in the central Andes where the mountain chain is at its widest, occupying parts of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. The Altiplano is dominated by the massive peaks of active volcanoes to the west. The Atacama Desert, the second-driest area on the whole planet, lies to the southwest and to the east lies the humid Amazon rainforest. Its height averages about 3,300 meters (11,000 feet). The term Altiplano is also sometimes used to identify the altitude zone itself and the type of climate that prevails within it -- colder than that of the tierra fria but not as cold as that of the tierra helada. Landmarks include Lake Titicaca, straddling the Peru/Bolivia border and Poopo, a saline lake which extends south of Oruro, Bolivia. La Paz, Bolivia is the principal city of the Altiplano.
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