Challapata Explained

Official Name:Challapata
Native Name:Ch'allapata
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Bolivia
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Bolivia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name1:Oruro Department
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Eduardo Abaroa Province
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Challapata Municipality
Subdivision Type4:Canton
Subdivision Name4:Challapata Canton
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2012
Population Total:12684
Timezone:BOT
Utc Offset:-4
Coordinates:-18.9°N -112°W
Elevation M:3738

Challapata is the capital of the Eduardo Abaroa Province as well as of the Challapata Municipality in the Oruro Department in Bolivia. It lies at an altitude of 3,738 m above sea level on the edge of the 250acres flood plain of the river on the east bank of the Tacagua Poopó Lake. Challapata is located half way of the road and railway connection from Oruro to Potosí, about 130 kilometers from both cities. Directly southeast of the city rises the Cerro Azanaques, with 5102 m the highest peak in the Azanaques Mountain Range (Cordillera de Azanaques).

Geography

Challapata is located on the eastern edge of the Bolivian Altiplano before the Cordillera Azanaques, which is a part of the mountain chain of the Cordillera Central. The mean average temperature of the region lies at 8-9 °C (see climate diagram) and varies between 4 °C in June and July and 11 °C in December. The annual rainfall is about 350 mm, up to a pronounced dry season from April to October with monthly rainfall below 15 mm, and significant rainfall from December to March only 60 to 80 mm monthly rainfall.

Climate

Population

The population of Challapata has risen in the past two decades by nearly 50 percent: 1992: 6661 inhabitants (census) 2001: 7683 inhabitants (census) 2010: 9482 inhabitants (update)

See also

References